2010 Canon 5D reel

My wife's extended family has many statue makers. They make everything from 6 inch high bodhisatvas (buddhist deity) for tourists to 10 foot tall Buddhas for monasteries and hotels.

This is only the first two steps of the process. The fabrication of a wax model and the encasement in mud and straw. The next step is to pour molten metal into the dried mud and straw form. The metal melts the wax, which then drips out of a drainage hole. After the wax is completely replaced with metal, it is left to cool. Then the mud and straw are stripped away and what is left is a beautiful work of art!

This is a very simplified version of the true process. There may be other steps that I am leaving out.

Artisans filmed -- on location -- in Kathmandu. The makura was shot at the dining room table -- on location -- in El Cerrito, CA. Manju and Tara shot on the kitchen floor with a skateboard dolly.