As a freelance filmmaker, it’s often difficult to show the projects I’ve worked on. If the client posts a video online, then I can usually embed it into a page here but sometimes the work is for internal use and doesn’t get seen publicly. You may have seen some of my work but not realised that I was involved - over the past few months I have worked on the Guernsey election, where we filmed nearly 100 candidate profiles in just 4 days as well as several other projects for local government departments.
So it’s always nice to work on a commission where the client has agreed that I can share the final piece. Artist Bridget Spinney is one such person and she contacted me near the end of lockdown wanting to film an artist’s statement video to help promote her unique approach to creating coastal artwork.
Bridget understandably felt quite nervous about being filmed so I suggested that we begin by recording a voiceover off-camera. I was keen not to script this as I wanted to avoid an over-practiced recital and instead, to hear Bridget as though she was discussing her work with a friend. Often the ‘golden’ soundbites come between takes and I hoped to record the real Bridget in the moments she forgot she was speaking into a microphone.
The biggest challenge with this project was in cutting that audio down to an appropriate run-time. Sadly we had to lose a lot of emotive back-story but that was necessary to make room for the art itself. After several revisions we reduced it to a suitable length while maintaining the necessary content. This left us with a solid narrative that we could then base a filming schedule upon.
Filming took place over several sessions in Bridget’s studio, her gallery exhibition and at L’Ancresse Bay. Our first visit began as a filmed exploration of the beach but as golden-hour approached and the low sun started raking across the sand, we quickly decided to stage the whole artistic process while the light was perfect. This provided all the material I needed to cover Bridget on location and I returned the following evening alone to capture b-roll footage of various details and scenics used throughout the film.
Bridget wanted to use as background music, ‘Black Rock Reef’ by local producer Flexagon - a track which had accompanied her work in a previous collaboration. I liked the music but initially felt it might be a little too dark and mysterious for the style of video I had in mind. This concern was resolved by having it specifically mentioned in the voiceover and once it was cut and mixed behind Bridget’s voice, it bedded in nicely. I do recommend checking out Flexagon’s music and his approach to making these particular pieces, as they tie in deeply with Bridget’s work.
The editing process was fairly standard once the voiceover was finalised; matching shots to the narrative, finding a pleasing pace and trying to get the ‘feel’ right.
Having a film made about yourself is difficult, particularly when it’s your first time and more so when you don’t carry an egotistical personality. Few of us like the sound of our own voices or seeing ourselves on screen. Reminding Bridget during the approval process to pretend she was watching somebody else helped to ease her self-consciousness. My role as a filmmaker is as much about coaching the subject and helping them feel as relaxed as possible, as it is technical. She delivered her voiceover passionately despite her nerves and our relaxed approach to recording and filming allowed her to keep any anxiety about the process in check, appearing confident and natural throughout the film.
Here's what Bridget had to say about her experience:
"I would like to highly recommend the work of Dan Guerin of LeadingLight. He has made my first daunting experience of making a film very easy. He interpreted my brief into film brilliantly. Being my first experience, I was uncomfortable in front of the camera and with a microphone close under my nose, Dan tailored the film in such a way to set me at my ease and was kind and patient, clearly explaining each stage. Being an artist, I imagine, I am a tricky customer but I am thrilled with the aesthetic, mood and light. A true professional."Bridget Spinney
This is the kind of project that I could continue developing endlessly if time and budget allowed. You can find out more about Bridget and her art here. I’ve enjoyed working with her on this very personal project and I look forward to attracting similar commissions in the future.
If you would like to feature your own business or personal-interest in a film, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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