About The Filmmaker

Having studied Anthropology and Hispanic Studies at Glasgow University, Lindsay went on to complete a Masters in Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester where she made her first documentary “Obrigada”. She has since worked on a number of short films, and is currently producing a documentary about an Italian film archivist, and working as Production Secretary on the feature film Valhalla Rising. Lindsay is hoping to continue to make engaging, personal documentaries.

Summary

‘Irene’ is an engaging story about the filmmaker’s 92 year old grandmother, and the daughter who cares for her. While suffering from Alzheimer’s and decreasing physical ability, Irene’s feisty personality still shines through, often leading to both laughter and heartache.

'Irene' is a personal portrayal of three generations of women who all have to face a difficult decision. The film observes particular circumstances which highlight the tension between Irene's desire to live at home and the dangers she faces in doing so.

Questionaire

What did you shoot and edit on?

For the majority of the shoot I used a Sony EX1. It’s a relatively small camera so it was quite unobtrusive, which is important when filming such a personal and intimate film. The camera uses cards instead of tapes so we had instant access to our rushes which was really useful. I also used a Sony Z1 occasionally and I used an onboard gun mic as giving my grandmother a radio mic would not have worked.

How long did it take to make from conception to completion?

I submitted my proposal to the commissioning scheme, Bridging the Gap, in the Autumn of 2007. After being short-listed I then had the opportunity to go through a development process which included workshops with well-known documentary filmmakers. I also shot a trailer during this time in preparation for my pitch. I was commissioned in January 2008, and we delivered the finished film in May. I came up with the idea a few days before the BTG submission deadline, so from conception to completion the whole process took about 9 months. Unlike most documentaries, I didn’t have to spend too long researching the subject before writing my proposal as the idea was based on my family and what we were going through at that particular time, so it was a subject which was already very close to me.

How many people worked with you and what did they do?

I worked with a Producer, Kat and editor Fiona. We also tried using a camera person for some of the shoot days, but having a new person in her house proved very distracting for my Gran. We therefore had to re-assess how we were going to make the film, which meant in the end I had to shoot the film myself.

How did you find your contributors?

When I found out that the commissioning theme was ‘Home’ I immediately thought about my Gran, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. At the time we regularly discussed whether my Gran would have to go into a care home. I thought Gran’s personality, her relationship with my mum and the other themes upon which her story touched upon would make a great film. I approached my mum about filming her and she wasn’t too keen to start with, however as soon as I found out I had been short listed she was fully behind the film and was very supportive.

What was the biggest lesson you learnt making the film?

I think the biggest lesson I learnt was to be confident about the decisions I was making, and to stick to them on important issues. I also really enjoyed, and learnt a lot from, working in a collaborative way with my producer and editor.

What do you think this film did in terms of helping your career?

The film has been to a number of festivals, has been nominated for a Scottish Bafta and won the Best Documentary Award at Palm Springs, all of which has really raised my profile as a filmmaker. I am hoping these achievements will help to open doors for future projects.