Director’s Statement

Crystals of Transformation is my first film. I created this project while my father was fighting cancer. He passed away in 2015, and the project shifted from a fascination with water to an outlet for processing my grief.

Crystals of Transformation was originally inspired by the research of water advocate and author, Dr. Masaru Emoto. His experiments suggest that emotions affect the molecular structure of water. When water molecules were exposed to positive emotions in laboratory settings, they created beautiful crystals. When exposed to negative emotions, they became deformed structures. I was intrigued: since our bodies are 70% water, how do our thoughts and emotions affect the health of our physical bodies?

Using this theory to inform my film’s aesthetic approach, I created a ‘Water Crystal costume’ based on Dr. Emoto’s photographs of exquisite water crystals that had been exposed to human emotions of ‘Love’ and ‘Hope’.

I chose to film the parts of the story at the Oregon Coast because the ocean is an archetype for deep emotions. Its mysterious and all encompassing support offers healing. We filmed inside a studio to capture detailed shots of the Water Crystal costume. Its design suggests a water crystal as seen under a microscope. I wanted to bring attention to the art form of costuming and to show my audience that beautiful garments can be sustainably and worth the effort to preserve our environment.

Collaborating with Choreographer/Dancer Andrea Parson was a joy and honor. I brought a mock-up of the costume to our rehearsals so that we could create choreography that accentuated the shapes and fabrics of the costume. The dance needed to embody the different phases of water - from ice to liquid to vapour. In this story, Parson plays a mysterious woman, Dina, who journeys to the coast, drawn to the power of the ocean. There she encounters her alter ego as a goddess who strength, courage and fluidity help transform her grief.