Mini Documentary Series
“Subject of Art”
Project Background:
A Zest Media Productions Original Series
Dir. by Gabe Roy
Production Type:
Documentary, Artistic
Mini Documentary Project Backstory
"Subject of Art" is a community-focused documentary project that highlights talented artists living in the Vancouver, BC area.
Filmmaker Gabe Roy created the project to strengthen the local creative community by featuring these artists in 60-second documentary profiles. These short films also serve as inspiration for viewers to find their own creative expression.
The films explore each artist's motivations and the personal significance of their art. By sharing these unique journeys, we can better understand and appreciate the people behind the art.
Creative Approach
From a creative and cinematography standpoint each film was shot to visually complement the personality and style of the artist. For example, one artist; Marena, had designed her workspace to feel like the set of a 70's talk show. To complement her personal style, we shot her interview using vintage lenses in a 4:3 aspect ratio.
We wanted these films to feel like a piece of them - a representation of who they are as people and as artists.
The Result
The short film series has amassed tens of thousands of views across various social media platforms - bringing more attention to these artists an their work.
Episode One: Dancer and Choreographer
Joe Tuliao is an innovative and emerging artist in the dance and film world. He invited us to spend some time with him to showcase a bit of his expressive, visual art while speaking also about the emotional connection he has to it.
Spreading his time between Vancouver, BC, and Los Angeles, Joe has discovered many exciting opportunities to contribute his talents to the entertainment industry. His contributions have included being cast as a dancer/actor on more than a dozen television shows, choreographer on several more, and working as a film director.
Episode Two: Portrait Artist
Israel Rodriguez, who recently moved to Vancouver from Houston, Texas, has gained attention in the Pacific Northwest region for his striking portraiture style. He uses a signature color palette to bring pop culture figures to life on canvas and tends to favor using palette knives over traditional paintbrushes to create texture in his artwork. In addition to creating smaller paintings, Rodriguez frequently paints murals and uses them to convey important social messages. His work has received recognition from various news outlets in the city.
Episode Three: Tattoo Artist
Pifa Alarcon is a tattoo artist based in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Originally trained as a graphic designer, Alarcon has developed a reputation as a talented tattoo artist who is known for her fun-loving and playful personality. She has a large following on social media and has found a niche in hand-poked tattooing. In addition to her tattooing work, Alarcon has also created a database called Tattooer DB, which helps customers find the right artist in Vancouver to match their preferred tattoo style.
Episode Four: Visual Artist
Marena Skinner is a visual artist based in Vancouver who uses her art, including paintings, tattoos, and screen-printed t-shirts, to raise awareness about social issues she cares about. She is inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol and uses traditional methods, including hand-screenprinting, to create her designs. Skinner is passionate about using her art to shed light on issues such as housing affordability, sexual harassment, and mental health. In this documentary, she invites viewers into her home, which she describes as having a decor style that is a blend of "The Price is Right" and "The Muppets from the 70's."
Video Production Services Provided:
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Developed creative concepts
Storyboard
Location scouting
Interview question development
Shot-planning
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Shoot and interview direction
Cinematography
Sound recording
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Editing
Sound design
Colour grading
Audio mastering
Subtitle creation
Marketing Strategy
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Documentary distribution and marketing
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