Boulevards
film study 2004
Created for a second year film course in 2004, this was my attempt to portray the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, BC (known as the poorest postal code in the country) in as much colour as possible; focusing on sounds and imagery rather than politics. However, as you can likely tell by the second half of the film, my sheltered, suburban, 2nd-year self felt somewhat negatively inspired by the people who turned up in the location while filming - with a $3000 camera on-loan from the library, wrapped in a pair of old, ragedy pj pants...
Background
The original concept of the video was put forth on a small mini-site complete with a 1000-word paper of intent, as well as a number of other research to tie in to the course material.
From Portrait: A Synopsis of Boulevards:
"The general setting will take place in Vancouver, around Gastown and the area near the old Woodwards structure. This location has a tremendous amount of detail and interest geographically, historically, architecturally, and socially. I plan to have much of the film in the hour leading up and after sunset in order to achieve an almost surreal atmosphere. I also intend to add layers of colour in the editing process in order to create the perfect colour palette. Although I would like to avoid the use of people in this film, the location does not always lend itself to my intents. This is a point that has both a positive side and a negative side.
Negatively, it means that the act of filming will be somewhat more difficult, because the type of individual who will be caught on camera and who will be occupying his time in my presence, may not agree with my desire to create the film I intend to create.
Positively, the individuals who view the completed film will have a more relatable focal point in the scenes where people are present. This will also allow them to dive into their own emotions and form a bond with the ‘actors’. Think George Trow and his grid systems of defining of the personal context."
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