Brenhines y Môr / Queen of the Sea video
Collaboration with Harrop and Horrell (movement, dance and music)
Duration: 07`07`
Single Channel, Colour,
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Sound: Stereo
The Queen of the Sea has sailed daily up the Menai Straits since 1937, run by the Jones family. In the Year of the Sea, to honour the boats continued service on the water, in just 48 hours I remade the lost American fantasy film Queen of the Sea (1918) with members of the community and collaborators. All that survives of the film is the plot, which we used to create our repurposed masterpiece. Created on location, the film was set between the Menai, the town and the Castle, and then built upon using animation post production. Rather than being nostalgic, this is a frenetically paced, improvised, impulse-driven cluster shoot, celebrating two heroine Queen’s of the Sea.
Many thanks to Charlie Cooke, Manon Awst, Mark Hughes and the tourists and people of Caernarfon for their time, support and sense of humour.
Brenhines y Môr/Queen of the Sea was commissioned by Manon Awst for Stamp Caernarfon and screened at Galeri, Caernarfon. It was later screened at Aberystwyth Art Centre.
Brenhines y Môr/Queen of the Sea was supported by Prifysgol Bangor University, GISDA, Coleg Menai and MORAL.