DOCUMENTARY

INSIDES OUT: A CLOSER LOOK AT TAXIDERMY

An exploration into a commonly misunderstood art form; Insides Out: A Closer Look At Taxidermy delves into the realms of Taxidermy and the truth behind its process. Addressing the art of the process, not the spectacle of the art this film gives an overview of the skills, passion, and creativity that collectively makes up the ingredients of a taxidermist. The documentary follows a trajectory of taxidermy’s history from the Victorian era, to a modern day and contemporary viewpoint, while addressing the up-and- coming trends of Taxidermy within cultural practices. By revealing a behind the scenes peak at the world of taxidermists and their livelihoods, the documentary illustrates mankind’s relationship with animals beyond death by celebrating their magnificence through great skill and preservation. The Taxidermist themselves have a few words to say, and indeed as viewers will find out, taxidermy is most definitely not about ‘stuffing’!

Editor & Sound Design: Danny Baker [dnb22@sussex.ac.uk]
Director, Camerawork & Graphics: Alex Bruno [ab398@sussex.ac.uk]

OFF THE MAP?

In light of a recent re-injection of political ferment as a response to government cuts, both in Brighton and nationwide, we present a film about the history of Brighton’s longstanding reputation for being a place of political radicalism, exploring past and present political movements in the town, and investigating their changes and developments. With the parliamentary election in 2010 of the country’s first Green Party candidate; Caroline Lucas, many saw this as the continuation of Brighton’s radical heritage, we look more deeply at this assumption and ask ‘to what degree does Brighton still deserve its radical reputation?’

Director & Sound: Joseph Downie [jdmd20@sussex.ac.uk]
Editor & Camerawork: Xiangyu Li [xl43@sussex.ac.uk]

THE GREAT WALL OF VAGINA

With the rising popularity in programmes such as Embarrassing Bodies and The Joy Of Teen Sex, it is becoming increasingly obvious that we, as members of the public, are curious to discover and understand where we fit in. This documentary aims to challenge the idea of what society considers to be perfection and demonstrates that variation and diversity is normal.

The Great Wall of Vagina follows the final stages of Jamie McCartney’s journey towards creating a stunning 400 piece exhibition showing the uniqueness of every vulva. From women who have suffered serious vulvar diseases to identical twins, Jamie seeks to educate the public by dispelling the myth that there is a so-called ‘perfect’ vagina. In an attempt to eradicate the taboo surrounding the image of the vagina on screen, this documentary endeavours to aid Jamie’s quest by documenting the process and speaking to women who have been involved in the project first hand. “It’s not vulgar, it’s vulva!” (Jamie McCartney, 2011)

Producer, Editor & Sound Design: Bethany Whatling [bethany.whatling@yahoo.com]
Director & Camerawork: Francesca Hendry [fh61@sussex.ac.uk]