The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
Short Documentary
Overview
We were commissioned to create a short documentary about the ‘UK AIDS Memorial Quilt’ which was on display at Acorn House in London July 2021.
The collection of quilts was on display, for the first time since the ‘Quilts of Love’ display at Hyde Park in 1994.
The quilts commemorate the lives of nearly 400 people who died of AIDS in the early years of the pandemic before effective treatment was developed.
HIV activist Susan Cole and us were given access for a few hours, a couple of weeks before the event, to film the quilts and interview the organisers, creating a fitting tribute to share on social media.
Creative Approach
We focused on a respectful and person-centered narrative style. We combined interviews with the organizers and voice-over from Susan to stitch together the narrative. We conveyed the scale of the quilts with wide shots and used close ups to emphasize the effort and detail that has been put in to making them
The Stories
Organisers Siobhan Lanigan and Clifford McManus, both from The Food Chain, took the time to learn about all of the quilts. They read about the people the panels are dedicated to and how the pandemic affected them, their family and friends.
We took the time to understand the selected panels to highlight, and took additional time to ensure we had enough footage and audio to convey the stories effectively
Tone and Sensitivity
Given the nature of the content, we approached every stage of production with care and sensitivity. Our goal was to focus on and honour the individuals commemorated by the Quilt, while creating a video that would engage both long-time activists and new audiences learning about the impact the virus had on the lives it touched
Quilt Maker Interview
We also interviewed Dr Gill Brigg about one of the panels she helped make to honour her friend Vaughan Michael Williams, giving a personal insight in to what the quilts mean to those affected
