Short Films Open Call
Hello!
I'm making short films alongside UTC Photo professor Mattie Pieschel while I'm artist in residence at Stoveworks. I'm creating these videos as a component of my solo exhibition at Yes We Cannibal gallery in Baton Rouge, LA this May.
About me: I'm a 32 year old queer, white, cis woman living in Atlanta with my wife Adriana and our dog Bert. I teach art at Emory University and I'm into cooking, dancing, reading, and movies. I have a very multidisciplinary art practice that includes sculpture, photo/video, and writing. The common threads through my bodies of work is an emphasis on the mutability of the body, unreliable narratives of the self, and a dark sense of humor.
The Project
The films are a modern retelling of the story of Daphne and Apollo, the Greek myth in which Daphne chooses to transform eternally into a tree rather than succumb to Apollo's advances while a group of androgynous, interchangeable figures called the Greek Chorus play kissing games in the woods.
I need anyone looking for a little adventure to be part of the Greek Chorus. No prior acting experience required. Performers can take part in some or all of the films. This is an ideal project for anyone interested in seeing an artists' behind the scenes process, curious about performing, and interested in storytelling/mythology/transhumanist ideas like the cyborg manifesto.
Summary of the Films
Seven Minutes in Heaven
Opens on a game of spin the bottle. Camera is placed inside bottle so we see the Greek Chorus' faces through the neck of the bottle. Each time it lands on someone, we cut to the selected pair approaching a door in the middle of the woods. When the door opens for a couple to enter, we see a glimpse of "heaven" beyond (I'll greenscreen in a nebulous, psychedelic portal). We'll also see the door from the side, to witness the pair disappear as they step into the portal. No physical intimacy required from performers.
Suck and Blow
Greek Chorus plays a game of suck and blow: a player sucks a playing card to their mouth and then passes it to the next person's lips. The playing card gets passed from person to person until it accidentally falls, resulting in a kiss. Not every performer needs to kiss, but every performer will pass the card from mouth to mouth.
Kissing Marathon
5 pairs of people participate in a kissing marathon. We'll use movie magic to make it seem as though several days has passed. Couples grow tired and drop out of the competition until there's one winner left, who will be crowned as if they're Olympians. Physically intimate, although honestly "kissing" is not the correct term for what is happening. It's more like resting your mouths against each other. Actual "kissing" time will be fairly short--maybe 15-45 minutes total with breaks between shots.
Production Schedule & Notes
More production dates to be decided based on performer availability.
March 14-15
March 24-26
The shooting schedule is not set in stone yet, I'll work with performers on times that work for them. Shoot days range from 4-8 hours. Any time commitments are welcome, whether you want to drop in for one day or be there for the whole production.
This project is entirely self-funded. I'm not offering pay to actors. As compensation, I'm sending an original print ($200 value) to any actors who work with us for 6+ hours.
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Want to Participate?