Shoemaker Documentary
My Roles:
- Camera & equipment planning
- Interview setup and filming
- Audio post-production & color grading
- On-site direction
- Final storytelling & cut review
- Poster design
Tools:
- Premiere Pro
- After Effects
- Audition
Project Type:
University Project
Project Year:
2023
Overview
This project was close to my heart. We focused on traditional jobs in Austria, specifically, those that are slowly disappearing. We wanted to highlight how valuable and meaningful they still are today.
Our story centered around a young shoemaker in Graz. Through an on-site interview and behind-the-scenes footage, we explored not just their craft, but their mindset: “repair instead of throw away.” The film touches on sustainability, identity and the beauty of doing something with your hands in a fast-paced, digital world.
Process
Topic & Team Building
As always, we started with a briefing session, searched for a meaningful topic and built our team. Once we landed on the idea of telling the story of old trades, we began storyboarding and contacting local artisans.
We got lucky — a passionate young shoemaker in Graz invited us to visit their workshop and film on site.
Pre-production & Setup
We prepped everything: equipment reservations, interview concept, location planning. We also had a crash course in lighting, camera and sound setups, since we were shooting everything on location. The shoemaker’s studio presented real challenges — tight spaces, background noise — but that made the process even more exciting.
Filming & Post-Production
Filming took a full day. It was immersive and intense — being right there in the rhythm of the workshop made it all feel very real.
Afterwards, we carefully decided what to include in the cut. I worked on audio cleanup and color grading, giving the final video a warm, grounded tone that fit our story.
Final Thoughts
The film was shown at a local cinema in Graz in front of our whole cohort and seeing our project on a big screen? It’s hard to put that feeling into words.
This was one of those projects where I loved every step from concept to camera to the final frame. While I usually focus on digital design, video and editing are something I truly enjoy and this experience reminded me why storytelling matters in every format.