You Could Be a Star!

Of course, it makes it really easy to be a superstar in the Hansen house if you are TM. Friend to the parents, like an uncle to the kids, Trev just fits with us, and we love it when he has time to come down from Canada to "live" with us for even a few days.

This time, Trevor came to do some filming. As a documentary filmmaker and photographer, he travels around the world, discovering the stories he then shines forth for us. Anyway, all that is to say that he brought his big bag of camera gear, and did some filming of Sterling. Where will it go? We don't rightly know, but Trevor is intrigued to see what can happen when a southern California boy raises money and then shares that with another boy in another country. We are too (intrigued). 

Filming takes time and energy, and is a blast to watch happen, at least most of the time (the rest is a lot of filming of things which might prove to be interesting. But might not. With our family, I fear there was an abundance of not!). Sterling got to be himself, doing lots of things he loves to do - like playing nerf dart gun wars. Better yet, everyone loves to follow along and watch the footage, right after it was taken. Can you say pied piper and his followers?

It's not all fun and games, of course. There's the putting on of the microphone (complete with some tickling as the wire goes under the shirt). The carrying of gear. The hiking into the canyon, or playing baseball. Hard work, all. Can you see the look of admiration on Sterling's face? So good to have someone to look up to!

Can't be only about filming, since there are dart gun wars to have, and bonfires to build. We headed over to Moonlight Beach, took some long hoarded pallet wood to the fire pits, and carefully built a lovely blaze. All around us, people were lighting their dried out Christmas trees - a blaze of glory to be sure, but I'm glad we had a treat for the birds instead. 

In the midst, you've got to have helpers. Sage follows Trevor around like he is the really swell guy that he is. They've always had a special friendship - and while we all like it when he's around, she likes it most. It is a bit difficult when you are not the star of the show, though you are most willing to toss yourself in front of the camera at will. Again and again. Oh, the editing that must be done! But, if you are patient, you might get to help carry the gear. And as Trevor, Chris and Sterling went off to film something, Sage walked past me, carrying the unnecessary tri-pod, and proudly proclaiming, "Trevor gave me to do this because he trusts me." Oh, he does, my sweet pea. At least with the non-mechanical parts of the equipment! (notice the christmas jammies she is wearing. in the middle of the day. most days of the week). 


It has been a fun and long weekend. I like being "official" photographer, and watching it all unfold from behind my snapshot lens. It is causing me to reflect on why we record images like this at all - whether in stills or motion - what we are discovering about those we record, and ourselves as we record them. Lots to share on this, maybe as days come. 

Now, not everyone thinks being in front of the camera is fun and good. I spent years trying to avoid getting my photo taken, being convinced I wasn't "photogenic." Thankfully, Chris has taught me to relax and enjoy the process, so it isn't a big deal any more. Siena, on the other hand, is not remotely worried about how she looks, but she is very aware that she is being looked at. That this blog reveals her world to the world. She made no bones about not wanting to be filmed for this project (we aren't going to touch what she thought about being on the blog, as I'm not ready to tackle that yet). At first it was a diatribe, and then, after lots of discussion, it was a forceful request that she not be filmed. And, to his credit, Trevor would have complied (never mind we'd look like a family of four instead of five...). But after a few days of filming, she relaxed and realized it wasn't all bad. In fact, it's fun! So, you probably won't find her making record herself, or talking on camera, but, well, gee, you will see her. And she won't mind. But I love this shot, taken in the midst of the boys going off to battle film. She is sitting with her math work, peacefully doing the job set before her. Beautiful. So glad that I didn't miss this moment, in my heart, or on my camera.