Unfiltered // June 2024
Recovering from Qannoubine, finishing my video on love, tweaking my video on memory, and churning the gold butter
Unfiltered is a quick study of the latest short I’m working on. It’s a behind-the-scenes of my work-in-progress. Inspirations, the idea I’m trying to capture, maybe even the rough script I’m playing with. It’s the process.
I went on a challenging hike this weekend in Wadi Qannoubine. It was 32*C and mostly a rough descent that had me clinging to hot rocks so as to not tumble off the edge. The views were lush but became a blur for the last hour; I was staring at the ground instead, focusing only on the steps in front of me. Anyway, point is, my legs are stiff as boards and oh so sore as I write this. Knowing that obvious outcome plus the knowledge that another Unfiltered was up next on my editorial calendar, it became clear what I was going to be doing during recovery.
It was time to get this video done.
Like I said in May’s Unfiltered, I didn’t want to write another installment on the same idea. I also didn’t want to give up on it yet.
Then the extra boost came. Takeover Beirut, a cultural space on Abdel Wahab Street, posted an open call titled “bitesize” last week. The deadline was on the 11th so I used that as pressure to finally get my latest video done.
As I re-recorded the VO for the fourth time, a familiar feeling arose: I can’t tell if this is good anymore.
When I’ve felt that way with my other videos, it’s been a sign that I’m close to the finished product. You can’t avoid the second-guessing while editing. When you stare at the same footage for hours and hear your own words over and over, they end up feeling unoriginal. Generic. Corny.
That’s why it’s so scary to show someone (or the entire internet) what you’ve been cooking.
BUT I FINISHED IT.
AND I SUBMITTED IT.
They’ll be making their selection in two days. If it doesn’t make the cut, that’s fine. The open call got me to get it done so applying was worth it. I’ll know when to publish it publicly after their decision has been announced but here it is: