Shellana Clarke

The Chronicles of Her

Shellana Clarke is a final year Fashion Branding and Communication student who approached her final project by creating a fashion-related film.

Fashion Branding and Communication - BA (Hons)

GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF YOUR PROJECT

The Chronicles of Her is a short film depicting the transformative journey of a woman through three distinct chapters of her life. In the first chapter, “9-5 Rhapsody,” viewers experience her suffocating existence in a corporate environment, symbolised by oppressive visuals and sounds. As she breaks free in the second chapter, “Reverie,” the protagonist finds solace and liberation in nature, embracing her true self amidst serene landscapes. The final chapter, “Bed of Departure,” confronts mortality while celebrating the protagonist’s refusal to conform even in death. Through symbolic imagery and poignant visuals, the film offers viewers a transformative narrative of self-discovery, empowerment, and acceptance.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CONCEPT?

Throughout my life, I’ve faced challenges with education, fitting in, and self-acceptance. In school, I was often overlooked and told that I wasn't smart enough for university, and I didn’t receive the support I needed. Despite being a very creative person, I often lack confidence in my work. I wanted to create something that would resonate with many people, even if it wasn’t everyone’s preference, because I believed the themes would be relatable to a wide audience. My core inspiration was to create something that would evoke different emotions in each viewer. The topics of entrapment, depression, and anxiety can be difficult to discuss, and I wanted to create something that shows people that many struggle with these issues. It has taken to a long time to get where I am, where I am able to express myself creatively. Ultimately, I believe you should pursue what you love, as life is short.

WHAT PROCESSES HAVE YOU BEEN USING?

Filming, editing, and styling were the primary processes for this project, all of which I had never done before, making it quite daunting. I primarily used Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Lightroom for the film editing. Initially, these programs were completely alien to me, but with a lot of practice, I was able to learn them fairly quickly. I did the majority of this short film myself, which was hard, but I’ve learnt so many things that I know I’ll use in the future.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH YOUR PROJECT?

I aimed to create a fashion film that wasn’t solely focused on fashion, which might sound odd coming from a fashion student. However, my goal was to craft something with a deeper meaning and message, enhanced by the element of fashion. I also wanted to challenge myself and produce something that others didn’t expect me to be able to make. Through this project, I hope to show people that there is more to life than work. I've always felt that watching a film offers a momentary escape from reality, and that’s exactly what I wanted to achieve.

HOW HAS YOUR COURSE HELPED YOU TO PREPARE FOR WORKING ON YOUR PROJECT?

My course has helped me immensely; I wouldn’t have been able accomplish half of the things I have, including this film, without it. I passed about two or three GCSE subjects in school and barely managed to pass maths and English after retaking them. Going from believing that I was never clever enough to go to university, to being nominated at GFW for something I’ve created, feels amazing. My confidence has done nothing but grow since my time on this course, and I’ve learnt so much more than I thought I would.