On studying the film essay form, I was interested in how a story can be conveyed separately between visuals and voice. That is to say, the voice relays one narrative, and the visuals imbue it with a new meaning.
What we’re used to as audiences (or at least I am) are films where sound matches the visuals, resulting in formal and straightforward narratives. The poetry there lies in subtext indicated by words and actions. But in this form we can create our own subtext pictorially, demanding a different kind of attention from viewers; for them to piece together the story themselves rather than have it shown to them clearly.
For the content of the voice overĀ itself, I’ve always wanted to explore ideas of nurturing the moment, living by kairos time in a chronos world, the childlike wonder we tend to forget. The images felt connected to these thoughts in a way, so I pieced together the beginnings of a story I’m writing about a character I believe embodies them. I dare say this may be a method I use in the future to reconcile my preferred experience of character investment and adhering to forms of representational theory and soft choreography. Just because I may bring primary focus to objects such as the body or the landscape and the language doesn’t mean I can’t weave through a story I feel passionate about.
I don’t want to keep you too long because you probably already saw the video and are very busy. But if you haven’t seen it, that will do the rest of the explaining. And if you’re not busy, then please enjoy the peace for a while. It’s beautiful.
Harry this is a beautiful piece. The way the tones and rhythms butt up against each other opens one out to a more complex feeling-thinking about your character. I think you find poetry in this relationship. Well done!
I loved the concept of audio and visual not being a perfect match, and I think you played with and achieved that idea really nicely. I really love your narrative style also, I was engaged from the first word that was said until the very end. Also, I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PATRICK!