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by Stefan Werc

2 months ago

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Navotas Cemetery, Manila, The Philippines.

Manila is one of the most overpopulated places on Earth.
There are over 2000 families living above the dead in the Navotas Cemetery. Babies are born and the dead are buried in the same place.
Life goes on.

Shot and edited by Stefan Werc

twitter.com/#!/stefanwerc
facebook.com/swerc

Music by Nate Connelly

This footage was originally shot for the Bagong Silang documentary directed by Zena Merton and produced by Giselle Santos.
This is not a promo for the documentary.
Above and Below has been edited for a showreel purpose only.

Geek info:

Shot on Canon 7D
canon 17-55 2.8
tokina 11-16 2.8
canon 70-200 4
canon 100 2.8
canon 35 1.4
canon 50 1.4

Credits

Stefan Werc
Cameraman Editor
Nate Connelly
Music

2,173 Likes

Ekaterina Apanova
15 hours ago
André Le Fantôme
21 hours ago
Marcus Wood
1 day ago
Salvo Orfila
1 day ago
Cine Povero
2 days ago
havraxaz
2 days ago
Mutabsajjid
3 days ago
Tapio Snellman
3 days ago
Felipe Feijó
3 days ago
Laura Dunlap
3 days ago

Tags

Gavin Owens 2 months ago

Very powerful and moving Stefan.
You left me stunned for a moment. It's hard to believe that living conditions like this still exist while the news pounds us with fears of profit loss for banks and corporations.....
What the hell are we doing????
Very curious to see the documentary
Stefan Werc 2 months ago

Good point. Thanks Gavin.
bradbell.tv 1 month ago

Has the news been reporting on how the banks have begun gambling with food insurance programs designed to protect farmers from crop failures? It's driving up the price of food globally. For what remains of the middle class in the west, this skimming by the banks is not that big a deal. For millions of poor everywhere else in the world, it means greater poverty, starvation and death. The greater the institutional corruption in the west, the greater the death in the rest.
Oleg Kalyan 2 months ago

Nice work!
Juan I. Arana 2 months ago

As you say life goes on, but this world is so unfair....Thanks for these powerful images...
Ben 2 months ago

Impressive video Stefan and Nate. It's beautiful filmed. Added to vimeo.com/channels/hdtime
illdog 2 months ago

great footage and crazy crazy place
Learning DSLR 2 months ago

Excellent capture technically but also for the emotions it evokes. It's hard to see people in conditions so different from out own but it's easy to spot the commonalities we share as humans from cradle to grave.
Joe Moya 2 months ago

impressive
greob 2 months ago

Great pictures! Also this people deserves better!
The Film Artist 2 months ago

Stunning, moving, pure art Stefan, Peace to all! :) [TFA30]
Lovely subtle music Nate aswell.
Theresa-Ann Harvey 2 months ago

Stunning. Beautifully done - both music choice and silence are so appropriate, somehow. How much this says, without a single word spoken!

May all of these people, both living and dead, be blessed - and may the whole world be blessed to wake the heck up! This needs loving attention and change. God help us all.
Simon Scionka 2 months ago

Nice work. Beautiful cinematography!
Fabian 2 months ago

The great thing about this video is:You captured a day in there lives in just 3minutes.

And you see so much in those 3minutes without it being to hurry.

Great cinematography,the compositions where great and also the lightning was.

Its one of the better vids i've seen on Vimeo.
GV is Madeleine Productions 2 months ago

Magnifiques images!

Wich camera?

Thanks
Hopping Frog Studios 2 months ago

Congratulations. Your video has been added to the DSLR Cinema Channel.
vimeo.com/channels/dslrfilm
Janosch Delcker 2 months ago

Amazing job. Great framing, great lightning, great color grading. Very impressed.
Driftwood Cinema 2 months ago

Well done, stunning work. We westeners have got it to easy. I liked the guy cleaning the chicken...
Alexander Koning 2 months ago

wow
Sam Morrill 2 months ago

"Money isn't everything." Wow.
Spencer Glover 2 months ago

Powerful stuff, really powerful. I'm moved.
Videoprod.ch 2 months ago

HI nice! can you give some details about camera and LENS used?
Stefan Werc 2 months ago

thanks. info now in the description
Martijn Doornenbal 2 months ago

Amazing cinematography and powerful images.
KACPERPLOPOLE 2 months ago

... :(
Margo 2 months ago

shocking but beautiful picture
Trixie Barretto 2 months ago

So moving
Thanks for making this
Christian Costa 2 months ago

money isnt everything.
XDude 2 months ago

Correct. Still... living in a cemetery? Is quality of life not important?
Christian Costa 2 months ago

it´s a message for those who have everything and still, complain of their life.
living in a cemitery... they´re not living.
XDude 2 months ago

