FILMMAKING EXPEDITION TO ISTANBUL

I've recently been working with Cambridge based charity Balik Arts on an exciting new project, Music Beyond Barriers. The project involved a 2 week expedition to Istanbul to document a cultural exchange between emerging UK musicians and Roma youth musicians from all around Turkey.

My fortnight in Istanbul has been an eye opening, formative experience. It introduced me to the Roma community, people I knew little about before embarking on the project. During the trip, we visited the Roma community, were invited to a traditional Roma wedding and met fascinating musicians, artists, fishermen... the people who make up Istanbul.

Music Beyond Barriers involved leading a team of young filmmakers with varying levels of experience, to document the exchange and final performance that was produced by the musicians working together. The filmmakers learned the basics of camera and sound, and were divided into two units, the second of which went around Istanbul shooting daily life and how music forms part of the city's landscape.

I'll be sharing the finished documentary on the website after its time on the festival circuit. For now - time to log all that footage...