Pull Focus: Pamela Yates

by Kelsey Marsh, Angeli Gabriel, Bryan Bello

Pamela Yates is a co-founder of Skylight Pictures (with Peter Kinoy), a company dedicated to creating films and digital media tools that advance awareness of human rights and the quest for justice by implementing multi-year outreach campaigns designed to engage, educate and activate social change. Her latest project, “Granito: How to Nail a Dictator”, is a story of destinies joined by Guatemala’s civil war, the mass genocide of it’s people, and how a film made in the 1980’s is being used as evidence to indict the former Army General.

Yates visited the Center to talk about “Granito”; the meaning of the film, its influence on current human rights affairs in Guatemala and the priceless relationships made during filming. She also provided some valuable insight into making documentary films for social impact. Watch her interview unfold below and check out the film’s website for more information. 

Director Pamela Yates explains the fundamentals of what "Granito" is about: 

Yates discusses her reasoning behind why a documentary was the best meduim to tell this story: 

Pamela gives aspiring filmmakers some sound words of advice and encouragement:

Yates elaborates on the importance of finding friends or allies and how she did so while making "Granito":

Pamela tells how she met the central characters of the film and how she was able to gain their trust:

Yates describes her emotional state while filming "Granito": 

Pamela answers - when/how did you make the decision to film "When the Mountains Tremble"?: 

Yates expands on what is was like filming the helicopter scene, one of the most terrifying scenes, of "When the Mountains Tremble":

Pamela talks about the her motivations for making "When the Mountains Tremble":

Yates owns up to being afraid while filming and how she ultimately overcame her fears:

Yates answers - in regards to indicting Guatemala's corrupt government of the 1980s, what impact has the film had?:

Pamela gives us an interesting view on the more subtle messages of "Granito": 

Yates elaborates on the audience response from the film's screening in Guatemala: 

Yates expands on the Guatemalan government's reaction toward the film:

An educational outreach intiative is packaged along with the film. Yates discuss in greater detail the program's mission:

Yates discusses the film's past and future screenings as well as its festival experiences:

Pamela clarifies what the term "Granito" means:

Download:

granito_interview_transcription.pdf