The shoot is based of Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury. It presents a future American society where books have been outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The novel follows in the viewpoint of Guy Montag, a fireman who becomes disillusioned with his role of censoring literature and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and committing himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings. The book ends with him entering a community of refugees, “The book people” : each of them has memorized a book in hopes of using the knowledge to rebuild society. For the shoot, the idea is for models to incarnate the book and that spirit through the same idea.
Fahrenheit 451’s arguments in favour of literature and crititical thinking and against censorship and blind conformity have continued to resonate since the book’s first appearance, and it has been adapted into films :
For the aesthetic of the shoot we’ll focus mostly on the older version by François Truffaut and try to make resonate the main ideas of the story :
Conformity vs. Individuality The society in Fahrenheit 451 promotes conformity and discourages independent thinking. Characters like Montag struggle with their roles in a society that suppresses individuality, leading to his eventual rebellion against the system.
Technology and Its Impact on Society: The novel critiques the over-reliance on technology, particularly the superficial entertainment that replaces meaningful human connections. People in the society are obsessed with television and "wall screens," leaving little room for deep thinking or introspection.
The Power and Importance of Books: Books symbolize knowledge, critical thinking, and the preservation of history. In a world where books are banned, the act of reading becomes a form of resistance and an avenue for personal and societal transformation.
The Search for Meaning and Self-Discovery: Montag's journey is one of self-discovery. As he begins to question the world around him, he embarks on a search for deeper meaning, grappling with questions about happiness, fulfillment, and the value of life
The Dangers of Apathy and Passivity: Many characters in the book live passive, apathetic lives, disconnected from the world around them. Bradbury suggests that societal decline occurs when people stop engaging with the complexities of life and fail to question the status quo.
The shooting will be divided in two parts :
INSIDE :
We’ll shoot both models on different backdrops :
one grey sitting on stool with falling pages
one with pages of old books like a wallpaper
models lying on the floor full of books or book pages
Also looking straight into the camera and saying quotes from the actual book
Light changes from natural daylight greyish to warmer and darker
OUTSIDE :
We’ll shoot the girls walking in the wintery forest while recitating booklines
We’ll shoot books burning
Book actions : hands holding books and flipping pages
Inspirational quotes :
“We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”
“A book is a loaded gun."
“If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.”
“Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.”
“There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house."
"The books are to remind us what asses and fools we are.”
“See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.”
“I still love books. Nothing a computer can do can compare to a book. You can't really put a book on the Internet. Three companies have offered to put books by me on the Net, and I said, 'If you can make something that has a nice jacket, nice paper with that nice smell, then we'll talk.' All the computer can give you is a manuscript. People don't want to read manuscripts. They want to read books. Books smell good. They look good. You can press it to your bosom. You can carry it in your pocket.”