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Published: February 9th 2007
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being robbed and my 15 minutes of fame
As some of you know I was robbed about a month ago in Ecuador on my way to Peru, what you didn´t know was that I would get my 15 minutes of fame as a result of it. I was robbed of my computer, Ipod, my cameras and the little cash i had on me on the 29th of December. I arrived to Lima on the 31st of December and I was looking on lonely planet´s thorn tree to see if i could find a replacement camera in the duty free town of tacna. While I was on the thorntree I saw a posting for a "production" company in England that was doing a documentary on travel scams. Here is part of an email from one the assistant producers to me: "In answer to your question, we are making a series of documentaries about tourist scams around the world. The series is being made for Voom, one of the largest High Definition networks in America, and we intend to also sell it to other broadcasters, including British networks. We hope that this series will help raise awareness of the risks
travellers face, and equip them with the knowledge they need to avoid becoming a victim. It's certainly not our intention to put people off travelling, but simply arm them with the facts so that they can enjoy their trip to the full. We are hoping to interview people who have experienced a scam first hand, and then use dramatic reconstruction to tell the story."
I told them about what happened to me and they replied, " Wow, it's quite a story - and I think it would work really well in the programme. It must be pretty hard to keep your guard up at all times when you're travelling, and I guess no one wants to have to be suspicious of everyone they meet do they?" here is a copy from another email, " We are trying to draw up a shooting schedule at the moment, so it would be really good to know if you are willing to take part in the documentary. If you are concerned about your identity being revealed on screen then we can film you in shadow so your face is hidden, and withhold your name. I think your story would be
immensely valuable in warning other travellers, and I really hope that you decide to take part; it would be great to have you on board" Ok, I know I probably lost half of you already but here´s the rest of the story.
"We are trying to draw up a shooting schedule at the moment, so it would be really good to know if you are willing to take part in the documentary. If you are concerned about your identity being revealed on screen then we can film you in shadow so your face is hidden, and withhold you name. I think your story would be immensely valuable in warning other travellers, and I really hope that you decide to take part; it would be great to have you on board"
Well I did take part and on the Sunday before the Superbowl (fuc··& bears) the producers were in Lima and we filmed the documentary. It started as an interview in the suite of the Director and then we went to the plaza mayor in Lima to get a South American feel. We spent about 4 hours there shooting scenes of me walking around and looking dumb. Then after
Lunch they wanted to interview me again but this time in the plaza. Well, why they were setting up the camera and what not, a bus full of Asian tourists pulled up. They gathered around as well as did many Peruvians. There were about 100 plus people gthered around me and before the producers began to interview me several people asked me for my autograph and to have their picture taken with me. Unfortunately none of this was caught on film because my friends Karen, Dave and Paulina were drinking free Pisco sours at the place we had lunch (just kidding guys). The next day they shot a dramatic reenactment with "actors", maybe some day you will see me on the Discovery channel (I sure as hell hope not). ok, that is about it.
I was able to get a new camera from the states and I even have some photos from the beach here. I spent a week at my friends Karen's family beach house, a very nice beach house i might add and tried to learn how to use my camera. photos will be forthcoming. Hope all is well. Cuidate.
Dave
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