Excellent. Thank you for sharing!
David Dixon 2 months ago

"Money isnt everything", but in New York City thats what keeps the city going unfortunately. To the world, this may just be another video, but to me, this is a movie...a movie with a purpose. To help reflect on the things we as people have and take for granted. Extremely touching. And I must say that this is by far my favorite visual. Stay gold, Stefan. Much appreciated.
TraiSkin 2 months ago

Frighteningly beautiful. Stunning camera work.
Jorge Cuevas Jr 2 months ago

powerful. thank you
Tim Sessler 2 months ago

I wish it would be longer!!
Orketa Films 2 months ago

Stunning capture. love it!
Photoboy18 2 months ago

once to see is better that 100 time to hear...thanks Stefan !!! N1
Avner Gaddish 2 months ago

Moving and powerful and alarming. These people deserve better - both the living and the dead.
Marcus O'Brien 2 months ago

Emotive imagery in a pure RAW state capturing people that have daily challenges you and I get rarely... if ever.

Moving.

Excellent.
Milestone Videography 2 months ago

Manila is a city of contrast...from the posh and cosmopolitan district of Makati to the graveyard of Navotas. But despite all the circumstances shown in this video, we Filipinos still manage to smile. From natural to man-made disaster...life goes on.

Stefan, thanks for sharing this highly emotional and moving images of my country.

Miles
Melbourne, Australia
Stefan Werc 2 months ago

That's what I've noticed as well. Filipinos smile more then the europeans do.
Vignoto Photo 2 months ago

Impressive. Beautiful. Cinematic.
antigravityagent 2 months ago

you have a shown us something so sad but made it look so beautiful. I am there. I am inspired.
Michael Haydon 2 months ago

I am very touched, this is so moving and so well created. May we never complain here in the west. It is true that 'money isn't everything', so glad you included the tee shirt shot. This is quite a powerful short.
Excellent Stefan. Thanks for sharing.
Loïc Bruffaerts 2 months ago

Vert Nice
Ana Andújar 2 months ago

Fantastico
Alliance Wakeboard Magazine 2 months ago

It is insane... People drive lambos in makati district and on the other side of town people live in cardboard boxes like its an everyday thing. Manilla is a very unique place. There are so many people everywhere.
paul wex 2 months ago

wonderful images...very sensitive!
congratulations
dr. iemel 2 months ago

a big one....
Glenn Agan 2 months ago

what a powerful documentary. such a moving film. great!
Rob Lee 2 months ago

Very powerful. Great job.
graeme mathieson 2 months ago

beautiful imagery Stefan
Charles Frank 2 months ago

Oh My God. The depth and breadth of poverty in this world is staggering. Such power in such a short piece. Well done. It is just the shame of the world that it is there for you to capture.
Eric Boutin 2 months ago

Too nice work ? (deal with the raw poverty)
With the technological arsenal :
Shot on Canon 7D, canon 17-55 2.8, tokina 11-16 2.8, canon 70-200 4, canon 100 2.8
canon 35 1.4, canon 50 1.4
Marcelo Rembado 2 months ago

great work!
Carcará Filmes 2 months ago

Shocking and beautiful. Congratulations, man!
Andres 2 months ago

Good storytelling, the natural sound of the place really add up to the experience and the music is just the right one, very nice job!!
ArtSocket 2 months ago

Beautiful and eye-opening.
Arami Films O;)-- 2 months ago

Truly amazing!!! life changing footage. All I have to say after watching this film is... "My problems are "NOTHING" compared to these people's struggles. Thank you Stefan!
Eric Boutin 2 months ago

Nice shooting but a little the "slumdog millionnaire" syndrom (very bad film for me and bad exemple). Need more, deeply and less postal cards with this kind of subject (sorry for my english, I'm french) Merci for contact even with crtitcs.
geo kyta 2 months ago

Beautiful shots..ungly situation..
Shev 2 months ago

Awesome job....Sad movie.
Antonio Pauletbox 2 months ago

Great work!
paulodionisio 2 months ago

muito bom!
Morten Engelien 2 months ago

What? Is this shot on a 1700$ camera? You have given me new faith in the 7D!
Bryce Gurr 2 months ago

Very impressive work! Having lived their for a couple years and seeing this lifestyle first hand the truth you shared brought back a lot of memories.

Like a comment mentioned above, the Filipino's are some of the happiest people I have met. As well as some of the most generous. While I was there many of the people had a 'whats mine is yours' attitude and always tried to share what they had no matter how little it seemed they had.

