Remember
A short experimental film using the poem “Remember” by Christina Rossetti as creative influence and represented in a dance sequence, the visuals influenced by the work of Etienne-Jules Marey. Music with the permission of the Atlanta Master Chorale.
This is my first student film project after coming out of lockdown. Such a joy to be filming again in the University Studios. Aimee is a professional dancer and has also been in lockdown for nearly 6 months.
Remember is one of my experimental film projects for my PhD Film practice and my research into memory representation and dance movement in film.
I used a rim lighting setup to enhance the edges of the performer creating an almost silhouette effect but still revealing details of the performance by Aimee.
The inspiration for the film came from the poem by Christina Rossetti (born London, 1830). The visuals are complimented by a chorale performance of the poem by the Atlanta Master Chorale, Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Artistic Director and Conductor: Dr. Eric Nelson Composed by Bob Chilcott, Oxford University Press. Many thanks to James Verrecchia the Executive Director who kindly gave me permission to use their performance.
Official short trailer for the film project ‘Remember’
Clone Trails created in Premiere Proc CC using masking.
Using the poem “Remember” as creative influence I decided to film a short dance sequence for the visuals with a voice over. The concept is to represent the loss of memory and integrate this into the much larger practice on the conceptualisation of memory in cinema.
This is the instrumental only version still using the poem “Remember” by Christina Rossetti as creative influence, represented in a dance sequence, and the visuals could be described as having been influenced by the work of Etienne-Jules Marey.
Remember (1849)
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
By Christina Rossetti
Studio session (Monday 17th August 2020)
Two camera setup Canon C300 and Canon 5D MK3.
Concept One. The studio is dark, very dimly lit. Using the 2 light panels. The aim is for the dancer to move in and out of the light and the lens. Visually a silhouette, backlighted dancing in front of a static camera. Rim Lighting setup.
Concept Two. The studio is brightly lighted using the house lights. The dancer interacts with the moving camera. No lighting rig available so used 4 led lightpanels, setup to cover the performance area. Canon C300 used handheld.
Additional Visuals: Capture close and extreme close movements for both concepts. Hand and foot movements. Face and head movement.
Music
For the performance (performer to supply) Post production: anything with a regular beat to use as a background to cut to.