I was doing a series of alternative portraits of people who cast themselves out of accepted society by transforming their appearance in some sort of extreme way with tattoos, piercings and disfigurement. I wanted to go one-step further.
I wanted to capture various personalities who changed their appearance and then were accepted back into society because of their unique talent, ambitions and creativity. I came across Vladimir Franz in Prague. I would see him on the street and wonder who this person was. I later found out that Vladimir is a prominent Czech music composer, painter, stage music author and a leading personality of Czech post-modern drama. I was intrigued and wanted to know more.
I filmed this clip with David Smith. We capture Vladimir preparing a music composition and conducting a small orchestra in a Brno music studio. We then go to his country cottage where he has his painting studio.
Coproduced by Robert Carrithers and Dave Smith. Directed by Robert Carrithers and Dave Smith.
