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 crews, and zero willingness to sacrifice production value nor quality.
_the Solution
Hosted by Keats House, we chose to shot this one in Keats' bedroom. A place iconic on its own, yet tricky to film in due to its extremely limited space. We also wanted to make it feel personal and intimate, focused on KiKi's emotional expressions. Long lenses and tight spaces doesn't go together, but using smart angles, compact camera rigs and a few lighting tricks, we managed to reconcile the opposites.
KiKi's poem is full of hope, which eventually conquers the grief, pain, guilt, and injustice found in the history of opium and mothers. We thought a matching visual mood would be one that's full of natural beauty, accommodating softness, pastels and warmth.
White poppies serve as multi-layered metaphor and powerful statement on history, politics, peace and humanity.
KiKi's poem is full of hope, which eventually conquers the grief, pain, guilt, and injustice found in the history of opium and mothers. We thought a matching visual mood would be one that's full of natural beauty, accommodating softness, pastels and warmth.
White poppies serve as multi-layered metaphor and powerful statement on history, politics, peace and humanity.
