BARN
BARN was created for the 2024 INEFF 24/7 Filmmaking Competition
On July 8th 2024 at 10:43, after pledging our interest in participating, we received the following instructions on creative limitations:
Submit your short film (under 5 minutes)
by Midnight Sunday 14 July (UK time)
You must apply these creative limitations when making your Experimental Fiction film:
Choose one of the following “abstract theme” limitations (you can interpret this theme in whichever way you like):
– Secret Connection
– Behind the Closed Door
– Foolish Desire
Combine the abstract theme above with one of the following creative/technical limitations:
– A single take (there are no cuts in your film)
– All shots in the film precisely one second long
– Only use Extreme close-up shots in your film
Make sure your film creatively incorporates at least one of the following statements, either as dialogue, voice-over, or on-screen text:
– “We know nothing about the future. Or the past.”
– “I have no strength left. Maybe I love you.”
– “You just play with me. I’m not a toy.”
Description of BARN
Abstract theme: Behind the Closed Door
Creative limitation: Only Extreme close-ups
Statement: You just play with me. I’m not a toy.
Starting from an idea of embodying hope in a time of darkness, we worked from principles of care: filming in an unaltered location, inviting collaboration with people nearby, creating from improvisational impulse. We allowed restrictions of time and resources to activate a body of events and relationships through movement and framings rather than cause and effect, favoring presence in the moment over predetermined outcome.
The iterative storymaking through montage started from a reservoir of fiction footage (without given order, infused with the underlying idea) in a co-creational relay of trust, leaving cracks for the audience to co-create story and meaning.
Credits
idea & mis-en-scene
Annika Boholm
dramaturgy & montage
Kersti Grunditz Brennan
cinematography
Aksel Ekblom
music & lyrics
Cecilia Öhrwall
performers
Sven Hellström
Arvid Friberg
Emma Eskeby
Sven Friberg
Ulf Friberg
Annika Boholm
Filmed on Gotland
Edited in Brussels
Composed in Björkvik
Screened at INEFF, Manchester
Future screenings TBA
© 2024 Annika Boholm, Kersti Grunditz Brennan, Cecilia Öhrwall
Cecilia Öhrwall's song - the BARN soundtrack
Lyrics:
Mörk är jorden, mörk är staden.
Tungt är hjärtat i människans bröst.
Tung är tiden, tung är tanken.
Tungt är steget i människans gång.
Sången ska svinga upp! Högt över takens topp!
Röster ska ropa, ge människan hopp!
Röster ska lyfta, trösten ska stärka.
Röster ska ropa, ge mänskan hopp!
Earth is dark, dark is the city
Heavy hearts in people's breasts.
Time is heavy, thoughts are heavy
Heavy steps in people's walk
Song will soar. High above the roof tops!
Voices will call out, give people hope
Voices will rise, comfort and strengthen
Voices will call out, give people hope!
is Annika Boholm and Kersti Grunditz Brennan
and the artistic research collaboratively
initiated, conducted and published.