I tried to use voodoo to win Race Around The World, and in some ways it worked
Filmmaker Mikaela Zuiderduyn reflects on her experience competing in the 'Race Around The World' documentary series while traveling through New Orleans. She discusses the physical and creative burnout caused by the show's relentless pace and her attempt to find inspiration in the city's slower culture.
Why it matters
It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the psychological toll of reality television production and the challenges of creative work under extreme pressure.
Mikaela with her voodoo dolls. ( ABC/Race Around The World: Mikaela Zuiderduyn )
Link copied Share Share article Six Australian filmmakers are travelling the world in search of a story, each tasked with making a weekly short film for ABC iview's Race Around The World .
This is contestant Mikaela Zuiderduyn's experience from her week six travels in Louisiana, USA.
Halfway through the Race Around The World competition, I was sitting second last on the leaderboard. So, I decided to cheat.
Not with extra money or some legitimate skew of the rules, but with magic.
By the time I arrived in New Orleans, I'd spent weeks moving at the relentless pace of the competition.
Every week meant a new country, a new documentary, a new deadline and a new challenge.
Finish one film, jump on a plane, start thinking about the next and don't look back.
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