TAKE OUT

A Short Film

This was filmed from the perspective of a bystander. By happenstance, a woman with Asian features catches a stranger’s eye and draws them in. We document from a stranger’s point of view as they follow her. There are quick glances and long gaze at different locations in Washington while she enjoys a night out in solitude, so she thinks. Reactions to this woman from others on the street are also documented. In this piece, Jeff Prioleau and I have a discussion on his journey in creating this short film. — Jamie Garcia

How did it evolve as you were filming and editing?

Jeff: One of the reasons I love working with Jamie is that she appreciates cinematic content versus which visuals are laced with transitions and cool effects.

Let the footage speak for itself.

So the first edit I presented to her had a few transitions, it had awesome effects..All of that was stripped. It had certain angles that I loved, but they didn’t fit the vision we were striving for. Sure, it looked cool, but so what?

I couldn’t see her vision at first, so this is where the collaboration process sometimes implode.

What Jamie and I came up with was a nice, clean, focused, eye-opening edit. We let the footage speak for itself, and at times, it doesn’t talk, it screams.

How did you perspective of Asian body image change or not change throughout the process?

Jeff: To be brutally honest, while Jamie was getting into granular details of the concept, a significant part of me was like, “Wow, Jeff, you should actually be more aware of….well, everything.” I indeed find Asian women attractive, but I’ve never really been hip to the concepts Jamie was schooling me on…did I just never care to think about it? Was I just ignorant to it? Tough questions…still unsure of the answer.

I gained a new level of awareness…for myself, and my own actions.

What is the one thing you want people to walk away with after watching your video?

Jeff: Ask yourself if you’re OK with being one of those people captured in the video…make a change if you need to.

Jamie: We chose particular but common angles where anyone would casually look around and unconsciously gaze at a random stranger. Some people you cannot help but look at for long periods of time, whether you consider them beautiful or they look like someone you know. You’re wondering what they are eating/drinking, or you simply like the shirt they are wearing. We wanted her to do normal, natural actions as if no one was watching. This woman is not demanding attention, she is not asking to be looked at.

Jeff: I took a few things into consideration during filming this project. I remember there being a soft debate over the outfit she would be wearing here. There was talk of a gorgeous red dress, zero doubt in my mind that would have been stunning. The issue here is that who wouldn’t stare at someone walking down the street in a bright red dress? Who or what exactly) is gaining the attention there? There was also an idea of her wearing a more low-key fit that would create a natural blend with her surroundings. Her beauty speaks for itself. There’s no need to hold up a sign that says “water” when there are so many thirsty people out here.

Does that make sense?

The shot below is one of my favorites we captured that night. I’d love to take credit for it, but I believe this was Jamie’s location. I just got lost in it for a few minutes. Notice how’s she’s couched in the frame here…between the reflection behind her and the bokeh of the street lights, that sh*t is gorgeous. The faint shadows of the two figures about to cross her path let you know that the street is awake, people are out, cars are on the move, things are happening.

But I’m just out for a walk, in my own little world.

“This was an opportunity to create and educate. I’m so used to being wrapped up in how my own culture is treated, it’s easy to forget there are many, many, many shades of brown.”

-Jeff Prioleau

Jamie: Another favorite shot. Capturing a male out of focus turning his head was completely unplanned but I’m so glad we got it.

Jeff: There are two main aspects of this shot that make me want to cry. The lights above her while she’s walking, coupled with the reflective glare to her right are like a dream. While in motion, it’s one of those clips that I could just cut five to 10 seconds of and use that as promo.

But wait…I literally just did that. I literally cut this section and used it for promo.

To this day, I ask myself if it was just those two main aspects that made me fall in love with this shot. No sh*t, there’s a third aspect, she is absolutely stunning here and her movement is just so graceful it was difficult for me to think about other angles because this is what struck me visually. Is it OK that it was pretty much my job to shoot that way? Unsure, can’t change it though.

Jamie: We purposely picked certain blocks that were noticeably emptier than others so the viewer’s awareness of our main character is heightened. There are times where the viewer can be distracted by how others are reacting to her, but when it’s just you and her, where does your eye go? What do you focus on? Are you lingering on certain body parts or facial features? How do you feel about that? Are you appreciating or invading her space? Does it feel appropriate?

“There are two main aspects of this shot that make me want to cry. The lights above her while she’s walking, coupled with the reflective glare to her right are like a dream.”

-Jeff Prioleau

Jeff: This is my favorite shot. This shot was about isolation.

It’s like standing on the metro platform and you’re standing in such close proximity to someone who possesses some type of draw to them. Everything you see in the corner of your eye is beautiful, and sometimes taking a peek just doesn’t cut it.

“....sometimes taking a peek just doesn’t cut it.”

-Jeff Prioleau

I believe this shot illustrates that, and the anxious moment when you glance over and find yourself noticing things like necklines, single strands of hair in wind…red lips…what is she thinking about?

What am I thinking about though? Bokeh?

Jamie: This was not scripted. We can assume any eye contact or reactions to our main character are natural and candid. His eyes were locked on her, and the hands rubbing against each other added a level of creepiness.

Jeff: I’m not even sure how to feel about this shot, you can’t make this sh*t up.

….Seriously.

Jamie: The text and characters of the neon sign immediately caught my attention. I intentionally did not want to incorporate any words in the video, so the images could speak for themselves. However, the subtle nudge with possible multiple meanings was too good to pass up.

Jeff: I believe I used the term couched earlier, but I believe this is another great example. One of the dopest aspects of this shot to me is that the lady in the foreground is actually in motion. This still makes it appear as if she’s leaning against a pole.

I feel it works.

Yes, the text is low key thrown in your face but I also believe the vibrance offered up by those neon colors only adds to the aesthetic of this shot, that tiny bit of blue thrown in there helps break up all the warmer tones.

Also, red heels…love it.

“There are times where the viewer can be distracted by how others are reacting to her, but when it’s just you and her, where does your eye go? What do you focus on? Are you lingering on certain body parts or facial features? How do you feel about that? Are you appreciating or invading her space? Does it feel appropriate?”

-Jamie Garcia