Last spring, my colleague Albert William asked me a question that doesn’t come along every day: Would I like to co-teach a study abroad class in Greece? The assignment? Three weeks on the island of Paros, leading students in the production of a documentary film. My answer came in about .000001 seconds: Yes.

The Project: Unearthing Apollo’s Temple on Despotiko

On May 18th, we departed for Paros. Two days later, our ten students arrived, and we began work on a documentary about the archaeological excavations on nearby Despotiko Island. This tiny, uninhabited island holds the ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo, where archaeologists have been carefully excavating for roughly three decades. Our team set out to capture the story of these ancient ruins and the ongoing efforts to uncover their secrets.

Life on Paros: A Blur of Filmmaking and Discovery

We touched down on May 19th, and the twelve days since have been a whirlwind of shooting, exploring, and eating—with more walking than any of us anticipated. I find Paros absolutely enchanting. Apart from a few bizarre days of torrential rain and hail, the weather has been perfect.

There’s been one uninvited guest, however: mosquitoes. The heavy spring rains turned the island into a breeding ground for them, and the art of mosquito killing has become a frequent topic of conversation among our group. Between running around capturing B-roll and conducting interviews, I’ve also been stealing time to finalize scripts for my Kenya project and work on the shortlists. Concentrating hasn’t been easy with so much beauty surrounding us, but I’m doing my best to balance work with soaking up this remarkable place.

Interview with Lead Archaeologist Yannos Kourayos

One of the trip’s highlights has been interviewing Yannos Kourayos, the lead archaeologist of the Despotiko dig. Yannos is a character in the best sense of the word. His energy fills any room he enters, and his mind runs about three steps ahead of everyone else. He can’t be bothered with details like waiting for us to call “action”—he simply starts talking the moment he’s ready.

During our visit to the Despotiko excavation site, true to form, Yannos launched into a comprehensive explanation of the entire site before we’d even unpacked our gear. Once we finally got set up, we captured what I believe will be the anchor interview of the documentary. We also shot some beautiful jib footage that I think will really elevate the final piece.

Exploring the Ancient Marble Quarries of Paros

Today brought another major highlight: a visit to the ancient quarries where workers began mining Parian marble in the third millennium BCE. The marble itself was hauled away centuries ago, but the quarries remain—and they’re unlike anything I expected.

These aren’t open-pit quarries like we see in modern mining operations. They’re underground mines that feel like a cross between industrial excavation and natural cave systems. I explored two of them with all of my students, marveling at the eerie beauty of these subterranean spaces.

One quarry is known as the Cave of the Nymph because miners broke through into a natural cavern. At the entrance, we found a carving from the fourth century BCE—an offering created to honor and appease the nymphs who the ancient Greeks believed inhabited the cave. Standing before a relief nearly 2,400 years old, placed there by workers who feared disturbing the spirits of the earth, was a humbling reminder of how deeply connected the ancient world was to the landscape.

The Documentary: Despotiko, An Unknown Treasure

Our primary mission has been producing a 12-minute documentary titled Despotiko: An Unknown Treasure. We also produced a piece on called the birthplace of Apollo and another that looks at the significance of parian marble. Tomorrow we screen it for the first time—for local residents who contributed to the project, supported our work, or simply want to see what we’ve created. The venue is the Aegean Center, an art institution that has been part of Paros since the mid-1960s.

The film is still rough. In the coming weeks, we’ll be laying in professional voiceover and refining the graphics. Our hope is that the finished piece will eventually be displayed at the local archaeology museum. Of course, Yannos Kourayos will need to approve all the content, and he has proven to be a tough customer who doesn’t mince words. Tomorrow will be his first viewing of the complete documentary. I have no doubt we’ll hear exactly what he thinks.

Chasing the Sunrise on Paros

Early this morning, I woke at 4:00 AM and drove five students to the eastern side of the island to watch the first light of dawn. We found a high vantage point and spent about thirty minutes taking in the view before driving north of the town of Dryos. There, we positioned ourselves just in time to watch the sun rise over the neighboring island of Naxos.

It was beautiful—one of those moments that reminds you why you travel, why you make films, why you drag yourself out of bed before the world wakes up. But I won’t lie: it has sapped my energy for the rest of the day.

Reflections on Leading Students Abroad

Taking eleven students to Greece for three weeks is an intense experience. The job is one part parent, one part den mother, one part teacher, one part mentor—and about thirty-six parts cat herder. Somehow we held it all together. We managed to produce videos that don’t suck, and we even had some fun along the way.

By all accounts, the students had a wonderful and enriching experience. I heard more than a few describe it as the most amazing experience of their lives. The opportunity to give a group of young filmmakers such a life-expanding experience has been deeply rewarding.

Next Stop: Kenya

Now that our work here is finished, I find myself restless to tackle the daunting project that awaits me in Kenya. Saturday I fly to Athens. Sunday, London. Monday, Nairobi. And on Tuesday, a six-hour drive to Eldoret, where I’ll be shooting for the next six weeks.