Michael Bell

A multi-medium visual artist, award-winning creative, film director, storyteller and passionate creator of impact.

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By Medium

film/video
fine art
photography
writing (coming soon)

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My Production company

Youth, Change, and Belonging: The Place I Call Home Exhibition Film





The Challenge

The British Council sought to maximise the reach and impact of their "The Place I Call Home" exhibition, which explored the concept of home through the lens of young people in the Gulf and the UK. They needed a way to engage wider audiences beyond the physical exhibition space and raise the profile of the participating artists.
The Solution

A visually compelling short film was commissioned to serve as both a standalone piece and a promotional tool for the exhibition.Impact

The "Place I Call Home" film successfully amplified the exhibition's reach and message, achieving:
  • Increased Awareness - The film generated significant online engagement, expanding the project's audience beyond gallery visitors.
  • Enhanced Artistic Profiles - The film provided a platform to showcase the work and perspectives of the participating photographers.
  • Brand Impact - The film received positive feedback from the British Council, who praised its ability to capture the essence of the project and elevate its global impact.




The Approach
To address the brief, I proposed a film that moved beyond traditional documentary or promotional social formats, aiming to capture the emotional core of "home" through a collaborative and visually driven approach that would speak to targeted global art-world audiences. This involved:

Concept Development



Artist Collaboration




Cinematic Storytelling



Multi-Platform ProductionI worked closely with the British Council to develop a film concept that resonated with the exhibition's themes while offering a fresh perspective on the idea of home.

Central to the film's success was collaboration with the photographers. I conducted in-depth interviews to understand their artistic visions and personal connections to the project's themes.

I directed, filmed, and edited the film, employing a blend of interview footage, evocative imagery from the exhibition, and location shots to create a moving and immersive experience.

Understanding the need for versatility, I produced the film with both online and offline audiences in mind, ensuring it could live as a standalone piece online and be integrated seamlessly into the physical exhibition space.