The Story
"He will live a long lasting happy life, until he gets to know himself". Tiresias
The ancient Greek myth manifests as a derelict sacred place where the cursed by gods nymph Echo lives. Narcissus has never seen her/himself before according to Tiresias prophecy and Echo is able only to repeat what s/he hears. The game of seduction starts, Echo initially resists but they both are craving each other. Echo surrenders to Narcissus but when than happens Narcissus sees her/himself for the very first time through Echo. Her/his reflection makes her/him to eventually surrender to an im-possible self-love. Yellow and white, Echo’s tears go back to earth and Narcissus prefers to transform into the flower, the new Narcissus. Echo’s body shrivels and loses its moisture from the tears s/he is offering to earth so Narcissus can be reborn. Echo is turning into stone and s/he keeps holding the flower. The one s/he couldn’t before.
Why to support us
The 21st century has been characterised as the century of narcissistic epidemic. The number of people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder is being increased, therefore the number of the narcissistic abuse victims.
Echo of Narcissus is a short experimental art house film in an attempt to revisit an influential myth and give a new, different interpretation, avoiding gender and old fashioned stereotypes. Narcissism is beyond the gender or sexual identity, the race and the ethnicity. It’s about the lack of mirroring, the trauma and the personality’s development. The film is a contemporary approach of the myth in an abstract, ritualistic context and emphasises in the more profound and complex issue of transformation and rebirth for both of the characters. Narcissus and Echo seek their own catharsis and resolution but the way they are doing it, is different.
Combining Jungian theories, cinematic techniques, performance art, dance, visuals and music, we do not intend to judge or take the side of the victim or the perpetrator. We are aiming to explore through art how narcissistic behaviour works and hopefully give voice to every Echo.
Director’s note
Looking at the famous painting of Salvador Dali “The metamorphosis of Narcissus” I started asking myself how the artist approached one of the most influential myths in the history of humanity. Observing the colours and lighting, I noticed that the part after the metamorphosis looks brighter, more vivid whereas the part before, has darker shades. In addition to that and going back to the myth, I was wondering why Narcissus is transformed into a flower and not into something else. A flower means the beginning of spring, re-birth and in our days, Narcissus is offered in important occasions as a symbol of good fortune and new beginnings. That’s when I started thinking differently about the myth and its influence in our daily lives. What if the meaning is slightly different than the one we know for thousands of years? What if the roles of victim and perpetrator are not as obvious and concrete as we think they are? Why Narcissus initially seduces Echo and in the end why does he deny her love and prefers to fall for a reflection? Is Echo obsessed with her own sound reflection? Why does she keep being in pain for Narcissus, someone who hurt her feelings without mercy?
I am not in a position to give answers, but through this film I am trying to understand more about a phenomenon, which is “epidemic” and it affects the lives of many people like me, like you.
Budget distribution
The funding will be allocated on:
- Crew & Performers' fees
- Camera & lighting equipment
- Hiring location
- Travel expenses & Catering
- Construction of Set design & original costumes
- Original music
- Make-up effects
The location
An old Victorian chapel from the early 1800's in south London will be the place which will symbolise the ancient myth and the two heroes, Narcissus and Echo are going to revisit.
Cast
Inspired by Jungian theories about narcissism and the coexistence of masculine and feminine characteristics in both genders, the two characters will have an androgynous style in order to avoid gender and sexuality stereotypes.
Echo, although it’s a female character, will be impersonated by a male performer, between 20 and 30 years old. On the contrary for the role of Narcissus, a female performer will be needed at the same age with Echo. With the right make-up and costumes, the intention is to highlight the feminine and masculine characteristics of the male and female characters respectively.
