Bridging the worlds of art and cinema

Art & Society is a mini-series of 1-3 minute cinematic documentaries that capture authentic portraits of conceptual artists in their element, alone with their work, their inspirations, and their creative processes, filmed on location, in their studios or unconventional spaces, amidst the dust, the smells of paint and acetone, far from the sanitized walls of contemporary art galleries, with a preference for large canvases, installations and storytelling.

Filmmaking pays special attention to post-production (image, sound, music) to create an immersive and emotional “cinematic” experience. This approach is particularly effective in highlighting conceptual art as a movement that emphasizes the message and narrative behind each creation rather than its aesthetic properties. Often addressing social and environmental issues, conceptual art invites viewers to think deeply about the world around them.

This mini-series is aimed primarily at young aspiring filmmakers who wish to hone their skills before venturing into the world of cinematic short films. It also invites art lovers and film aesthetes to explore the raw process of artistic creation and how emerging and established talents merge their visual arts away from conventional paths.

Guidelines

Pre-Production

  • Script development: filmmakers have complete freedom to express their own creativity while staying aligned with the artist’s vision and/or curator’s views, who usually prepares relevant questions remotely.
  • Location scouting: identify interesting visual elements, take photos, camera angles, lighting setups, etc.
  • Storyboarding: use a pen tablet or AI-powered software to visually illustrate each shot or scene.
  • Be prepared for unexpected changes: weather, artist unavailability, etc.

Budgeting

  • Prepare a production and post-production budget (price per minute).
  • Visit our YouTube channel to create Hollywood-style cinematic films on a tight budget.
  • Minimum equipment: 4K camera, lavalier microphone, and natural lighting.

Production

  • During filming, the cameraman or another person will ask open-ended questions to encourage the artist to talk about their creative process, inspirations, and challenges.
  • Filming should follow part or all of the making and storytelling of an artwork, and beyond.
  • Take a variety of cinematic shots: static shots, wide shots, close-ups, and ambient shots.
  • Shooting schedule: allow approximately 4 hours per artist, or opt for shorter sessions to document the creative process over several days or months.

Post-Production

  • During editing, remove all voices and appearances of people other than the artist.
  • Edit videos in FHD format cropped to 817p (2:35 aspect ratio).
  • All post-production can be done remotely: sound design, royalty-free music, color grading, etc.
  • English subtitles in .vtt text files are mandatory. Additional language subtitles can be added as needed.
  • Have machine translations proofread to ensure they are fluent enough.

Publication

Required Materials

  • Text: Description (200-300 words) – explain the artistic approach and messages, no biography.
  • Image: Cover (1920 x 1080 px) – submit a large banner from the artist’s studio.
  • Image: Profile Picture (800 x 800 px) – submit a portrait of the artist.
  • Image: Artwork (800 x 800 px) – submit an original piece of work.
  • Image: Movie Poster (1131 x 1600 px) – submit a visual advertisement.
  • Link: Map – share the coordinates of the film location.

Behind-the-Scenes

  • Create a YouTube channel to share the making-of process.
  • Make 30-second or less YouTube shorts right from your mobile.

To avoid reverb and background noise, particularly in enclosed, high-ceilinged spaces, capture a clean reference audio track in a quiet environment and sync it with your close-up footage during post-production. Prioritize dynamic, action-driven visuals over static talking-head shots.

To set the tone and flow, here are three examples of do’s and don’ts: one typical of ordinary videographers, another from established filmmakers but still fairly traditional, and a third from emerging cinematic filmmakers, often rooted in music, fashion, and advertising, who fit perfectly with our vision.

Submit a link to a conceptual work that addresses social or environmental issues for consideration. Selected artists will enter our publication process to produce a 1–3 minute cinematic short film, with the support of filmmakers, art galleries, art curators and various forms of funding, including sponsorships, small grants or from our dedicated crowdfunding platform. To manage workflows efficiently and easily, filmmakers, artists, curators, and other experts meet at Factory, our built-in collaborative workspace.