Exquisite Vessel

“Exquisite Vessel” is an experimental documentary using different audiovisual media techniques such as fulldome cinema and surround audio. This audiovisual project deals with the topic of death and our perceptions of it. The project started with Lucio Celomundo’s master thesis at Aalto University’s Media Lab, Helsinki.

The 1st episode of Exquisite Vessel is called ‘Epitaph I, Celso de la Molina’. It consists on an immersive 6-7 minutes short-film. In this 1st episode short-film actor and artist Celso de la Molina reflects on his life experiences while staging the way he would like to die and recites a very intimate poem that he wrote reflecting on his life and his vision on death. Anu Raines accompanies Celso de la Molina in this very personal ritual with her acting and her talented music skills.

The 2nd episode of Exquisite Vessel is called ‘Epitaph 2, Cris Af Enehielm’. It consists on an immersive 6-7 minutes short-film. In this 2nd episode short-film actress and artist Cris Af Enehielm, reflects on her life experiences while staging the way she would like to die and recites a very intimate poem that she wrote reflecting on her life and her vision on death. Andreas Af Enehielm and Theo Af Enehielm accompany Cris in this very personal and sensitive ritual with their acting and their talented music skills.

1st episode film production was partly funded by Aalto University, School of Arts and Architecture student grant in 2019. 1st and 2nd episode production, filming, voice-overs and 3rd installation setup for project was partly funded by Taike, Arts Promotion Centre Finland. The voice overs in Swedish and Finnish for 1st Episode and the voice-overs in Swedish, English, Finnish and Spanish for 2nd episode were partly produced with the help and collaboration of Helsinki Open Waves.

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>FILM CREDITS 1st Episode for Exquisite Vessel:

Celso de La Molina: Actor for man dying, voice-over artist (in Spanish), art direction and author of poem

Lumi Matilda Molina Gazzoti: Actress and artist accompanying Molina in his journey

Anu Raines: Actress and actress accompanying Molina in his journey, singer for the 1st episode music

Kevin Cherry: Voice-over actor interpreting Molina's poem in English

Rabbe Smedlund: Voice-over actor interpreting Molina's poem in Swedish and Finnish.

Riccardo Pizzuti: Film Set-Designer, stills photographer, production assistant

Ville Koivuranta: Director of Photography and camera operator

Roee Cohen: Colour correction and colour grading, stills photographer

Aino Kamaja: English to Finnish translator

Elin Gruvhagen - Spanish to Swedish translator

Bill Cargill - Sound Recordist in London

Bjarke Aalto: Aalto Studios technician.

Lucio Celomundo: Director, producer, video editor, English/Spanish translation, art direction , music production, sound design.

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>FILM CREDITS 2nd Episode for Exquisite Vessel:

Cris Af Enehielm: Actress for woman dying, voice-over artist (Swedish, Finnish, English and Spanish), art direction and author of poem

Theo and Andreas Af Enehielm: Actors and artists accompanying Af Enehielm on her journey, composers and interpreters of the music for 2nd episode.

Roee Cohen: Director of Photography

Riccardo Pizzuti: Film Set-Designer, stills photographer, production assistant.

Omar Albajare: Production assistant

Lucio Celomundo: Director, producer, video editor, English/Spanish translation, art direction, sound design.

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>INSTALLATION CREDITS:

Lucio Celomundo: Art Direction, Design and Concept for installation prototypes 1, 2 and 3. Producer

Riccardo Pizzuti: Design advisor for installation prototype 1 and 2. Production Assistant

Heidi Luomala: Production Assistant

Reetta Sojakka: Production Assistant

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>ALSO THANKS TO:

Matti Niinimäki for his master thesis advice and supervision at the early stage of the project

Andy Best for his master thesis advice

Elisa Makarevitch for inviting me to Ostrobothnia to test some concepts there on summer 2019

Andi Grigore for transporting the equipment to the 2nd episode production set

Mamen Moreu for her drawing illustration on the master thesis cover

Urs Dierker for his advice on making curtains for the dome

Héctor Ventura for helping documenting the project in the 1st Spanish shows of February 2020.