9/11 Week - Memories from a Camerawoman's Perspective

by Alejandra Espasande Bouza

During the events of 9/11, I was a recent graduate from the USC film school and following the advice of one professor, I started working at my city's local television station. I was the only camerawoman, as it usually happens in this field.

I was so affected by the news that I did not work any assignments until a week after the tragic event when my producer sent me with a crew to record interviews with members of Hawthorne's local mosque which had received threats of violence.

When we arrived at the mosque there was a police car guarding the entrance, and as I entered you could sense the tension in everyone's faces, mine included!

I began to record interviews in the lobby with the male leaders of the mosque who began to talk about how theirs was a religion of peace and how they did not align with extremism.

I felt that by recording the segment we were doing something good that would hopefully apease the hate that some had manifested in the community. When we were done with the interviews, we needed to record B-roll of people during their prayer sessions so that we could edit the whole segment.

Suddenly, their faces got more tense and I heard them tell the producer "Women are not allowed in the men's praying room." Since I am very practical, and respectful of other religions, I did not to take it personally and waited in the background with my camera.

I don't know what was said but after a few more minutes of talk a breakthrough happened. Realizing the importance to show themselves to the community, they came to the conclusion that an exception had to be made and that the camerawoman (me!) could be allowed to enter the men's praying room to record.

What a moment of diplomacy! I took off my shoes and very respectfully entered the two praying rooms. As you can imagine, when I entered the men's praying room, some of them twisted their head to look at me, and I felt like I was making history in a good way.

It was a day I will never forget. Trying to help show a community's best and having that community meet us half way to make it happen.