I am delighted to be able to share the short film '22:22' by Charlotte Ginsborg with you, commissioned by Film London Artists' Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) and Arts Council England.
'22:22' paints a vivid portrait of Tom Sietas, world record holder in Static Apnea (a discipline in which the participant holds their breath underwater for as long as possible, without moving). The film combines underwater photography of the record attempt, with a contemporary dance, performed to a live piano score. As the tension of the record attempt mounts, the story that links the two activities is revealed through the pianist’s live narration. The film interweaves documentary and fiction to reveal what drives Tom to push his body to such extraordinary physical extremes; for Tom, to deny breath is to find life.
The reason I wanted to share this on my blog, is because I was invited by Gabriel Prokofiev, the composer of the film-music to play the piano and by the director, Charlotte Ginsborg, to narrate the story throughout the film. I must admit, that the latter was far more challenging for me, as I found it almost impossible to hide my Russian accent!
The film is a combination of many talented people involved in its making: visionary film director Charlotte Ginsborg, choreographer Kirill Burlov, composer Gabriel Prokofiev, dancers Sandra Ortega-Bejarano and Lewis Wilkins, and, of course, the main character, the incredible Tom Sietas, world record holder in Static Apnea! Who knew that music can inspire someone to achieve such incredible and almost humanly impossible things! Combined with the amazing underwater photography by Daan Verhoeven & Dagmar Scheibenreif, this film is a beautiful tribute to human abilities and talents! Collaborating on this project was an incredible experience for me.
Published here with the kind permission of the director, Charlotte Ginsborg, it is here for you to enjoy!
(Please note that on some browsers the film is not available for viewing on this blog. If this is the case, just follow the link below to the vimeo page).
To find out more about the film director, Charlotte Ginsborg, please visit her website https://www.charlotteginsborg.com
Screened & exhibited at: London Film Festival, UK , Sheffield Documentary Festival, UK , East End Film Festival, UK, Aesthetica, UK , Dance Camera West, LA, USA, Visions in the Nunnery, Nunnery Gallery, UK. Director: Charlotte Ginsborg Producers: Rob Small & Emily Morgan DOP: Catherine Derry Underwater Photography: Daan Verhoeven & Dagmar Scheibenreif Choreographer: Kirill Burlov Editor: Charlotte Ginsborg Composer: Gabriel Prokofiev Sound design: Jonny Platt @ Wave Colourist: Simone Grattarola @ Time Based Arts http://flamin.filmlondon.org.uk/flamin_productions/flaminprods_round6
Cast: Tom Sietas Sandra Ortega-Bejarano Lewis Wilkins GéNIA