Hello all!
Yesterday Joe, Martin and I had a meeting with Jacqui Clark about the filming of the shorts for the Tall Ships opening ceremony, and after phoning up as many members as we could get in touch with, we have been able to confirm that we will be able to participate. Here are some more details on the event and what we're expected to do for it:
Jacqui is actually going to send us out a first draft of the script, which will give you all a much better idea of what's going to happen because my notes are not very good (too many screaming babies in the Isleburgh café!), but here's a brief summary. Behind the Co-op area a massive stage is going to be built (orchestra pit and all!) and there will be a CIRCULAR SCREEN in the middle, where our films will be projected (so we'll need to keep that in mind when we're filming). The reason the screen is circular is because it ties in with the whole concept of the Tall Ships opening ceremony, as a journey across the ocean relies on on circles (the moon, compasses, etc). The performance will be split into four sections, and this is where the above image comes into play, as it's being used as the main inspiration for the ceremony. The four sections will be:
- Midder - Sea, boats, home
- Aert - earth, wind, sails and direction
- Nord - Northern Lights and Dancing
- Sungaets - Sun, direction and fire
The two sections that concern us will be Aert and Nord. For Aert we are required to make a film from ground-level perspective, and for Nord we are to film from a birds-eye perspective. So a challenging brief!
As for film-content, we are allowed to have whatever we want (within reason), though Jacqui would like to have some input. The films can be narratively constructed or not, they can be wacky or serious, as long as we keep the visuals away from puffins, fiddles, and all that cliché'd stuff. What we are really being asked to do is to depict a young person's Shetland (but since this will be given the green-light by certain members of Shetland we should keep things positive, so negative stuff guys!). We should also bear in mind that this will be viewed by people who don't necessarily have a great grasp of our language, so it is important to keep things simple but with high impact - so perhaps less reliance on dialogue and more on using the image-track to tell a story.
Jacqui also said she really liked the idea of crop circles - so hey, Ceidiog, seems like your audience was unaware of your genius! Oh, and she also liked the idea of the winchman stealing a chip. Lorcan, she also said that the split-screeen stuff is allowed :) (oh, and do you have maddrim's external hard-drive?). Joe and me also have visions of using the Town Hall clock-tower is some sort of stunt for some aerial shots...
We will be required to film these films during Easter Break and have established that there will be enough senior members around to help out in filming. So that time-frame is from the 26th of March to the 8th of April, and editing will need to be done by around May (we'll get a concrete deadline soon, I'm sure). The running time for these films, I think, was 6 to 7 minutes each.
So for now we should be brainstorming like mad, planning and storyboarding so we can provide a concrete outline to Jacqui and to those who may not be here until April who'll be part of filming (though hopefully will still be emailing in and participating in the planning process, yes?? :D). As Joe said, with this we should "think big and cut back" and as Martin said "Ask, borrow, steal" (or at least I think he said words to that effect...). So don't hesitate to come forward with big and crazy ideas folks, because we can probably make them come to life in some form ... even if we have to go to extremes to make it happen - perhaps even opening hostilities with farmers?! So if you have any immediate ideas right now, do send them in! Martin has also said he can hire out a minibus and take us to the outer isles (except maybe Fair Isle and Foula and the crazily far away ones...), so let's get location scouting!
We really do want to impress with this one, after all, there'll be 5,000 people there, as well as international media! :O
So, an FAQ summary!
What is the brief?
One film from ground perspective, one film from a birds-eye perspective, with easy to follow narrative but high impact visuals.
When are we filming?
Around the time of the 26th of March to the 8th of April. Editing will take place from April to May.
What's the film-content got to be?
Anything we like as long as it depicts Shetland from our perspective and doesn't involve fiddles and puffins and fair-isle ganseys.
Can we be wacky?
Yes!
What should we be doing now?
Brainstorming, planning, storyboarding!
If I am not in Shetland can I still be part of the planning process?
Definitely! And if you don't want to have a big input, that is also fine!
When is the next Maddrim Meeting?
I'm not entirely sure, I'll get back to you ASAP.
What's the best accompaniment to a cup of tea?
Tunnock's Tea Cakes!
Happy birthday to...?
Martin and Kathy! :D
All right I think that's a wrap. If you have further questions don't hesitate to email. And get those ideas rolling in! :)
Roseanne x
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