Orange Fruit

My film is an exploration of a child’s reality. I began filming Kadin, a 7 year old boy, with the intention of capturing his inner emotional intelligence, a voice that our culture doesn’t validate or reflect. The collaborative nature mixed with an observational approach resulted in a less explanatory and more expository film. It felt natural to include my interactions with Kadin, as well as interactions with his father, though the shots are selected keeping Kadin’s perspective and experience in mind. I wanted to make a vulnerable but empowering film that Kadin would co-create but I noticed that Kadin would shut down when I asked him to talk about his feelings directly. He found it uncomfortable to articulate his inner emotions so the film shifted from giving him space to feel, to giving him space to exist, and express himself through play- which is a form of emotional intelligence in itself. Kadin was almost always aware of the audience, often addressing them directly through the camera. The filmmaking process itself is documented and referenced through out the film as a way of staying true to the nature of the documentary. Drawn animation takes place of video where the camera was absent, or couldn’t capture the essence of the moment. The animations are a combination of Kadins drawings come to life and my drawings done through observation and play. Video portraiture is a mode of documentary that I have been exploring over the past year, and will continue to pursue.