Chanel has inspired gorgeous films. Its cinematic ads in the last ten years or so, in particular, have been visually splendid. Two of them have been by Australia’s master of the visually splendid, Baz Luhrmann, The One that I Want in 2014 and Le Film in 2004.
A new film has been inspired by Chanel No.5. It’s not a Chanel ad per se. It’s a film for The Fifth Sense, a digital platform from i-D and Chanel, written and directed by inventive filmmaker, Alma Har’el. The fim, JellyWolf, explores the emotion of scent and the way it inspires female creativity.
The commission from Har’el is the fourth installment of work on The Fitfth Sense that’s inspired by Chanel fragrances, following a large-scale installation from set designer, Es Devlin; a multimedia photography and film project with Harley Weir and an interactive site coded to the vision of digital artist, Lucy Hardcastle.
Har’el’s eight-minute piece stars actresses, Kiersey Clemons and Lisa Bonet, in a magical, realist version of downtown LA brought to life with astonishing special effects. Kudos must go, too, to post production company, Therapy Studios, and VFX post production studio, DetEast Mexico.
View the film and its story on The Fifth Sense, here.
Har’el has been applauded throughout the world for her genre re-defining work that melds documentary and fiction. She picked up the top prize at Tribeca Film Festival for 2011’s Bombay Beach, and 2016 feature, LoveTrue, created with executive producer, Shia LaBeouf, has won rave reviews.
Hot right now musician, Natasha Khan, (aka Bat for Lashes) B-Reel Films marks its rebrand with new director, Natasha Khan (aka Bat for Lashes)
collaborated with Emile Haynie for the first time on JellyWolf’s opening track. The film’s main music is ‘Ha Howa Ha Howa’ by Sexwitch (Natasha Khan and TOY collaboration). The soundbed, crafted by Therapy sound designer, Eddie Kim, heightens the tension and atmosphere.
A shortform documentary called Making Films has also been released on The Fifth Sense, as part of the platform’s Makers series. This film, directed by Eva Michon, chronicles the making of the film and Har’el’s experience in the film industry and it includes a line-up of leading women from the film world including Crystal Moselle, Lola Bessis, Janicza Bravo and Tabitha Jackson.
The Fifth Sense was launched in 2016 by i-D and CHANEL to push creative barriers. And it has done so with some of the most exciting names working in fashion, design, photography, film, tech and art.
Credits:
Written and directed by: Alma Har’el
Main cast:
Lyana: Kiersey Clemons
Receptionist: Lisa Bonet
Production Company: BRF (B-Reel Films)
In Association: Delirio Films
Producer: Margo Mars & Christopher Leggett
Original score by: Emile Haynie & Natasha Khan
Music: Sexwitch ‘Ha Howa Ha Howa’
Post Production:
Offline Edit & Audio Post Production: Therapy Studios
Editor: Lenny Mesina
Sound Design & Mix: Eddie Kim
Sound Assist: Dillon Cahill
Assistant Editors: Thomas Tedesco & JT Bowers
Offline Post Producer: Cait Campbell
Therapy Head of Production: Allegra Bartlett
Color: Brandon Chavez
Title Design: Placeworks + Scraplabs
VFX Post-Production: DetEast Mexico
VFX Supervisor: Diego Valesquez
VFX Producer: Simmone Tort
