Unveiling the Depths: "Who we were, who we became" - A Celebration of the Windrush Generation

Hey! I'm beyond excited to share with you my latest cinematic adventure, a project that's been six months in the making—a poetic film in collaboration with the incredible Danae Wellington. Together, we're taking a deep dive into the stories of the Windrush generation, shedding light on the individuals behind the headlines and hardships. Here is a journey of our film, Who We Were, Who We Became.

Before I get into it all, I just want to thank the crew for being such a huge part of this production. I could have not done it without you all!

Brewing Ideas Over Coffee: The Birth of the Project

Picture this: endless meetings at cozy cafes, cups of coffee in hand, as Danae and I hashed out ideas. From the very beginning, we wanted to go beyond the expected narratives. We craved a film that not only acknowledged the struggles but also celebrated the people—their dreams, their farewells, their journeys, and their triumphs.

Four Stanzas, One Journey

Join me as we journey through four stanzas, each unraveling a different chapter of the Windrush story:

The Night Before: It's a mixed bag of emotions—anticipation, celebration, and tearful goodbyes—all on the eve of departure.

The Journey: Let's navigate the challenges and hopes of the journey itself, feeling the heartbeat of those crossing oceans for a new beginning.

The Arrival: We won't shy away from the harsh realities of racism upon arrival, but we'll also capture the resilience and strength that defined their response.

Who we became: This final stanza is a celebration, an uplifting crescendo honoring the indomitable spirit of the Windrush generation. Who they became, the hurdles they overcame, and the richness of their cultures take center stage.

From Sadacca to Sheffield Town Hall: A Personal Invite

I'm thrilled to extend a personal invitation to each and every one of you. Join us at Sadacca on the 15th of October in Sheffield. But that's not all! On the 28th of October, we're taking this celebration to new heights—literally. Our film will be projected on the side of Sheffield Town Hall, turning it into a cinematic canvas.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to dive into the backstory of "Who we were, who we became." Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to share this cinematic journey with you. Mark your calendars, bring your friends, and let's make these screenings unforgettable.

See you there!

Darshan.

DocFest 2022 - What a year!

DocFest 2022 has been such an amazing year. We’re finally back in person and being able to physically meet people is something that was very much missed from the previous years. I really enjoyed sitting in a darkened room and taking in all the beauty of each film I watched. Additionally I had a lot of opportunities this year, including moderating a Q&A for the international premiere for Dancing Pina. There’s much to be said about this year and I will keep raving about it!

As said, I hosted the Q&A and international premiere for Dancing Pina by Florian Heinzen-Ziob, a fantastic filmmaker. I was extremely grateful to be asked to moderate this event. It’s a great feeling to be recognised for my own dance film and then to be asked for this event. Not only did it make sense, but it also gave me the opportunity to discuss my own project and learn from a great filmmaker like Florian. If you get a chance, go watch Dancing Pina, it’s absolutely stunning and inspiring, it’s definitely going to influence the way I continue filming dancers.

On top of that, I got to meet Asif Kapadia which is mad cool! Then I also DOP’d one of the films in his 24 hour make a documentary challenge. This was a crazy opportunity that I am very thankful to be a part of. Watching what everyone had made in 24 hours really highlighted the local filmmaking community and how team work shines in any production. There were some absolutely stunning films and I hope to attend and possibly be a part of it next year.

A film combatting the Nationality and Borders Bill

Last weekend I worked on an amazing project directed by Ai Narapol in association with Namsong. The goal was to inform people about the bill and how it will affect immigrants and second-generation immigrants, in this case, the dancer Daniel Phung. I was taken onto the project to shoot the film and colour grade it. Being a second-generation myself, this topic means a lot to me.

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We had a very early start, I’m talking 1:30 AM wake up, 2:00 - 5:00 AM car journey to Leeds and then Scarborough Beach. Once at the beach, it was pitch dark. I lost my second black cap (which I had lost on a set before (I’m still triggered)). The shots we got however, were so worth the journey and lost cap.

We used an Aputure 300X equipped with a strong red gell blasting at Dan to create this ominous red glow in the dark. The sand blowing around created an atmospheric effect with the light, which I loved. Once we got the shots we needed we all ran to the car and warmed up. It was freezing.

Things were about to only get colder for me… As the sun rose, we set back out to the beach. Dan and I ventured into the water and boy was it cold, really really cold. Having spent about 10 minutes barefooted in the water, my feet literally went pure numb for the next two hours. I couldn’t even put my socks back on, it was so weird. I slept in the car back to Leeds, woke up and they were still numb! But believe me, I’d do it again and again.

Currently, the film is being edited by Ai and I can’t wait to share the story with you all!