Great video! Thanks for making this!
Steven Brian John Cook 2 months ago

One picture says a thousand words. Very powerful stuff.
Thora 2 months ago

That's devastating.
Color Lounge - Cedric Riveau 2 months ago

Beautiful portraits Stefan. Really.
mags 2 months ago

I was born in Manila. It makes me sad that this is still going on today.
James Wong Kah Tatt 3 weeks ago

everybody must help them as soon as possible...do not wait too late...this childrens need education...
pablo 2 months ago

Beautiful and powerful..
Robert Williams 2 months ago

Lovely film. The simplicity of the images speak loud.
Bart Tecza 2 months ago

Brilliant end. The connection between the mother and her child that is communicated (as how I understand it) by the over bite of the mom and the particular clip of the child feeling his upper gums, is magic. It speaks to the cycle, to the closed cycle of that world's reality, to the optimistic cycle of life...brilliant. Good for you for creating that moment. It makes the whole thing ...profound.
B Films 2 months ago

Powerful stuff Stefan, beautifully filmed, structured delicately with care, a truly lovely piece.
PIX IN MOTION by Leo Bar 2 months ago

Coming at this time of the year, it's a revelation of how much we still have to fix in this screwed world.
Your filming Stefan, brought up all the emotions and then some. Very well conceived and communicated.

Happy holidays, and let's hope for a brighter future for all humans in this small planet.

Leo
jeriko1kenobi 2 months ago

I visited Philippines and Manila two times and I pretty know how the conditions are there and I think you did a really good job, respecting the dignity of the people and valorizing the human energy and vitality. A really good job!
Alex Kim 2 months ago

차라리 도시문명의 저 건너편에 있으면 슬프지도 않을텐데 ...
Bhruno morais 2 months ago

Fucking reality that so hard to see
ANGELO SANDE 1 month ago

Wonderful, fabulous... or terrific and disturbing? I don't know. Anyway, an extraordinary piece of Cinema and Music.
CarloFiumanò 1 month ago

beautiful! bravo! ;-)
Dave 1 month ago

Great job filming. This really should drive home to people that this world is overwhelmingly evil and run by evil. This reality is not correctable from the world itself. The world is the problem IMO.. People keep hoping but to no avail. Otherwise the world would have been fixed by now. After all don't many want to see it fixed apparently that is not enough. Thank You for showing many the real world.
He Bre 1 month ago

How could I not comment, as it was this reality that led me to bury father in Careta Cemetary cebu PI. (against many wishes of family members) my father an Australian lived in the PI for 30+ years. He was no saint but his love & respect for the marginalised people was unparalleled. Actually he is uraban legend amongst many ex pats in the PI. I just new he would want to be around life in his death, it made sense to put him as close to living breathing laughing cemetry community as possible. I made a lil vid there was no funeral or reception I was the only one there, so yeh I made the vid (very amature) for the rest of the family but after watching your I thought you'd appreciate this one.
on the other vid site...youtu.be/5PYpIfqULNk
Antonio Hernandez 1 month ago

Gorgeous!
Olybop 1 month ago

sweet blog.gaborit-d.com/above-and-below/
Francesco Paciocco 1 month ago

stunning composition and attention to detail. i love how you handled your subjects with such delicacy and care. i also love how you resisted the temptation to use the slider in more shots than you did...many go overboard but your usage was quite tasteful ;)
bob lorrimer 1 month ago

Compelling film making which in less than three minutes exposes the lottery of the human condition.
Stefan Werc 1 month ago

Thanks Bob. I love your videos.
bob lorrimer 1 month ago

Thank-you Stefan...a comment which makes me feel humble ... when given the very honest and raw imagery of this particular work.
Luca Rocchini 1 month ago

Beautifully shot. Intriguing. I was there too.
François Mathey 1 month ago

Stunning work. Shocking and beautiful at the same time.
rube ruiz 1 month ago

Stefan, excellent to share your skill and your heart...
the DSLR entity is powerful and its great to see fellow artists use it to expose the human condition.
Thank you...
Miguel diaz 1 month ago

wowww.beautiful. are a person with great sensitivity and a keen eye and astute able to find beauty in pain.
Eugenio 1 month ago

Uau
Amandio Bastos 1 month ago

Great work.
Antonio Leal 1 month ago

Horrifying scenes, but they are real. The video is very good.
Alex_IMIX 1 month ago

all your videos are impressive and epic. keep it up. all the best to you.
Don Schaffer 1 month ago

Great shooting. Terrific job at capturing the essence of the location & expanding one's world view.
Lucas Jatoba 1 month ago

Beautifully sad. But true.
Gary Dallmann 1 month ago

Your work touched my eyes, touched my mind, and most importantly touched my heart. Thank you.