Tran, An. "Filming Hotel Rwanda." Videography 29.12 (Dec 2004) 48.

Ten years ago, a genocide took place in Rwanda that went unnoticed by most of the world. Over a period of 100 days in 1994, a mass slaughter led by Hutu Power militias brutally claimed the lives of 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus. During the killing, a hotel manager named Paul Rusesabagina offered refuge to 1,268 Rwandans inside the hotel Milles Collines. Behind the barricade, all 1,268 people survived. Hotel Rwanda, directed by Terry George and shot by Robert Fraisse, stars Don Cheadle as the courageous Rusesabagina, supported by Joaquin Phoenix, Nick Nolte and Sophie Okonedo.

For Fraisse, whose credits include The Notebook and Seven Years in Tibet, the script's subject matter drew him behind the camera. He says, "Not many people are aware of the genocide, and I liked the script because it's not a film you usually see on the screen. It is a real story that needed to be told."

Shot outside Johannesburg, South Africa, over 50 days, production took place at a vacant hospital that was transformed into a hotel by Production Designer Johnny Breedt. Says the DP, "A hospital is very similar to a hotel in its layout. There are many rooms, like a hotel, and a very large kitchen. There were other buildings on the property, which were used for makeup, editing, for costumes. It was very convenient to have everything in one place. Since we were at the mercy of the very unpredictable weather, we could retreat inside and shoot an interior scene if we needed to."

The filmmakers agreed that the proper look for the film would not involve the glamour and polish of a large-budget Hollywood movie. "It's a dramatic story, but because it's also a true story, it wasn't going to be about lighting," Fraisse explains. "I wanted to stay away from a sophisticated style, and we agreed that a 'news reel' look would fit the movie much better."

Fraisse kept the camera in motion throughout the film. "Don Cheadle's character is constantly going somewhere-he's running down hotel corridors and in a hurry. We needed the camera's movement to convey energy. We used the Steadicam often and kept the camera close to the actors. It was more dramatic than having a wide shot of [Cheadle] crossing the frame."

For Phoenix's character, Jack, a news cameraman, additional footage was shot to depict video captured during the chaotic events. "We had this documentary video footage of people getting slain by Hutus in the middle of the street. We replicated the scene because we couldn't use the original material. We shot it in video as well, and it's what Paul and General Oliver watch on the monitors."

A decade ago, the genocide in Rwanda was disregarded by most of the international community. Now, the filmmakers hope to bring some attention to the little-acknowledged events with hotel Rwanda. The film will be released Dec. 22.

An Tran is a frequent contributor to Videography, as well as the editor of www.cinematographer.com.