Shadow flicker:

RESEARCH PLAN AND PROJECT PLAN

An experimental research in documentary video art

As a filmmaker I am always looking for the story and how to choose my shots and decoupage to fit the story the best. Most of my assigned video work is story driven. During the years I developed a specific filming method containing series of small clips, filmed (extreme) close-up, showing colours, textures and movement (see instagram.com/tesselschmidt). Most of the clips I use as visuals for music performances. But I would like to find a way to unite these tactile images with telling stories. Is it possible to make an image driven documentary work using my filming method? When do I loose the spectator? How can I immerse non-fiction stories? And can I make a work in which the story and the aesthetics of the images are equal? My main research question during the Master’s Programme is therefore: How can I make documentary video art in which the story and the aesthetics of the images are ultimately equal? This research is of relevance for me because I want to unite my deep interest in other people and their stories with my own filming method. Therefore, I need to research from what perspective and subjectivity I am filming. How do I describe my filming method and what are the ‘rules” for my kind of framing, perspective and camera movement? During my Bachelor filmstudies at the University of Utrecht there were no courses about video art, I hope I can contribute to the (theoretical) discourse of video art in artscience as well as in filmstudies. I found an essay on the Internet of the University of Sydney about Hijackig the documentary into video installation art /hijacking-documentary-into-video-installation-art written by installation artist and researcher OnacloV. This could be interesting to use during my research. I will approach my research by setting out a theoretical framework about video art, documentary filmmaking and my own shooting style. After that I will start experimenting with different layers such as audio, text, music and visuals. I will also experiment in different (film) disciplines. I will use video, 360° video, video projection, music, sound design and set design. A possible outcome can be that at the end I will no longer need text or voice-over to “explain” the story. How far can I go with this? A second outcome could be that I will be making a 3D installation in order to immerse the audience. I got the chance in different projects by Domein voor de Kunstkritiek (artcritisism) to experiment with my camera as a research tool and work around the coherence between content and images. How can you “write” a review with only video? Last year during Theatre festival Cement (‘s-Hertogenbosch) I experimented with making short visual clips (video snacks) and some hashtags to tell the story of the festival on Instagram instead of making an aftermovie, as I did in other years.

Project plan Fighting against Windmills The project I want to use for my research is about the phenomenon of shadow flicker, the flickering effect caused when rotating wind turbine blades periodically cast shadows into the nearby houses. From my garden, I have a beautiful view on an authentic windmill. One day I saw moving shadows on my bedroom wall caused by the rotating blades of the mill. I decided to take my camera and film the shadows. This resulted in exciting visuals that turned out to be unique. The shadows are determined by the position of the sun and the wind direction. I realized that this must be present in other people’s homes near a windmill or turbine. That would mean that more beautiful and unique images could be found throughout the country. During my research I found out that this phenomenon is very common in the Netherlands and that it has a huge impact on the people who have to deal with this. The project will be a personal and visual portrait about the impact of shadow flickering on the lives of the main characters in the Netherlands and how they are protesting every day (like true Don Quichotes) to stop the rotating blades of wind turbines and it’s dazzling shadows. The only thing that remains are the beautiful images that this phenomenon produces, at least if you look close enough and with a certain gaze. This project is a good case for my research b¬ecause behind the images lies a bigger story. I will start with interviewing people who have this problem and film at their houses. After that I will experiment with the images as well as with the audio (interviews, voice-over) and with set design (for instance by putting the audience in the middle of the beautiful but flickering images).