Freshman films documentary of Rwandan orphans

August 31, 2010

Chris Fairfax, a freshman from Columbia, SC, spent this past summer filming a documentary about two Rwandan orphans who became parents to their younger siblings following the country’s genocide sixteen years ago.

The idea for the documentary, Let Them Live: It Starts With a Story, came from former Ben Lippen High School classmate and Rwandan native, Andrew Bilindabagabo.

“I feel that it is my calling in life to use graphic design, motion graphics, and film to portray Christ’s great sacrifice and to help other ministries do the same,” Fairfax said.

As the director of photography, Fairfax set up and operated the camera as Bilindabagabo interviewed the Rwandan subjects. Chase Hall and Philippe Oubre, two friends, also helped shoot the documentary.

“I worked closely with the director (Bilindabagabo) and other workers on the set make the director’s creative vision a reality through the lens of the camera,” Fairfax said, adding that the trip was "amazing."

“I learned what gratitude is just watching the people we filmed live their lives,” he said. “I learned a lot about hard work, and my faith was challenged and expanded daily.

“So, personally, it was most certainly one of the best experiences of my life. As a team, we got everything we needed to tell the story we feel called to tell, learned a lot, and had some fun along the way.”

Fairfax began shooting videos for school events and class projects and found that he enjoyed it. While he has filmed short videos over the past three years, Let Them Live is his first formal documentary. Fairfax is considering majoring in art with an emphasis on graphic design and minoring in business.

posted by Stacy Dyer '96
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