2016 is a year I will never forget. I spent the entire length of it working piecemeal on our Collodion Carnival project. It was an experience beyond words, and compare.
Now that the little film that could is rearing to go, it feels as though an era is coming to an end. The process of curating this work of art has taken me on a subsequent journey. I'm so grateful that we'll be continuing to capture some of the artists involved through features and photographs from now until the exhibit and premier this year---as I have fallen in love with each and every one of them.
Our final shoot, which took place in July, turned out to be the most trying, and the most serendipitous. Every plan we had lain seemed to crumble before our eyes on the day of the shoot, and we were forced to rewrite the scenes and script post haste. Sullied plans were no match for director, Dylan Verner, who seemed to light up at the challenge. On the other side of the lens, Scott Anton brought us near to tears with his performance. In the end, we captured something beyond what we had originally envisioned.
Waking up in a dream. A change of set and scene changes everything.
The original script revolved around Anton's character, having aged since the days of the carnival, being driven back to Blinn Hill to release the ashes of his beloved. At the last minute, our driver wasn't able to make it to the shoot with the antique Rolls Royce, and the owner of the blueberry fields on the hill informed us that they would need to spray the fields that day. Everyone was ready to go, and it would have been too difficult to try to reschedule the shoot.
We were back to the drawing board on the spot. What would transpire on that day in July confirmed our suspicions that the project had a mind of its own from the get-go.
All in a day's work. Anton takes his time machine back and forth for the final shoot of our Collodion Dream. Photos by Dylan Verner.
I, personally, think Anton should put these photographs into his new acting CV. Embodying his elusive character, he transported the scenes to whole new level. For a man who makes most of his art on the hidden side of the lens, the spotlight was well placed on our time traveler.
We'll be announcing the date of the premier and exhibit soon. From now until then, please enjoy the sideshow, as we bring you features of the artists involved, as well as more collodion photographs in the process of capture.
The gauntlet. Left: Jenny Lou & Scott Morgan, Dylan Verner (top right), and Scott Anton (bottom left). Photo credit: Dylan Verner.
The process, overall, has drawn out a mite longer than expected. Perhaps there is even a reluctance on all of our parts to see it come to an end. Travel on with us as we visit the craft and homes of our stars. Then, meet us for the crescendo, as we celebrate the end of an era, and an unforgettable artistic adventure.
