"Shiny, lined up & waiting," Experimental documentary short

2024 Draft of film

Segments of this video were shot the day before my bilateral mastectomy on the shores of Lake Michigan near the cancer center where I did my treatment. I had never been “put under” for a surgery in my life prior to that time. I put a GoPro camera in its waterproof case and dropped it into the lake, allowing it to be tossed about underwater by the waves. This represented not only the unknown but the process of going under anesthesia itself. Other images are drawn from the documentation I did throughout the cancer experience, including my dance practice, making a cast of my breasts before I lost them with some dear friends, my son cooking a meal for me, my husband and a friend digging up echinacea to make tinctures, doing acupuncture, undergoing chemo, etc. it represents the dream like state and disembodiment that can accompany an illness experience. This film is part of the projection deisgn for the "every.single.one" live performance as well as a stand-alone piece.

Credits:

Camera: Cherie Sampson, Radim Schreiber, Dan Kelly (& photographs by Lisa Wigoda)

Musical elements: Charles Gran, composition (and breif samples from Shakti Orchestra)

All other audio + video production & post-production: Cherie Sampson

Seen here as part of projection design for "every.single.one" performance, Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C. 

Currently in process of preparing for final output and festival submission.