Commons Camera
Commons Camera
A Participatory Film Chain Across Places and Perspectives
Organized by Snail: Slow Culture & Stories for Change
Project Description
Commons Camera is a collaborative, relay-style film project where each participant creates a short visual sequence inspired by the one before. The project is grounded in the concept of the Hero’s Journey, exploring transformation through place, memory, and identity.
The film is built collectively, one segment at a time, passed like a baton between participants across regions, cultures, and landscapes. As each artist receives the previous sequence, they respond to its themes, rhythm, or symbolism and continue the narrative in their own voice, location, and style. Eventually, the journey returns to the first contributor, completing the circle.
Commons Camera reclaims filmmaking as a shared cultural practice—one that transcends industry norms and opens space for slow storytelling, poetic imagery, and community connection. It is both a creative and social process.
The final film will be screened through SNAIL’s network, submitted to international experimental festivals, and made available for educational and cultural partners.
Call for Participation
Are you a filmmaker, artist, or storyteller with a camera and a vision?
Join Commons Camera—a participatory filmmaking journey where each person contributes a short video sequence to a collective story.
Who Should Apply
- Filmmakers, video artists, performers, poets, dancers, or land-based storytellers
- Anyone with access to a camera or smartphone
- People interested in experimental film, ritual, memory, migration, or collective creative practice
- You do not need to be a professional—just committed and curious
What’s Required
Each selected filmmaker will:
1. Create a 2–4 minute video segment inspired by the previous chapter.
2. Follow these technical guidelines:
- Resolution: Full HD (1080p) minimum; 4K preferred
- Frame rate: 24 fps
- Format: .mp4 (H.264 codec)
- Audio: Clean, external mic if possible, 48 kHz audio
- Subtitles: Required in English if your film uses another language
3. Respond creatively to visual, emotional, or symbolic elements from the previous participant.
4. Deliver within 1–2 weeks of receiving your prompt.
5. Share a behind-the-scenes reflection or image about your filming experience.
6. Optional: Echo a motif (object, gesture, word) from the sequence you receive.
You Will Receive
- A place in a unique international collaborative artwork
- Screening opportunities at festivals and cultural venues
- Full credit as a contributing artist
- A bio/profile on the project’s webpage and in exhibition materials
- A digital copy of the final collective film
How to Apply
Email your interest to:
Please include:
- Your name and country/location
- A short paragraph (150 words) about your interest in the project
- (Optional) A link to past creative work
- Your availability between July and October 2025