Body as Camera
A Contemplative Video Workshop
Tell Me More
We keep getting asked to describe our workshop more thoroughly. You could say it's an opportunity to slow down. It's also an opportunity to harmonize seeing, moving, and shooting. As a student of several kinds of movement (this is Angela speaking) as well as a long-time shooter, I've recognized that we don't just shoot with our eyes and hands--we shoot with our entire bodies. And when we are truly aware of our bodies, we can see and feel that in our shooting. The kind of meditation we practice invites that awareness--we practice with our eyes open. So do the movement exercises we use.
Sometimes filmmakers tell me, "I'm already shooting like that. I don't need a workshop." That's great. But there's an amazing feeling which comes from being with other artists and working together in a creative process. There's a synergy you just don't find working on your own. And it's so much fun. It's like playing with a camera.
Sometimes I'm asked about age--it's not a factor. We've had young people in our workshops and senior citizens. An age and experience range makes the workshop that much richer. And often it's the experienced filmmakers who are most challenged to let go of their pre-conceived notions about shooting and take a risk.
Sample work from previous participants
From our 2006 NYC workshop:An object study by Julia Haslett
Motion study by Julia Haslett
From the 2005 Rosendale workshop:an exercise by J Henry H Lowengard
From the 2005 Austin workshop:
A light study by Angela Alston
Past Workshops
April 21, 2007White River Shambhala Center
White River Junction, VT
Co-sponsored by the White River Indie Film Festival.
Sat., Nov. 12, 2005
Lifebridge Sanctuary
Rosendale, NY
with special guest David Perrin of GESTURE Theater Project
July 30 & 31, 2005Casa de Luz
Austin, TX
Special guest Josh Weinstein joined us to lead inter-personal exercises he's developed. He created Inside Cinema in 2000, which is devoted to using documentary video as a tool for self-reflection within organizations.
We were delighted to partner with the Austin Film Society and Austin Shambhala Center in producing the workshop.
Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007 LWYE, LLC