Circle of Signs is a piece about the wildfires rampaging through California, but so much more. It is about climate grief, the hopeless situation capitalism and colonialism has left the planet and youth to take on, and so for this video, I decided to collaborate with a teenager on the entire creative trajectory. It was a tremendous learning experience. Seraphia Behr is 15 and stars in the film, she is a first time actor, and we created the ideas and images together. In this piece, I somehow felt how the suppression of natural burning forests equated to the suppression of the voices of the youth. Somehow, Seraphia is California embodied, struggling with and ultimately reclaiming her wildness, her beauty, her insecurities, her vision for her future, and the lineage of women she comes from. I learned a lot. It was an honor to make this piece for Mariee, and I also got to bring together many amazing female artists whose work is featured in this piece. - Director’s statement
Music by Mariee Siou
Directed by Samantha Shay
Created in collaboration with Seraphia Behr
A Source Material Production
Produced by Arabella Morgan & Samantha Shay
Performed by Seraphia Behr
Director of Photography Victoria Sendra
Assistant Director Cinthia Konopacki
Voiceover by Seraphia Behr & Samantha Shay
Edited by Samantha Shay
Colorist Silvia Grav
Costume Designer Fien Lute
Featured Visual Artists Júlíanna Ósk Hafberg & Freyja Eilíf
Gaffer Erla Margrét Gunnarsdóttir
Sound Recording on set Josh Wilkinson
Hair & Make-up Kolbrún Anna Vignisdóttir
Catering Arabella Morgan
Set Photography Sunna Ben
Graphic Design FISK Projects
Film Equipment Victoria Sendra & KUKL Iceland
Film Locations Íslenski Reiðskólinn, Listaháskóli Íslands, Hvammsvik Hot Springs Sponsored by Baka Baka, Brauð & co., Hvammsvik Hot Springs, Kryddhúsið, SIGMA, SIGMA, & Nebraska Reykjavik.
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival, November 8th, 2023, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Prague Music Video Awards, November 10th, Prague, CR - Award: Best Lyric Video
Oska Bright Film Festival, March 11th, 2024, Brighton, UK