Verona, Italy: Filmmaking Workshop + Couple Shoot
PROLOGUE
This post has a backstory that's quite interesting. It’s a bit long, I know, but that summer afternoon was rather… eventful. All these were shot and filmed in September 2017, during our then recently concluded filmmaking workshop in Verona, Italy. Just hours prior to this session, we didn't have anyone to shoot. Our models - an Italian faux¹ couple [not "faux Italian couple"] - because of, ”reasons”, which I firmly believe were also - faux - made a last minute cancellation. So there we were, "in fair Verona where we lay our scene", utterly clueless, but, by no means helpless...
[ Enter, stage left: Andrea & Anastasia ]
Andrea and Anastasia. Filmmaking workshop and couple photoshoot in Verona, Italy. September 2017.
ACT ONE
And so, after my early afternoon Keynote on run-and-gun filmmaking, Valentina and I went out for two things: to look for a couple to shoot², and to have a very late working lunch; prosciutto e funghi pizza, tiramisu and espresso would have been a worthy consolation if we didn’t find anyone. The thing is, I couldn’t ask just any couple if they were willing to be an integral part of our workshop. Heck, we were in “fair Verona” and more than the great Italian food, there's never a shortage of lovers — star-crossed or not. More than finding a real couple, and more than finding a willing couple at that, there was something else that I was looking for - not the physical appearance or the way the dress; they had to share this very particular vibe which I really can’t describe with words, verbose as I am, as you might have noticed already. It was up to the good Lord to lead us to the right place, at the right time, to a willing couple that had the vibe that I was looking for. Note that it was almost three in the afternoon and my appetite was leading me elsewhere.
[ Enter, upstage right: Nicolas and Joanne. ]
Nicolas and Joanna. Filmmaking workshop and couple shoot in Verona, Italy. September 2017.
Long story short, I approached Nicolas and Joanne as they were about to leave the restaurant. (Coperto!) I told them about our predicament with our models who didn’t show up. And, just like that, and in a very enthusiastic tone even, Joanne said “Yes!”. I promised to keep the shoot as fast as possible; it was perfectly understandable that they wanted to see Verona as well and I couldn’t take more than 30 minutes of their time. The interesting thing is, they were from Vienna! I was there two weeks earlier so I had something to break the ice with, like my adventures with sachertorte and käsekrainer (Nicolas & Joanne! Danke schönn for saying “Yes!”).
There. 30 minutes, all-in: 15 minutes walking time, 15 minutes actual filming time, one cinematographer, one camera, no changing of lenses, no storyboards. And once again, the good Lord provided. Just in the time of Nic… or just in the nick of time, rather, and for the nth time. As always. And, thirty-minutes and a glass of eiscafe (iced coffee) later, He will usher in another couple for us to shoot.
ACT TWO
"I guess we have time for one more."
And so, after a glass of iced coffee, and a "no" from the couple seated next to us, 30 minutes later, we went around again to look for another pair to shoot.
[ Enter: Andrea & Anastasia ]
We spotted them about 20 yards from us, in one of Verona's narrow alleyways. 'figured that they were locals, so I let Valentina do the talking this time. I didn't want to sound like Aldo Raine pulling off a "Gorlami" in front of them. After listening to Valentina's pitch in Italiano (I could infer words like "workshop" and "filmmaker" because of hand gestures.) They said "Yes", not "sì"; their english was spot on! And, guess what. They [also] visited Vienna a month ago. No BS. Easy icebreaker again. This time, we talked about how Italian coffee (the original espresso, of course) was way better than Viennese coffee. I believe in Divine orchestration - "qarah" - not coincidence. And, seeing how things turned out, I'm glad that our models did that last minute cancellation. C’mon - both couples having the exact vibe that I was looking for, both having visited Vienna recently, allowing me to break the ice? To call this coincidence is spiritually criminal. Our good Lord to the rescue. For the nth time.
¹Looking back, I'm thankful that we didn't have those models - good-looking as they were - for the afternoon session. They weren't a real couple in the first place and that would have defeated the purpose of the workshop. Buzzwords: organic, authentic. There's little added value in shooting subjects who are already comfortable in front of the camera.
redsheepphotocinema wedding filmmaking workshop and mentorship program + mock pre-wedding, engagement session and couple photos in Verona, Veneto, Italy. September 2017. Leica M. Sony A7R II. Color remastered using redsheep Chromavibe 160M++ September 2020.