Waterbody

Short film nears completion

By Barbara Goldman

If you’ve been doing double takes at what appear to be mermaids in downtown Lexington recently, your eyes aren’t betraying you. Sightings of the legendary long-tailed sirens of the sea have occurred in area creeks, pools, parks, restaurants, and even a clawfoot bathtub.

Local urban fantasizers and artists have found a way to bring the mythical creatures to life with the short film Waterbody, written by central Kentucky poetry/publishing diva Bianca Spriggs. The film concluded principal photography on June 12th and is anticipated to debut early this fall.

According to Spriggs, who also directed the production, the film is based on a poem she wrote of the same title. Spriggs describes the tale as a contemporary urban fantasy steeped in magical realism in which a lonely woman finds and adopts a sickly mermaid and nurses her back to health. In the process, the mermaid turns into a human and the woman turns into a mermaid.

At its core, Spriggs said, this is a narrative about the power of friendship, but also the power of reinvention and the discovery of one’s true identity.

The poem is available in her chapbook, “How Swallowtails Become Dragons.” Spriggs, who always has been interested in mythical creatures, “mermaids especially”, wrote the eight part poem in April 2010 during National Poetry month.

The poem took on a new life during a car ride from Louisville with Spriggs and Waterbody‘s Director of Photography, Angel Clark, this March.

“We kept talking about the visuals and finding ourselves saying ‘wouldn’t this make a good movie,’” says Clark. “By the time we got back to Lexington, we knew we could do this.”

Spriggs says she was ready to get started on the project immediately. The young writer/director is scheduled to begin the University of Kentucky’s PhD program in English this fall.

“This is my year to be an artist and writer full time,” says Spriggs. “This is my swan song.”

Pre-production meetings between Spriggs, Clark, and videographer Landon Antonetti began immediately to see if the vision would even be possible. No impediments were seen and more meetings involving more creative designers began. Soon after the show was cast, the wheels of this Kentucky creation really began to churn.

“No one told us no,” says Clark.

“We were probably over ambitious, as this was our first-time film endeavor. But the support has been remarkable and things have gone so smoothly. People are hungry to be creative,” says Spriggs.

The film’s creators describe it as theatrical with humorous moments. Bright color and texture paint a mythical tale that is open to interpretation. According to Spriggs, the story was shot in a form known as magical realism.

“We had to be really creative because of the budget,” says Clark. “There are no special effects, no green screen. This leaves more room for fantasy and wild, untamed images.”

The Kentucky production has been made possible in large part to the successful fundraising program Kickstarter, the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month, tens of thousands of dreamers and do-ers pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.

The program is based solely on commerce and patronage, not investment or lending. Project creators keep 100% ownership and control of their work. All projects must reach their funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands.

“We want people to support local art by local artists,” says Spriggs. “Support is validating the art, as well as the artist, to keep doing what they’re doing.”

Waterbody was funded successfully within 24 hours of the official Kickstarter launch. The campaign ultimately raised $731 dollars, taking the project $231 over the original goal.

“We’re paying for stuff we already paid for. We all believed in it so much. We’ve all donated something. We wouldn’t have if we didn’t believe in this so much,” says Spriggs. “It’s a labor of love.”

“Everyone has asked what they can do—there has been no hesitation from people. They all want to know how they can help,” says Clark. “That’s how we raised the money so fast. People wanted it for us. They wanted to see it succeed.”

Filming was concluded after three intensive 13-hour days of camera work.

“We were all a little nervous at first,” says Spriggs, who added that everyone became more and more comfortable. “There were some intense moments. Girls were in mermaid tails for eight hours, which is a lot to ask of anyone. People pulled out amazing things. There was no pretension.”

The film is currently being edited in Lexington. Actually, everything about the film is Kentucky based, even down to the basic backbeat of the picture. The entire soundtrack will include area artists and original music from Michelle Hollis and Scott Wilmoth, Mason Colby and Art Mize, Coralee and the Townies, Bunny Day and the Mercy Buckets, and N.W.L.

Spriggs confesses that the only things about the project that aren’t entirely Kentuckian are the mermaid tails. Spriggs said she found them online and they are beautiful.

“This is why people leave Kentucky and go to New York,” says Spriggs. “And it’s all been done here in Kentucky…We all have big dreams. A lot of it we do, usually on our own from concept to execution. But we did it. Nothing fell apart. No one was arrested. The worst that happened was two people got parking tickets.”

Waterbody fans will be able to find hard copies, DVD’s, mermaid tail auctions, a prospective concert featuring the soundtrack’s artist, and even a photography exhibit when the film debuts this fall.

“It’s not over for this group,” assures Clark. “We hope this will kick off a collection of tales.”

Both Clark and Spriggs agree that this experience has given them and the participating artists “a gift that keeps on giving.”

“We all want to start something,” says Clark.

“If you’re a true artist,” says Spriggs, “You want to do things that make you grow and curious.”

Spriggs says that, in the weeks to come, viewers should look forward to two trailers and one teaser. The film’s ultimate length is estimated to be around 25 minutes.

“We need people to see it when it comes out,” says Clark. “Support local art by being present.”

“There are so many artist avenues in Lexington, we want to keep that spirit alive,” says Spriggs.

For more information go to Waterbody: A Short Film at www.kickstarter.com or visit www.biancaspriggs.com. If you need further details, you also can e-mail parkourdesign@gmail.com.