VARIATIONS IN LIGHT AND SHADOWS, 5min,. Canada
Directed by Roger Gallant
A non-narrative time-lapse exploration of light and shadows over the landscape of Bay St. George, NL, Canada.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I have been capturing time-lapse videos for 15 years but have never compiled them into a film, except for a few small projects. Evan Butler, who acted as the production consultant on this film, told me about an opportunity to apply for some local arts funding. I wrote a proposal for a short time-lapse based film. After submitting the proposal to the arts funding organisation (ArtsNL), I was successful with the application. That funding provided me with the opportunity to dedicate my full attention to creating the short film. I also wanted to challenge myself to see if it was possible to capture all new time-lapse footage during the project duration.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The total project took about 4 ½ months to complete. The pre-production phase lasted approximately two weeks, followed by 3 ½ months of filming. The remaining time was dedicated to editing and creating the score.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Nature and Time

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Weather conditions posed the biggest obstacle during filming. Smoke from forest fires in eastern Canada created significant haze in my region for parts of the project, which flattened the light and obscured cloud details in the sky. Given the relatively short shooting schedule, finding optimal conditions for capturing the night sky was also a challenge.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was great hearing the audience talking about my film. This festival was the first public showing of this project. After months of working on the film and submitting it to festivals, you become so focused on the process that you start wondering if your work is even worth sharing with anyone. It was nice to know that the audience enjoyed watching my film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I've been working on small film projects for the last 15 years, focusing mainly on time-lapse videos and music videos. In 2023, I made the decision to create a short film (this film) specifically for submission to festivals.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

There are a few films that I watch regularly, but the one I've watched the most related to time-lapse would probably be TimeScapes by Tom Lowe.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

This festival far exceeded my expectations.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

For a first-time user of FilmFreeway, it was easy and intuitive to submit to the festival.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I don't know if I have a favorite meal, but pizza usually seems like a good idea when working late into the evening on a project.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

In 2024, I plan to create another time-lapse film that will expand on some of the themes I started exploring in this film. I'm particularly eager to incorporate more night/star time-lapse work into the next project.