
[Music] thank you in 2008 with the support of
thank you in 2008 with the support of
thank you in 2008 with the support of Fulbright I found myself in a district
Fulbright I found myself in a district
Fulbright I found myself in a district of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z
of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z
of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z far from the glamour of the recent
far from the glamour of the recent
far from the glamour of the recent Olympics and World Cup yet
Olympics and World Cup yet
Olympics and World Cup yet geographically close to the Magnificent
geographically close to the Magnificent
geographically close to the Magnificent Maracana stadium pacion Z was and
Maracana stadium pacion Z was and
Maracana stadium pacion Z was and continues to be a struggling community
continues to be a struggling community
continues to be a struggling community where crack cocaine is rampant and
where crack cocaine is rampant and
where crack cocaine is rampant and fights break out between rival gangs on
fights break out between rival gangs on
fights break out between rival gangs on the streets that police refuse to patrol
the streets that police refuse to patrol
the streets that police refuse to patrol in one abandoned class on Z parking lot
in one abandoned class on Z parking lot
in one abandoned class on Z parking lot stood a circus an incongruous sight yet
stood a circus an incongruous sight yet
stood a circus an incongruous sight yet no more unusual than its motley crew of
no more unusual than its motley crew of
no more unusual than its motley crew of young performers each searching for a
young performers each searching for a
young performers each searching for a life apart from the drug-related
life apart from the drug-related
life apart from the drug-related violence around them that was the
violence around them that was the
violence around them that was the setting in which I began documenting
setting in which I began documenting
setting in which I began documenting their stories through film I had a
their stories through film I had a
their stories through film I had a history and circus myself a few years
history and circus myself a few years
history and circus myself a few years earlier I had I had been with a
earlier I had I had been with a
earlier I had I had been with a Brazilian circus a few states away I’d
Brazilian circus a few states away I’d
Brazilian circus a few states away I’d been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d
been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d
been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra
performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra
performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra which is like a vertical hula-hoop
which is like a vertical hula-hoop
which is like a vertical hula-hoop hanging spinning in the air and in that
hanging spinning in the air and in that
hanging spinning in the air and in that circus where I was the performer there
circus where I was the performer there
circus where I was the performer there was a performance group as well as a
was a performance group as well as a
was a performance group as well as a social project for children and
social project for children and
social project for children and teenagers at risk for joining the drug
teenagers at risk for joining the drug
teenagers at risk for joining the drug trade circuses have always been places
trade circuses have always been places
trade circuses have always been places where people of different backgrounds
where people of different backgrounds
where people of different backgrounds come together circus culture has a long
come together circus culture has a long
come together circus culture has a long history of adopting into the tent people
history of adopting into the tent people
history of adopting into the tent people who need to find their way out of
who need to find their way out of
who need to find their way out of circumstances so the concept of social
circumstances so the concept of social
circumstances so the concept of social circus as it’s called is not a new one
circus as it’s called is not a new one
circus as it’s called is not a new one but rather a rebranding and repackaging
but rather a rebranding and repackaging
but rather a rebranding and repackaging of a mentality that has existed since
of a mentality that has existed since
of a mentality that has existed since the earliest circuses which were just
the earliest circuses which were just
the earliest circuses which were just simple equestrian shows punctuated by
simple equestrian shows punctuated by
simple equestrian shows punctuated by clowns coming in to entertain the
clowns coming in to entertain the
clowns coming in to entertain the audience between acts but the term
audience between acts but the term
audience between acts but the term social circus formalized that concept
social circus formalized that concept
social circus formalized that concept and expands its reach and capacity
and expands its reach and capacity
and expands its reach and capacity as I learned more about social circus
as I learned more about social circus
as I learned more about social circus and its growing popularity worldwide I
and its growing popularity worldwide I
and its growing popularity worldwide I became increasingly interested in the
became increasingly interested in the
became increasingly interested in the stories of the individuals the
stories of the individuals the
stories of the individuals the participants in these kinds of projects
participants in these kinds of projects
participants in these kinds of projects when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take
when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take
when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take out my camera for two months I just
out my camera for two months I just
out my camera for two months I just trained with the performers I got to
trained with the performers I got to
trained with the performers I got to know them we practiced together and
know them we practiced together and
know them we practiced together and rehearse we we practiced circling around
rehearse we we practiced circling around
rehearse we we practiced circling around the trapeze bar and climbing up the
the trapeze bar and climbing up the
the trapeze bar and climbing up the lines we did a thing called hand to hand
lines we did a thing called hand to hand
lines we did a thing called hand to hand which is where one person is stacked on
which is where one person is stacked on
which is where one person is stacked on top of the other or hand to foot and we
top of the other or hand to foot and we
top of the other or hand to foot and we in the beginning the jokes were all
in the beginning the jokes were all
in the beginning the jokes were all about me I I had a funny accent I had
about me I I had a funny accent I had
about me I I had a funny accent I had dorky clothes and but as time went on we
dorky clothes and but as time went on we
dorky clothes and but as time went on we we sweated together side by side doing
we sweated together side by side doing
we sweated together side by side doing our push-ups and handstands and splits
our push-ups and handstands and splits
our push-ups and handstands and splits and we developed friendship and trust
the people that are profiled in my film
the people that are profiled in my film are fascinating they’re fascinating
are fascinating they’re fascinating
are fascinating they’re fascinating people with stories that are so
people with stories that are so
people with stories that are so interesting and exciting and wisdom and
interesting and exciting and wisdom and
interesting and exciting and wisdom and experiences there’s one person that
experiences there’s one person that
experiences there’s one person that stood out to me immediately when I first
stood out to me immediately when I first
stood out to me immediately when I first arrived he has an infectious laugh and
arrived he has an infectious laugh and
arrived he has an infectious laugh and his personality is as big as he is his
his personality is as big as he is his
his personality is as big as he is his name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and
name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and
name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and in my film the characters speak for
in my film the characters speak for
in my film the characters speak for themselves they tell their own stories
themselves they tell their own stories
themselves they tell their own stories and there’s no narration so I will take
and there’s no narration so I will take
and there’s no narration so I will take this opportunity to let to Jefferson
this opportunity to let to Jefferson
this opportunity to let to Jefferson introduce himself
– Casa Alegria de la comunidad Eugenia
– Casa Alegria de la comunidad Eugenia safe I think you be dodging a room on my
safe I think you be dodging a room on my
safe I think you be dodging a room on my heels of a crescent in each Mahdi Drogo
I choose hey Choji frassle on g+
I choose hey Choji frassle on g+ double-dealer we are the same you
double-dealer we are the same you
double-dealer we are the same you actually are forgiven fantasy
actually are forgiven fantasy
actually are forgiven fantasy instantaneously dance work at the
instantaneously dance work at the
instantaneously dance work at the Waukesha
Waukesha
Waukesha [Music]
SOT Ozma build a quesadilla
SOT Ozma build a quesadilla ochio say no solutions po l still
ochio say no solutions po l still
ochio say no solutions po l still encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto
encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto
encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto very more Yelich Martell pallava see
very more Yelich Martell pallava see
very more Yelich Martell pallava see boys and officer behalf of who have
to the Kyocera basic approach fuzzy
to the Kyocera basic approach fuzzy glazier cavity as masculine fashion to
glazier cavity as masculine fashion to
glazier cavity as masculine fashion to hollow out arriving equals vintage
hollow out arriving equals vintage
hollow out arriving equals vintage vintage gravida with the vida me of mine
vintage gravida with the vida me of mine
vintage gravida with the vida me of mine who big as a face to these ones still
who big as a face to these ones still
who big as a face to these ones still care for scale submit dividends of my
care for scale submit dividends of my
care for scale submit dividends of my time there I heard many of Jefferson’s
time there I heard many of Jefferson’s
time there I heard many of Jefferson’s philosophical takes on life and
philosophical takes on life and
philosophical takes on life and strategies for handling challenging
strategies for handling challenging
strategies for handling challenging circumstances many of which he inherited
circumstances many of which he inherited
circumstances many of which he inherited at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi
at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi
at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi there are a few opportunities for people
there are a few opportunities for people
there are a few opportunities for people to work outside of the drug trade
to work outside of the drug trade
to work outside of the drug trade schools are in disrepair and do not
schools are in disrepair and do not
schools are in disrepair and do not provide a viable path to success and
provide a viable path to success and
provide a viable path to success and rates of people surviving to adulthood
rates of people surviving to adulthood
rates of people surviving to adulthood are low circus as well as a high stakes
are low circus as well as a high stakes
are low circus as well as a high stakes game with severe consequences for
game with severe consequences for
game with severe consequences for mistakes
mistakes
mistakes so in all aspects of their lives
so in all aspects of their lives
so in all aspects of their lives the pedasi owns a circus community
the pedasi owns a circus community
the pedasi owns a circus community became highly skilled in summoning
became highly skilled in summoning
became highly skilled in summoning courage jumping through hoops and
courage jumping through hoops and
courage jumping through hoops and maintaining balance along a precarious
maintaining balance along a precarious
maintaining balance along a precarious fine line from Jefferson I learned these
fine line from Jefferson I learned these
fine line from Jefferson I learned these things as well as lessons about
things as well as lessons about
things as well as lessons about determination and perseverance and drive
determination and perseverance and drive
determination and perseverance and drive and techniques for managing stress
Lopez email him on a page in our Casa
Lopez email him on a page in our Casa NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no
NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no
NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten
Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten
Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten dimensions warranty from G intended
