Raw
"We go through life. We shed our skins. We become ourselves."
(Patti Smith)
Seeing yourself is the hardest thing.
Our identity shifts and changes; and it takes a while for us to catch up with ourselves. But, by then, we’re somewhere else.
For the past couple of years, I’ve been looking at how we can use video to help us ‘see’ ourselves and I’ve come to regard the profound act of witness as one of the most powerful developmental interventions we can offer.
Of course, Covid-19 and social distancing doesn’t make this kind of close contact work easy. Yet a group of us have been working together using phone cameras and Zoom links to find ways in which we could still ‘see’ each other.
Using a basic set up, we have been able to make films that offer each of us a simple and raw account of who we are.
This week it was my turn.
The framing question was something like, “What are you doing when you’re doing what you do?”
It’s an inquiry that has lived with me since I first heard those words more than 15 years ago. It’s an inquiry that would bear the scrutiny and attention of anyone involved in what we might call the ‘helping’ or ‘change’ professions.
As I live that question, I think the film speaks for itself.
It’s raw. But I see who I am becoming.
With thanks to:
John Oliver for running the session and ‘seeing’ me.
Andrew Hassenruck for beautiful, perceptive interpretation and editing.
Alison Coates and Kim Holl for their support in the filming and witnessing process.
Notes:
The roots of this video process are in the Inner View Method© pioneered by Nic Askew. I thoroughly recommend his courses and events.
Like most technical things, it’s best to keep things simple. This film was made using my iPhone dangled over my Mac screen as we worked on Zoom. The only other piece of ‘tech’ was the black background.
I can make this process available as part of my 1:1 ‘Speak Differently’ offer - drop me a note if you are interested.
See Also:
