No Words – De Beer

No Words is a short film wreathed in ambiguity, of Volker searching for a letter and reading it with profound joy. The letter’s contents remain mysterious, with only Volker’s growing smile to suggest a positive message. We never find out who it is from, and can only guess if its a lover, family member or friend, that wrote it to him/her. Each version of the film is a snapshot into Volker’s desire for the letter, or happiness in finding it. With each version comes a variation in whether it is a brand new letter that has just been delivered, or an old letter that has been kept for some time. Sometimes we see Volker watching the streets to see if the postman will arrive where he/she later finds the letter already delivered and placed in his/her room by a helpful housemate. Other times,  he/she will stare wistfully out of the window until something sparks his/her memory of the letter.

An online process posed its own challenges and freedom, forcing a new way of thinking and film making to come about in the creation of these films. On one hand, there is no tripod, no recording equipment, and you aren’t even physically on set to scope out the best way to set up a shot. On the other hand, you have the ability to film in a location across the world at the drop off a hat. With this project I felt the most free to experiment and try new things, hence the four different version that reflect various interpretations of the script. From this project I have learnt the importance of using online platforms for quick group meetings, as well as the ability to problem solve and try out different ways of making a film.

I mostly created these films through trial and error, with each new shoot I would focus on a different thing to fix, be that lighting, framing, props and so on. I chose the best footage to create wuick snapshot films that can stand as part of a bigger piece.

Version 1:

Version 2:

Version 3:

No Words V3 from Media Factory on Vimeo.

Version 4:

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