Student’s growing interest in rise and fall of local industries
PEOPLE who worked in the growing industry during its heyday and the finance sector are being sought by a Guernsey photojournalist who is making a documentary about the decline of horticulture and the rise of finance.
Tom Videlo is taking a master’s degree in the subject and although the emphasis is on still photography and he had little experience in film, he said video was an important element.
‘In visual journalism these days you need to have video as a side skill, really.’
Over the last couple of years he has spent time covering the impact of conflicts in Georgia and Armenia, hosting an exhibition of his Georgia photos last October.
The idea of doing a short documentary about two of the island’s key industries stemmed from his family background – his late grandfather was a
grower all of his working life, while his mother works in finance.
He realised that a lot of people who worked in the island’s growing industry at its peak would probably be in their 80s or older by now, but he was optimistic that some would be able and willing to talk to him.
‘If I’m going to submit it for uni[versity], the deadline is
December, so I still have some time,' he said.
He planned to avoid recording people as ‘talking heads’ and to use just their voices over images.
‘In terms of the visuals it will be abandoned greenhouses and shots of the view that are still productive.’
He said he had already started looking for what to shoot in relation to the finance side and he hoped to film inside offices. He had already taken some footage to illustrate the Guernsey commute.
He expected the film to end up about 20 minutes long.
‘I think it’s going to be half and half – growing and finance,’ he said.
Anyone with experience in the growing industry or finance, or both, can contact Mr Videlo at tom@tomvidelo.com or on 07781 456781.
