Helen Reed, creator and director of the new video, “Diamond,” for Vancouver-based duo Lightning Dust, had a chance to chat with Sad Mag’s Monika Koch about process and product. It all comes down to the beauty of a community pool, the expressiveness of bodies in motion, and, of course, the music. Read on!
Sad Mag: Where did the concept for the “Diamond” video come from?
Helen Reed: Just from listening to the song. The turnover for the video was quick, within 3.5 weeks or something like that, so I wanted to do something quite simple within that time frame. I got stuck on the first line of the song – “claim to me that this city’s so tired…” I’m totally guilty of taking this city for granted, so I took it as in invitation to focus on some of the everyday diamonds of Vancouver.
A friend of mine, Jenny Craig, is a part of an amateur synchronized swimming team, they practice at a community pool two evenings a week, and they are great – super talented and dedicated. I thought that they would be the perfect characters for the video. I think when I did a call for extras I said dress for magical frumpy realism… the kind of magic that happens at community centers when no one is watching.
SM: Tell me about what went into your choice of location for filming.
HR: I have a great love of community fitness centers. I have had some of the most ecstatic moments of my life at aerobics classes at the YMCA, I love that feeling of all bodies in motion – all ages all shapes, just enjoying movement. The video was filmed at the Eileen Dailly Pool in Burnaby. It was lucky, I was doing a site visit for another project in Burnaby and happened on the pool. It’s so beautiful there, the architecture, the tiles, the neon signs. I thought that it was the perfect venue for the 80’s pop nostalgia feel of the Lightning Dust song.
SM: I heard that you recently returned from filming a doc project about teen wolves. Amazing. Could you tell me a little bit about that?
HR: Yes, I got back few weeks ago from filming some teenage self-identified shapeshifters in Michigan. I’m reluctant to say too much about the project since it’s still really fresh. But I will say that they are radical dudes…
SM: Do you have a favourite swimming pool? Where is it?
HR: Well I don’t really swim… I never learned how to swim. I can float though…in the summer I like to float around in the ocean. I do have a favorite spa – JJ’s Family Spa in Coquitlam.