06/06/2025
Although I worked with videography for many decades in my native Venezuela, Everybody Loves Maako
was my first short documentary. It has appeared in seven theaters and at six film festivals. It shows how Maako Shiratori, a classical violinist trained in Japan, learned fiddle music from local Appalachian musicians during the pandemic as a graduate student in the M.A program in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University.
The current political situation makes me think that Maako might be the last International Student from Japan in the Appalachian region for the foreseeable future.
My documentary not only chronicles Maako’s experience, but mine as well, as another foreign-born student drawn to the field of Appalachian Studies.
Living in these Appalachian Mountains is wonderful. But not everyone here loves me. Many see me as an outsider. I am who I am; I have never pursued social acceptance.
My next project, to be titled “Footprints: Tras las huellas de Joe Troop,” will be a bilingual documentary (in Spanish and English) that explores the musical fusion of blue grass and “música llanera” performed by Joe Troop and virtuoso Venezuelan harpist Larry Bellorín. It will focus on Joe Troop’s development as a musician and how he has been influenced by years spent abroad in Spain, Japan and Argentina, which have made him receptive to other musical traditions.
I don’t think there is a single universal “Appalachian culture” that is impervious to time. Despite the region’s historical isolation, Appalachians are being impacted by globalization, which has brought migrants to the region from distant corners of the Americas and has sent Appalachians, like Joe Troop, abroad. In a period of heightened nationalism, virulent anti-immigrant rhetoric and mass deportation, I believe the story of Troop’s cross-cultural collaboration needs to be told. The success of the Larry and Joe duo as they tour the country is evidence that their fusion of bluegrass and “música llanera” is bothstunning in its virtuosity and appealing for the mutual respect it conveys to American audiences, who are generally unaware of the astounding richness of Latin American folk music.
They really inspire me. Furthermore it’s amazing to see how Joe Troop has developed other bands and projects, while taking what he calls “Venezualachia” on tour throughout the country.
And this is why I’m working now on this new documentary about
Joe Troop, “Footprints, Tras las huellas de Joe Troop“.
The poster and teaser for “Tras las huellas de Joe Troop” will be launched soon!
Thanks to Dr. Beth Davison of Appalachian State University and my husband and co-director Dr.
Jim Fogelquist for their support, y a Joe Troop por la confianza.
I have found that resistance from some can be overcome, and cultural barriers can be broken by artistic expression in any of its forms. Locals need more examples of hard-working immigrants, who respect and love the places they have chosen to live and who contribute to their fields of action, as well as of Americans who are open to diversity. Thank y’all !
Boone Docs Film Festival
Yndiana Montes Fogelquist Appalachian Studies Appalachian State University's Center for Appalachian Studies IBMA Foundation 2025 Appalachian Studies Association Conference “Rural Reimagined: A Grand Challenge for Appalachia” Mountain Home Music Appalachian Journal Appalachian Latinidad Virginia Tech Center for Rural Education Giza Eskubideen Zinemaldia/ Cine y Derechos Humanos Donostia/ San Sebastián North Carolina Black Film Festival Larry & Joe International Bluegrass Music Association Visite North Carolina SoloCaribe UPIKE Film & Media Arts Festival Brandon Bigg B Hickman Charlotte Latino Film Festival Film & Documentary Distribution
