Client: Poetry vs Colonialism | City of London
Agency: Neon Chameleon | Prodigious London
Role: Directing | Cinematography | Editing
Agency: Neon Chameleon | Prodigious London
Role: Directing | Cinematography | Editing
_the Challenge
To shoot 8 distincively different poetry films in 4 days. To create poetry films which explore colonial history and can be viewed both artistically and for educational purposes. Three prestigious funders, (yet) extreme budget and logistics limitations, 8 poets, smallest creative team, the tiniest of crew, and zero willingness to sacrifice production value nor quality.
Location-wise, we chose the Information Area at the London Metropolitan Archives main, where this one specific library alley served as our "knowledge supermarket".
_the Solution
Zahra's poem explores wealth inequality and the history of the spice trade and was subtly filled with both anger and sadness. From these points, we went on a creative journey exploring politics, history, gatekeeping, social apathy and its long-term dangers. An approach of no constraints on how to build metaphors and the final mood led us to create a tense horror-like scene in a historical knowledge supermarket, playing with portrayals of human nature, emotions, greed, hunger for power, bravery and frustration.
We all live in a knowledge supermarket, being offered affordable deals and free treats. So why do so many of us stay at home and buy nothing, really?
We all live in a knowledge supermarket, being offered affordable deals and free treats. So why do so many of us stay at home and buy nothing, really?
