Creating The Short Film

The purpose of this short film was to visualise the downfall of our planet due to the way we are currently treating it. Amirah, Kiah and Kyle decided to film at a variety of locations, including shopping centres, train stations, and forests. These scenes related to the spoken word narrative written and recorded by Ines. Since this short film was an experimental piece, we filmed a variety of footage trialling both still and tracking shots. Kiah then imported this footage into an editing software and selected the footage which best suited the script. Additionally, the footage was edited to black and white as this resembles a human memory - again highlighting the urgency that if we do not take action now, us too could become a memory. We also ensured the film was a length that would hold the viewer's attention but not be too overwhelming due to the subject of the film.

Absence. The non existence or lack thereof. Emptiness. Void. Nothingness. Words that will replace how we currently describe mother Earth if we do not stop hurting her. Burning her. Cutting down her trees. Melting her ice caps. Flooding her islands. Taking her natural resources and not replacing them. The indoctrination of capitalism has contaminated our brains. The gradual progression of technology is concurrent with the digression of our sympathy for the Earth. Wildfires are likely to increase by 2050. And while the world is burning, all we are doing is scrolling. And scrolling and scrolling. That we forget to look up and around at the beauty among us that's now burning to the ground. Literally burning.

Once upon a time humans and the Earth were in love, but then technology came along and took us away from where we belong. And we broke the world's heart. And now the world is getting revenge.

Absence. The non-existence or lack thereof. Emptiness. Void. Nothingness. Words that will replace how we currently describe mother earth if we do not stop hurting her.

Scripting The Spoken Word

Ines had the role of scripting, narrating and recording the spoken word element of the short film. We decided to include this element to create a narrative which focused on how our actions have impacted the planet and to visualise these consequences our actions have led to, such as deforestation, climate change, floods and the disappearance of ice caps. We also used the spoken word as a stimulus for the visuals of our film.

An important aspect of this short film are the experimental shots which are an attempt to recreate some of many of the environmental issues this world is currently facing. Kiah used water and fabric dye to recreate an oil spill, as well as lighting a lighter to portray burning the Earth. Amirah melted some ice cubes on a heated saucepan to resemble melting ice caps, and she overfilled a jug of water in a sink to symbolise flooding. These four methods of experimentation were executed safely and ethically to ensure no further harm was caused to the environment.