Notes on Nicola Meeting 15/03/24

Overall project - Nicola’s Suggestions

• To consider overall narrative and have strategies to sustain the film for 20 minutes.

• Some sort of narrative arc? Communicate what’s happening?

• Provoke thought over a period of time, building to something. Storytelling in the micro.

• Feedback on assessment piece: The narrative themes are strong, eg. Eco-horror, feminised body etc. need to incorporate into structure more.

• Can’t have the film be a series of ‘vignettes’

• What is my wider framework? What are the visual strategies I’m using?

• Nicola suggests I have a rough ‘story structure’ as my basis. Also to separate my story structure from my themes, liberate the story from the themes. I honestly disagree with this, the themes are the most important thing in the film, and I want viewers to focus on them, and be able to read this film multiple ways, and find what they can in the film.

• She said something along the lines of “it’s fine to strip it back and zero in on themes in detail, but eventually need to bring everything back in”, but it she means story and narrative.

Feedback on assessment WIP 2

What is the relationship between the solo performer and the group?

• my answer: visually I think this dichotomy is interesting as it creates visual texture and contrast. The mass is slow moving and oozing, compared to the singular dancer, who’s movement increases in speed and frenzy throughout. I am yet to be able to articulate what this relationship is doing beyond that but this is my starting point.

Am I resisting narrative structure?

• My answer: yes 100%. I’m not necessarily interested in telling a linear, three act structure kind of story. Instead I am taking inspiration from more experimental film structures, and am wanting to strike a balance between narrative and non-narrative/abstraction. I think my resistance to narrative comes from a place of wanting to figure out how I want to explore my subject matter in my own way, rather than taking on preconceived structures and ideas.

Am I planning on making climate change clearer / more explicit?

• my answer: not more explicit. I don’t want it to be on the nose or shoved down the viewers throat, I really hate when films do that. I prefer the approach of leaving room for the viewer to offer their own interpretation and bring their own thoughts, contexts and ideas to the film. If they get nothing, then fine that’s on them, but if they do get something, then I am happy to have provoked thought. I am taking on board what Kitty and I discussed, where climate change/anxiety, is the canvas and subtext for what the rest of the film is exploring.

Am I planning on bringing in naturalistic elements?

• my answer: yes, I have another shoot planned focusing on the feminised body in nature, with dirt and filth being explored, as well as this idea of the body in the landscape.