NARCISSUS: Akti M. Konstantinou
Born and raised in the Greek north countryside. Trained in Ballet with her mother as a teacher during childhood and teenage years. In 2011 she moved to Athens and started her BA in psychology at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, whilst continuing her training in Ballet and Contemporary dance. In 2013 she auditioned for National school of dance where she was offered a place at the foundation year for the contemporary dance training. One year later she auditioned for Trinity Laban conservatoire of music and dance for the BA contemporary dance, where she is graduating in July 2018. During these years in London she has been working with lots of film makers, directors, producers mainly for short films and Video-dance including projects with Met film, CSM, Ealing studios, Royal college of Art. Akti is also developing in Choreography, on stage and in video dance as she presented her last independent project at Bonnie Bird theatre with dancers from Laban and collaborators from Trinity Laban music department and Goldsmiths. Another field that she is working on, is Fashion and Modelling as she has a contract with Bookings Models Agency with an active year of shootings and editorials including Noctis magazine and Chanel.
ECHO: Michael Wilk
Michael was born in Krakow and he is currently studying contemporary dance at Trinity and Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Ba (Hons). He is trained in techniques such as ballet, release, Cunningham, Graham, contact improvisation. Previously he studied at Krakow's Dance theatre and Art colour ballet studio in Poland. Michael has participated in plenty of workshops and he has performed for he Royal College of Arts, Laban theatre and krakow's night of Poetry. He is interested in acting, theatre, psychology, literature and visual arts.
Mood board
Who we are
Katerina Konstantopoulou, Director/Writer/Producer
Katerina was born in 1989 in Athens. After her BA in Film and TV studies, she moved to London and she is currently a postgraduate student at Goldsmiths University in the Producing pathway. Since, she started her studies, she has written, directed and produced two awarded short films, "Vault of Ideas", a story about an eerie stranger who wants an idea for an irrational death and "Pessoa-s", a film dedicated to the loving memory of the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. She has also worked as assistant director at the theatre, video editor and photographer. Her problem is that she is stupidly romantic and suffers from need for escapism, so that's why she wants to make films which don't really depict the reality.
EMPUSAE (Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe), Musician
With the complexity of the music, it may surprise you to find that Empusae is actually a project created by a single man, Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin. Empusae exercises a surreal science of structure that throbs and pulsates in an almost obsessive manner. The music is almost suggestive of a mechanical assembly line in its clock work clunks and clangs. It builds into a tense, yet haunting soundscape and rivets itself into the memory and refuses to be forgotten. It is serious music who's architecture has formed for itself a solid foundation, rather than sounding as if its trying to tear itself apart! When listening to Empusae's music, you're lost in dark melancholy, tribal electronic athmospheres and scarefull ambient rituals. Empusae continuously is music for the darkened souls, the lost ones. The style of music is like a journey from the postapocalyptic industrial and urban wastelands to the organic sounds of the wilderness in nature. The forests and woods of our fantasies. The drums evolved from rhythmic instruments to shamanic elements. Empusae became more settled, a bit calmer but never less intensive. Sphere from the woods is like ivy-soundscapes, winding up the trees from all their roots up to their crowns and in the sky. Misty fields for souls who can't decide whether to stay in this or to transcend into other worlds. It's all about the mysteries and depths of nature and the animus; silently but constantly walking the leylines of music. The quintessence of this quite alchemical Opus Magnum could be "stand your fears" as well as "no matter what you'll do, your demons will prevail". Sal-Ocin describes his music as a soundtrack for the listeners personal fantasies. Being a member of various other project such as This Morn' Omina, Tzolk'in, Project Arctic and a live member of In Slaughter Natives, Ah Cama-Sotz, IC 434, Triarii, TriOre and Sophia, Sal-Ocin isn't afraid of working together with other artists (Nick Grey, Arcana, ISN, ORE and many others). http://empusae.com/
Ataraxia Kimatica, Make up effects
Susana Rodero is a Spanish London-based artist, working at the intersections of visual arts and sculpture. She specialises in character design and the mutation of the human body, using techniques of special make up effects, prosthetics, body paints, props and wearables to create unique experimental pieces.
www.susanarodero.com instagram: www.instagram.com/ataraxia_kimatica
Daniela Rullo, Editor
Daniela Rullo was born in Naples in 1986. As a child, she showed a vivid imagination and a sensitive nature. The passion for moving images brought her in London where she is currently studying editing. The perceptible world is her oyster and she is hardly tolerant of limitations and constraints. She believes that art in all its forms and expressions can help with her quest for the key to the Essence of Things.
Other Ways You Can Help
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