Prepping for ‘Gaia Scene’

This moodboard is for one of the scenes I have planned for my five minute film for the assessment. In it, Gaia wakes from her slumber as something is wrong, yet she does not yet know what. She rises and starts moving through the landscape, yet as she goes, her movements degrade and signs of pollution start appearing on her body. Black oil trickles from her ears, her eyes, her mouth. Twisting black plastics emerge behind her, covering her white dress and obscuring it. She struggles against these changes, like a bird caught in an oil spill, struggling to breathe, to walk, to move. There is a sense of desperation as the scene continues. Ultimately she succumbs to the damage and falls to the ground, the pollution leaching out of her.

I am wanting to shoot in Holyrood Park ideally as it is easy to get to from home, and if conditions turn myself and my actor can get to shelter relatively quickly. The landscape is ideal for what I want, with long grass, rocks, moss, heather etc. although getting to the heather might push us into a more exposed area of the park up on the hills. I’m hoping for slightly overcast weather that is not too windy, so that filming can be straightforward. I have completed a risk assessment for this shoot just so I have everything covered.

I’m wanting a nice balance between wide shots and detail shots, taking inspiration from Matthew Barney’s creative approach. I also really like how he handles movement in the frame and how he directs his performers. The film is very much an ‘art film’ in my eyes, and I want to pursue this style of filmmaking in my own practice.

My ideas for the costumes are to use a contrast of black and white materials, using a white medievalist dress and adding black plastics and fabrics to the costume as the scene progresses, to symbolise pollution. Will have to see how this turns out and might have to workshop best costume options for this.