Here are some stills from the set of ‘Raymond is Believing’, a short film I produced about a lonely and delusional taxi driver which is currently in post-production. More on that when it’s finito!
I’ve recently been working with Coiscéim Creative Steps on a multi-media, contemporary dance piece on the theme of internet hacking and identity theft. Frame by Frame explores the different stages of identity theft through dance from the logging of valuable information online to the loss of he person’s identity.
Inspiration for the piece was drawn from Jean Baudrillard and Walter Benjamin’s theories on the ‘death of the original’ in simulacra. For example, in art when an original piece is copied or doubled, the original loses meaning or is annihilated. In ‘Frame by Frame’, the main character Olwyn posts a blog of herself talking, giving valuable information online. She naively makes ‘friends’ with hackers on social networking sites and the information she shares with them is then stolen and her identity is copied to the point where the original Olwyn doesn’t exist anymore.
In the final ‘interrogation’ section where Olwyn’s identity is completely stripped from her the following piece of film is projected in the background.
We performed ‘Frame by Frame’ in Dunamaise Performing Arts Theatre in Portlaoise on March 18th. Here are some stills from the day.
Físín ar chur Gavin FitzGerald le chéile d’ár script nua, Mac a Mháthar.
Suite sa reilig faoi chapsholas an lae, braitheann Naoise a shúile ag síneadh i dtreo na huaigh mar a bheadh fórsa á mhealladh síos faoin gcré – ‘ar dheis dé go raibh a hanam’. Mothaíonn sé a glór arís. ‘Tabhair dom do lámh’ a deir sí, go mín.
Baineann ‘Mac a Mháthar’ le scéal Naoise, fear óg, éirimiúil, ina steillbheatha agus é ag obair mar láithreoir teilifíse. Ach faraor, braitheann Naoise ualach cumhachtach ag luí go trom ar a anam agus é go síoraí ag troid lena mhacasamhail, inmheánach, baineann. Iascaire ab ea a athair ach agus cé gur chlis a chorp agus a aigne air sa tseanaois, éiríonn leis a mhac a cháineadh chuile uair a bhíonn deis aige. Cailleadh a mháthair go tragóideach nuair a bhí sé óg agus is cosúil go bhfanann an tragóid leis go fóill mar a bheadh scáth dorcha de shíor á thaibhsiú.
Cuireann Naoise droch-sraith teilifíse i láthair dar teideal, ‘Dúil sa Damhsa’. De bharr nach bhfuil ag éirí leis an tsraith, cuirtear brú ar Naoise stíl nua láithreoireachta a thriail agus tugann sé faoin dúshlán ar bhealach nach bhfuil siad ag súil leis …
Seo físeán gearr ar chur muid le chéile ag Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge le déanaí ag iarraidh ar dhaoine suirbhé a líonadh isteach maidir le seirbhísí Gaeilge a chuireann an stát ar fáil. Déan íoslódáil ar shuirbhé agus cosain do cheart teanga!
Here’s a short video we put together at Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge recently asking people to fill out a survey about services provided by the state. Download a survey and protect your language rights!
I presented a short video at the weekend for Gaelchultúr, an Irish language organisation based in Templebar, promoting a new term of Irish language classes for adults. It was an extremely windy day so I hope my swirling hair isn’t too annoying!
I’m doing research with Areaman Productions for RTÉ Two about Irish couples. We are looking for couples who live in Ireland to be interviewed sitting up in their own beds. This is really just a visual device.
Couples can be living anywhere in Ireland and we will travel to them. People can be anything between 18 and 100! It would just be a very relaxed chat about their lives together. The style is very sweet and lighthearted. If you know any loved-up couple who would be interested in taking part, you can contact me at sibeal.davitt@gmail.com
Images from shoots, some recent some not so recent. Polaroid effect from ‘Poladroid’ app, which I heard about from my friend Michelle. Thanks Mich!
My friend Peter Kelly’s youth theatre in Tullow has been shortlisted for the Headsup movie awards. You can watch their video, “I want to be” here -
To win the competition they need people to vote. It’s in the under 18′s category and again the name of the video is “I want to be”
http://headsup.ie/movieawards/
I really hope they win as the standard of their video is very high. Good luck Peter!
What makes a good music video? For me a good music video needs to embody the song, give it further meaning or even bring a different meaning altogether. Here’s my top 10..
10. Black and White Town – Doves
I remember the first time I saw this video on MTV. I loved the song but felt slightly disturbed by the video. When I watched it again, I found it extremely beautiful.
9. 1234 – Feist
Hats off to this crew, it must have been a long shoot. Stunning choreography and direction. You can’t help but smile!
8. Liberian Girl – Michael Jackson
You’ve got to love this. Weird Al Yankovic playing the accordian? Sold.
7. Paper Romance – Groove Armada
A truly gorgeous video for a gorgeous song. Very emotional.
6. Telephone – Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé
It’s iconic for a reason. All I can say is wow. Completely mad and very fun!
5. Smile Around The Face – Four Tet
This is my favourite song of all time and what a video! Its beauty is in the simplicity. The editing is brilliantly rhythmic.
4. Take On Me – Aha
I’ve been a fan of this video for as long as I can remember. It’s a classic!
3. Weapon Of Choice – Fatboy Slim
I’d kill to have been a fly on the wall at this production meeting –
‘Let’s get Christopher Walken . . . in a hotel . . . dancing’
‘Brilliant’
I love you Christopher Walken and your stunt double!
2. Vogue – Madonna
Probably the most iconic music video of all time. I love everything about it – the choreography, the melodrama, the over-sized cone bra shimmy! It doesn’t get any more glamourous than this so strike a pose!
Drumroll please..
1. Since I Left You – The Avalanches
Gorgeousness. That is all.
I was very busy over the weekend working with the online video site Otv at Oireachtas na Samhna. The crew was made up of about 4 editors, 5 camera operators and many more. We got some great stuff together. You can check it out here > Otv
I made a video with my 60d and edited it as well. The lovely Aoife Carberry did the sound. The aim was to ask people what an tOireachtas means to them, personally. We got some great responses. I only now realised that video also shows what an tOireachtas means to me (with a huge focus on sean-nós dancing!) Here it is:
I also did a bit of ‘classy sean-nós’ with the Rubberbandits and fellow Bandette, Emma O’Sullivan on Friday Night at Cabaret Craiceáilte, all caught on camera:
