A green room scuffle in screen production research: Glass Shards as an ‘electromentary’

Abstract

ABSTRACT Screen Production Research (SPR) is a developing field within the academy. SPR blends theoretical and practical methodologies to produce creative outputs, such as films, scripts, multimedia projects, etc. as research. This article will review my short documentary work with an emphasis on the most recent project, Glass Shards (2020). All of these creative projects will be contextualised within SPR frameworks to highlight the successes and challenges of lo/no-budget ‘Do-It-Yourself’ (DIY) filmmaking. Discussion of my previous films, Portrait of an Artist: Alice France (Co-Director Kim Ayres, 2014) and Artefact 93 (2019), will serve as critical reflections on specific practices that fed into the creation of Glass Shards. This latest project began as a traditional music documentary exploring local experimental musician Oliver Stewart and his songwriting talents. However, as filming progressed, new themes and complexities emerged that reshaped the final result. By examining the various filmmaking processes (pre-production, principal photography, and post-production), this article will review notions of identity, mental health, and performativity that developed throughout filming which, arguably, pushed the boundaries of music documentary. Effectively, through post-textual analysis, it will be contented that spontaneity and collaboration foster a creative environment that enhances the final outcome.