Filmmaking ‘with’ as a creative process that uses relational ideas of care
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Catherine Gough-Brady: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-5069
Abstract
This chapter explores the process of creating a series of three short films for a group of village elders who call themselves Attitude and how my practice changed to align with their philosophy of working ‘with’ rather than working ‘for’. Using a creative practice research methodology approach, I interrogate my own experience, as a filmmaker, working with Attitude as I began to develop an understanding of what working ‘with’ in filmmaking might mean in terms of production processes. I find that filmmaking with processes borrow from methods used in Video Reflexive Ethnography and co-creation alongside relational ideas of care. I find that this style of filmmaking with is most effective when creating film works that form a reflexive tool that is a useful part of the participant’s processes. I find that filmmaking with is best used in situations where there is a cohesion of purpose for the group, as this method does not allow for the effective synthesis of divergent views in the narratives generated. I find that it is a process that takes time for trust and understanding to develop between the filmmaker and the participants, and so it works best on projects that have time for this process. This research is of interest to screen practitioners and researchers thinking through connections between care and non-fiction filmmaking processes.
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
1-1-2025
Publication Title
Creating Wellbeing: The Role of Making Practices in Academic Contexts
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
84458
Copyright
subscription content
First Page
126
Last Page
136
Comments
Gough-Brady, C. (2025). Filmmaking ‘with’ as a creative process that uses relational ideas of care. In Creating Wellbeing: The Role of Making Practices in Academic Contexts (pp. 126–136). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003664123-14