Filmmaker Statement

The Fisherman’s Net seeks to drop the viewer into a world that otherwise may not be experienced. This short documentary highlights a way of life that is in danger of fundamental change – the fishing communities off Eastern Zanzibar. Before sunrise until later afternoon, I explored the world of the fisherman with Abdulla. What originally seemed like a story on fishing methods, time spent on the water, and selling the fish turned into a story about community and support. Helping each other to find helmsman, repair an engine, discuss boat and driver plans for tourist groups, and sharing the fruits of their work in the shadow of the beating sun, I realized the importance of every member under the fisherman’s network and how they are all key to the survival of the culture and community