Cuba With Love

Cuba With Love began in 1998 when I became intrigued with Cuba and wanted to photograph a female singer on and off the stage. Cuba is a country rich with music, and the musicians were accessible in a way that I like to work. I met Perla Negra with her many wigs, on my first trip to Cuba in 2000. She captured my imagination and let me into her world. I continued to visit Cuba and photograph Perla each year.

In 2003 I participated in the Project Workshop with Sam Abell in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At the workshop, it was suggested that instead of doing a photographic essay, perhaps my story better lent itself to film. In 2006 I returned to Havana to ‘make a movie’. Filmmaking was an incredible journey and my story came alive.

Perla Negra passed away in 2016. Since then, her grandson has reached out to me and is enjoying some of his Grandmother’s history through my photographs.

My last trip to Cuba was in 2018.

Written, Directed, and Produced by Wendy R. Walter
Cinematography by Andrew Jeff Mart
Edited by Zeke Turley and Alison Learned Wolf

This entire film was shot handheld. The producer, fearing that even a tripod would bring unwanted attention from authorities, refused a Steadicam. This film was shot on Panasonic HVX 200, with mini DVD and P2 cards. The cinematographer was reading the camera instructions on the plane to Havana, as the camera was just released. Access was denied numerous times during production because of the quality of recording equipment, and their concern for the protection of Cuban music rights. Post-production began with help from Final Cut Pro For Dummies but ultimately was finalized by highly qualified editors.

Documentary / 2008 / Color / English / 24 minutes