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Portal Xibalbá

Ancient Mayans believed cenotes were a sacred gateway to a mystical underworld called "Xibalbá," meaning "place of fright:" a logical name for the time, considering these labyrinths were probably nothing short of an enigma in the eyes of the Maya. Cenotes were seen not only as a source of death but also life: A setting for human sacrifice, yet a source of fresh water necessary for the survival of Mayan civilization. (I guess they didn't make enough sacrifices).

  • Samuel Walker
    Director
  • Samuel Walker
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Art, Sc-Fi, Adventure
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 5, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Samuel Walker

Sam Walker is currently working as a Content Coordinator and Video Editor at WRTV 6 in Indianapolis. He is a Videographer, Photographer, Drone Pilot, and Visual Artist. He possesses a distinct talent for capturing material with a neat and cinematic aesthetic, and his speciality is post-production.

Sam graduated from Indiana University in 2021, where he studied Cinema Arts & Production and minored in Marketing at the Kelley School of Business. While he is highly conscious of the visual element, his marketing background and newsroom experience has enabled him to engage audiences and have a keen sense of visual storytelling.

He is a seasoned video editor with an intrinsically meticulous mindset; It is in his nature to notice every minute detail, and he views everything he creates as a reflection of himself.

Ultimately, Sam is a passionate creator; He believes there is art in everything we do, and his dream job is anything that involves persuading people of this notion.

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Director Statement

The historical context surrounding these bodies of groundwater is especially fascinating to me, given that I can contrast their ancient mythology with first-hand experience. Despite our scientific understanding of these caverns, in a sense, I understand how the Maya came to conceptualize them as a metaphysical place; While diving in a cenote, I felt as though I was in another world. Through music, I attempted to express the reality of the experience as something fictional in nature, as well as a dichotomy: frightening yet beautiful.