Profile: Chloe White

Your name:

Chloe White

Your age:

27

The title of your film:

Defying the Label: MS and Me

Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?

I chose this subject as I had been running film workshops for a criminal justice charity Only Connect who work with ‘ex-offenders’ and I was becoming acutely aware of just how many challenges people coming out of prison face. I met Kieran there, the subject of the film, and he was this huge ball of energy and he really stood out to me. I was really impressed with his motivation and his positive outlook despite the many barriers that stood in his way.

What motivated you to make this film?

I was keen to make a film that touched on the issue of criminal justice - that highlighted the difficulties faced by people coming out of prison, but also to challenge people’s perceptions. In addition to that, the more I got to know Kieran the more I learnt about his MS and that also became an important element of the film because it was about looking at MS in a more positive light - how MS helped Kieran to focus on his rehabilitation following a long stint in prison.

What equipment did you use to shoot the film?

I shot this on a Canon XF305. It was my first time using it, I usually shoot with DSLRs or a C300 but I was keen to try my hand at this camera because it lent itself to the quite observational style of the film.

Tell us about post-production:

I used Final Cut and I edited and graded it myself which is something I’m very used to doing with my documentaries. I also had help editing from Helen Lagoe and the animation was done by Lauren Orme. The sound was mixed by the composer Tom Carrell.

Who/what inspires you?

This film was made in the UK- but my inspiration usually comes when I’m abroad. I feel far more inspired by stories that come from other countries, and when I’m abroad I’m much more alert, and because of this, more creative. I’m able to really look at things and see them in a whole new light. I really love meeting people, learning about different cultures and environments and so when thinking of film ideas I’m usually drawn to subjects far from home!

What are your plans for the future?

I currently run a small documentary production company called Whalebone Films and that’s going really well - we make films for a range of organisations from the Barbican to Channel 4. I’m also a freelance producer at Save the Children, which is wonderful. The plan is largely to keep this going and try to develop some of my own documentaries as well - it’s easy to get distracted by the ‘paid’ work, especially when it’s so interesting, but I’d love to make a feature doc one day.

What is the most important thing you have learned so far?

Be honest and upfront always with everyone.