dimensions warranty from G intended
dimensions warranty from G intended [Music]
[Music]
[Music] cuidado da da da ra da mismo
cuidado da da da ra da mismo
cuidado da da da ra da mismo Yamaha my CEO Peter present a judo
you’re finished instead of a couple in
you’re finished instead of a couple in co-op right
co-op right
co-op right so percentage carbon is over because it
so percentage carbon is over because it
so percentage carbon is over because it should I cannot breathe
what does that mean go ahead they give
what does that mean go ahead they give up
I mr. Jefferson I miss his laugh I miss
I mr. Jefferson I miss his laugh I miss his company my year with the president
his company my year with the president
his company my year with the president when the circus community transformed my
when the circus community transformed my
when the circus community transformed my life I’ve been back to visit to
life I’ve been back to visit to
life I’ve been back to visit to Jefferson and the other characters in
Jefferson and the other characters in
Jefferson and the other characters in the film several times at a time and and
the film several times at a time and and
the film several times at a time and and I followed that we stay in touch on
I followed that we stay in touch on
I followed that we stay in touch on Facebook and sometimes by phone
Facebook and sometimes by phone
Facebook and sometimes by phone I’ve watched how the performers lives
I’ve watched how the performers lives
I’ve watched how the performers lives have developed and changed since that
have developed and changed since that
have developed and changed since that time I’ve held their new babies I called
time I’ve held their new babies I called
time I’ve held their new babies I called them on their birthdays things are
them on their birthdays things are
them on their birthdays things are becoming more difficult in Rio now is
becoming more difficult in Rio now is
becoming more difficult in Rio now is the Brazilian economy tumbles further
the Brazilian economy tumbles further
the Brazilian economy tumbles further interest session and stores are closing
interest session and stores are closing
interest session and stores are closing and services that used to serve that
and services that used to serve that
and services that used to serve that services that used to be available to
services that used to be available to
services that used to be available to that community are diminishing
that community are diminishing
that community are diminishing I called to Jefferson last week to tell
I called to Jefferson last week to tell
I called to Jefferson last week to tell him about this talk he is 30 now and in
him about this talk he is 30 now and in
him about this talk he is 30 now and in the face of long odds to Jefferson I am
the face of long odds to Jefferson I am
the face of long odds to Jefferson I am happy to report continues training at
happy to report continues training at
happy to report continues training at circus and in fact he’s with a
circus and in fact he’s with a
circus and in fact he’s with a performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres
performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres
performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres in Europe
in Europe
in Europe he has shows in Stockholm in London and
he has shows in Stockholm in London and
he has shows in Stockholm in London and he sent me a picture so that if you go
he sent me a picture so that if you go
he sent me a picture so that if you go there you can recognize him in one of
there you can recognize him in one of
there you can recognize him in one of those new roles on stage now more than
those new roles on stage now more than
those new roles on stage now more than ever this type of cultural exchange and
ever this type of cultural exchange and
ever this type of cultural exchange and community building is vital to our world
community building is vital to our world
community building is vital to our world in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a
in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a
in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a narrow hood or background it’s about
narrow hood or background it’s about
narrow hood or background it’s about trust it’s about knowing that someone is
trust it’s about knowing that someone is
trust it’s about knowing that someone is there for you so you don’t fall circus a
there for you so you don’t fall circus a
there for you so you don’t fall circus a combination of sports performance and
combination of sports performance and
combination of sports performance and art brings people together across
art brings people together across
art brings people together across cultures and languages and so does
cultures and languages and so does
cultures and languages and so does Fulbright with its mission to increase
Fulbright with its mission to increase
Fulbright with its mission to increase mutual understanding between people of
mutual understanding between people of
mutual understanding between people of different cultures so when I think about
different cultures so when I think about
different cultures so when I think about it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright
it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright
it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright and circus they’re really about the same
and I think now more than ever this type
and I think now more than ever this type of cultural exchange and community
of cultural exchange and community
of cultural exchange and community building is vital to our world
building is vital to our world
building is vital to our world I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright
I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright
I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright for the opportunities that has afforded
for the opportunities that has afforded
for the opportunities that has afforded me and I will carry my experience with
me and I will carry my experience with
me and I will carry my experience with the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface
the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface
the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface community and the ideals that Fulbright
community and the ideals that Fulbright
community and the ideals that Fulbright us is still with me for the rest of my
us is still with me for the rest of my
us is still with me for the rest of my life thank you
life thank you
life thank you [Applause]
”
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