In Search of Teen Dreams
Publication: NZ Herald | Issue: Online | Date: September 2019
Film maker Jessie Casson’s intrepid journey through South America an adventure of a lifetime.
Since Jessie Casson captured the portraits of 26 teenage in South Americans in their native countries, she has wondered whether their dreams were fulfilled.
Now the Auckland photographer and filmmaker will take her family on a special intrepid journey over the next four months to find out what became of those teenagers.
“It’s kind of exciting and terrifying at the same time, Casson says. “It’s going to be a roller-coaster ride.”
Together with husband, Matt Hockey, and their children, Dylan, 13, Otis, 9, and Iris, 7, the family will document the trip through Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize.
They will film and be filmed reuniting with as many of the 26 subjects as they can find and post the documentary in short stories on social media for anyone to follow.
Casson and Hockey, originally from England, travelled through South America in 2003 when Casson photographed and filmed the 26 teens as part of a project and the couple's year-long honeymoon.
They eventually arrived in New Zealand with two backpacks and never left.
“We’ve done quite a bit of travelling already with the kids. And Dylan is coming to an age where he can’t really be taken out of school so this is our last opportunity.
“Im curious about the human condition, I’m interested in what’s happened to these people and whether their dreams have gone through and whether their perspective has changed as they’ve gone from teenager to adulthood.“
Rosa from Isla Tequille, Peru. In 2003 her dream was to keep knitting and grow good potatoes and maize. Jessie Casson hopes to ask Rosa how her dreams turned out.
Casson also wants to show her children what life looks like outside New Zealand.
“New Zealand is a very safe haven. And I kind of want to hold their hand and show them what adventure looks like. And create memories as a family because we could stay here for four months and you don't remember anything.”
Instead, they will be spending they Christmas in Mexico at a local family home, bonding over memories she hoped would last a lifetime.
“It's very hard to imagine as a child what life looks like outside of your own reality but they talk about it a lot.”
There will be challenges and obstacles but there will also be rewarding experiences that Casson hopes her children will learn from.
Though the children will be out of school for four months Casson says they will still do basic reading, writing and maths while travelling.
Noel from Tupiza, Bolivia, a horse guide in 2003. His dream was to work with horses for the rest of his life but his father wanted him to be a teacher.
They will travel with a dedicated camera operator who also, helpfully speaks Spanish and Casson is confident the family will be safe.
When I travelled there the first time I remember thinking I feel very safe and I would love to bring a family back here if we ever had one.
“I like to push myself out of my comfort zone and I hope our trek will inspire other people to do that, and you don't have to go halfway across the world to do that – you can do that in your own suburb.”
The family leaves in two weeks and will stay in hostels, backpacker accommodation and homestays throughout the trip, visiting cities and remote towns.
Casson has already tracked down 11 of the 26 teenagers, some of whom she only had a first name for.
She said one of the subjects cried when she sent him the photograph taken of him in 2003 because he did not own any photos of himself from that age.
Casson says the unknown is daunting but she is focused on being able to tell as many as possible of the teenagers' stories about how their lives have turned out.
Osman of Nicaragua. In 2003 he wanted to be a professional American footballer. Casson wants to know if he has realised his dream?