Filming!

Last week we managed to find a date where we were all available and able to access the factory, and so the filming was able to go ahead! I thought I'd show you a few 'in progress' shots from the day- although I'm keeping some of the shots under wraps until the exhibition in March!

Here are actress Chris and filmmaker Jon on the way to the first location for filming. Hi Viz and safety boots were worn wherever possible as there were lots of forklift trucks going to and fro.

Jon is following Chris with the camera as she crosses a courtyard and enters the next building. You can just about see on the green beam, a plaque saying '1864', when the building was created.

You know it's art when someone is filming the floor! The paint was swirling around these bucket washing machines, and looked very similar to some swirly printed fabric that features in the underskirt. Jon will be looking at ways of editing shots like this into the film to capture different sights in the factory.

Chris emerging through a large automatic sliding door! Should make a dramatic shot. We did have to take this shot a few times, as we weren't the only ones using the door- and there was no knowing when someone other than Chris might appear in the centre of the shot!

Me doing my best to blend in! As the assistant my role was to help Chris into the costume- but hopefully not draw too much attention to myself.

Keeping warm and visible between shots!

A rotary printer. The fabric passes underneath the cylinders, and they roll the print onto it. There are two of these cylinders currently on this machine- but they can have lots more- depending on how many layers of colour are needed to make the desired print.

An interesting pile of fabrics!

And here are two of the digital printers. I love how much the resemble the more familiar paper printers that we connect with computers- only many times bigger!