traffick

jail3, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

The last two days i have spent inside an ecuadorian jail talking with the girls known to the world as "mules". These girls range from 18-51 and have all been caught trafficking drugs. Some girls came to ecuador for the explicit purpose and others had no idea they were carrying anything until the airport security uncovered packets hidden in picture frames and the lining of their luggage. Nothing is provided in the prison. They must buy a mattress and a blanket or sleep on the cold concrete floors. Some girls must fit 3 or 4 into a 6x6 room. They must buy their own food and toilet paper. Without money, they cannot survive, so many of the girls have started a card-making business, of which they have choosen to give ten percent away to other causes as an act of gratitude and love for God.

A day in prison

jail1, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

Meet the foreign women who live in the Ecuadorian prison system. They are part of a bible study group that has given them the only rehabilitation available. "Even though i was free before i was put in jail, i was not free. But now here, in prison, I have found freedom", Chalene told me today. She has 8 months left.

Beautiful jailbirds

Jail2, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

Sharing Christmas dinner with my new friends in an Ecuadorian jail.

LA in December.
Heather, Pam and I spent the week at the annual DVExpo learning all about color-correction, keying, lighting, and location audio. We also experienced a little piece of hollywood by touring the sony picture studios and watching the filming of Will & Grace and King of Queens. Our laughter was recorded so keep tuned to hear us! All in all, I return inspired and excited to try the new tricks i learned! Lucky for me, i leave for Ecuador in the morning. This morning i read that journalists were held hostage last spring in the prison i will be visiting! I will keep you all posted, pending my return!

Fisher Funeral Home Sweet Funeral Home

6feet, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

Six Feet Under fans should recognize this house! Heather and I found the house used as the Fisher residence and funeral home in HBO's Six Feet Under. The show is shot on set in a studio, but exterior and establishing shots are filmed here (a suprisingly dumpy section of town!).

Lititz in LA

Tommy2, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

I don't have pictures to prove it, but Joel Strayer was in LA the same week as Heather and I. After an audition for a band (Joel has always wanted to be in a boy-band!!) the three of us circled the empty streets of downtown LA trying to find an open restaurant. We all agreed that it is sad that although we live a mere 5 minutes from one another in Colorado, we only find time to hang out when we're all out of town!
The following day, I met another long-time Lancaster friend: Tommy Barnhart. A starving writer, Tommy took me around his stomping grounds near Manhattan Beach. It was fun seeing the palm trees decked out in bright Christmas lights!

LA: get your groove on..

LA, originally uploaded by staarkidd.

Everyone wants to be a superstar!