When I was a child, I enjoyed writing little fragments about the flowers, the smell of the wind, and the red brick walls. When I went to the beach, I enjoyed looking down, searching for shells and sea glasses. I never understood the satisfaction of seeing cities from above; they are too far away. My favourite thing in the world was the box of buttons my grandma collected.
I am currently working on a documentary course, and the assignment is to produce a pitch document about my short film. I decided to make a film about my feeling of moving from country to country, unable to connect with any national identity. The film will be personal, and use a lot of zoomed-in shots of the environment to create intimacy and avoid the god perspective.
While making the pitch document, I started noticing things I could film, and started giving metaphorical meanings to them. Light dancing on my wall is an endorsement; frosted glass at the bus stop is a mystery; the back of a statue is the truth; Bobby’s golden nose is love across cultures. Everything feels significant. For my project, I want a similar close-up look, making something small really big. Through this course, I also realised that personal things are actually quite powerful, so I might use my personal story as a thread.
I know my project will focus on beauty and power, but now I’m thinking of a slight change of direction. I could talk about how beauty can shape the direction of the future. If I see more beauty in a house with a swimming pool, it will lead me to a different future than if I see more beauty in a hand-painted caravan. Of course, what’s beautiful is still influenced by power, but instead of focusing on how power influence our desires, I can present parallel fragments, showcasing the beauty in the alternatives.
That’s all from me. Thanks for reading x
