STRANGE HOURS

 

Director:	Michael Williams at Intro
Released:	2000 (directed 1999)
Duration:	5.14

 

 

 

 

Watch STRANGE HOURS on Vimeo.

 

 

THE ORIGINAL TREATMENT:

The story is about a man who has murdered his fiance and is plagued by the knowledge that his conduct has been fuelled in some way by alcohol. Haunted by feelings of guilt and confusion, he begins keeping strange hours and acting in a bizarre manner.

 

The director, Michael Williams, took this idea further by bringing the principal characters to life and creating a visual metaphor - a look at how experience alters perception.

 

Michael: "Calm, beautiful moments of abstract liquid imagery are broken up by the strange symbolism of these scenes. Light symbolises his memory of his fiance, the night vision - a flashback. The look is atmospheric but not gloomy. Liquid. This man is at the mercy of his own mind."

 

Through the use of various liquids from oil to melting ice, the promo is designed to represent the entire LIQUID project and therefore ties in with the print campaign which is woven into the narrative of the film.

 

 

In STRANGE HOURS, David Johannsen (the 'man') appears unshaven and dishevelled whilst trying obsessively to piece together what he has done. Intercut with flashbacks and surreal dreamlike sequences, his story unfolds against a backdrop of Diamanda Galás' sleazy Southern vocals.

 

Deanne Lewis, whose seductive Creole-looks perfectly compliment the New Orleans flavour of the track, portrays the victim, shot through a night vision lens to create a green flaring light.

 

Lucy Klauber plays the young schoolgirl.

 

Filming took place at Babyalien studio in East London and on location at East India train station.