About the Night

This practice-led research project critically examines the micro-level creative practices of producing and directing the short fiction film About the Night (2023), while exploring innovative approaches to storytelling. The ambition for the film was to push boundaries of form, style, and narrative structure, without becoming purely experimental. I aimed to work professionally but outside an industrial context to identify barriers to innovation within the creative process.

One of the core research questions became: how can production dynamics be rethought to foster more innovative and inclusive storytelling? A second followed: how can we break free from conventional constraints, given that even arthouse cinema largely adheres to traditional storytelling norms?

About the Night centres on a belligerent young waiter and a woman seeking solace in a late-night café. Initially inspired by a Hemingway story, the narrative explores an everyday moment between two strangers, grounded in the belief that small acts of kindness can change the world. The research underscores the value of embracing production as a site of inquiry, so that we can learn to foster more daring and socially transformative storytelling practices.

While About the Night was made in a relatively safe environment, most filmmakers lack this security. The research highlights how filmmaking is inherently shaped by friction and setbacks, with key creative moments emerging as story needs are balanced against real-world constraints. Effective collaboration demands both critical thinking and creative insight to navigate content, intent, and necessary compromises. Each contributor must negotiate and refine their role to achieve the final product.

To remove barriers for emerging filmmakers, it's not just about skills and training — we must also create safe environments that mitigate risk, enabling creatives to thrive. This research calls for a deeper understanding of production dynamics to challenge dominant practices and foster innovation beyond the auteur model.

• Publisher