Notes for Conversation Shoot with Artist

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 Pre-Shoot

  • Study space: set-dressing - what stands out? what speaks to the artist's character?
  • Available light sources - use natural light as much as possible
  • Clarify with artist which materials and/or projects she is feeling to show and/or speak about
  • Set-up both cameras and ensure they both have a purpose (i.e., different and impactful angles; different proximities to the artist, etc.)
  • Test sound

Shoot

  • Start off with easy/more conversational questions (i.e., when was the last time you were home? do you miss it?) and follow the conversation's flow... if you give your own input/answers then it becomes a dialogue
  • Ease into longer/more complex questions about language, changes across Cyprus and Cypriot identity, etc.
  • Listen to her and allow her to trail off when the conversation asks for it
  • Intervene when it feels natural - think about changing angles mid-shoot for more coverage
  • Move onto filming her talk about her projects/materials; this could be handheld with DSLR and filmed on tripod with C200 (simultaneously)
  • In-camera experimentation: lowering/increasing frame rate; lowering shutter speed - effect: disruption, disjointedness, distance, disembodiment

Post-Shoot

  • Look at the footage and note themes - what differences and similarities can be drawn between artist's footage and yiayia's footage? how does this speak to generational differences in work, identity, etc.?
  • How can you push the boundaries of the medium in post-production?
  • How can you reflect the contents/themes of the footage through the affect of the film - think haptic, cuts, colour grade, etc.
  • Make stills and blog about the experience and outcome

Key Words

In-between spaces; Constructing feeling rather than trying to articulate; Subjective truth; Positionality; Autho-ethnography; Identification; Heuristic; Translation as Interpretation

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