LOVE STORY
I grew up in a loft on Franklin St two blocks from JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette on N Moore. We would see them sometimes at The Odeon, or with the dog, or at Bubby’s so we couldn’t get in. They looked cool but also regular for the neighborhood like they fit in. When they died it was like a bomb. Everyone talked about where they were in ‘63 and “the curse” and “John John.” It seemed like people took their loss personally because they were so close.
After 9/11 we moved to DUMBO and I lost track of their story until last year. Researching SEX AND THE CITY for my job on AND JUST LIKE THAT shot me into the trending fascination with 1990’s/Y2K style online. The iconic couple was everywhere again. I remember a lot from that time, but have so many questions of my own now. I’d love the chance to work with this story.
Since we are talking about 2nd rotation DP I’m not thinking explicitly about “the look” which will already be set. Instead this is a workbook - some visual exploration of the characters, their story, their city, and the tone and mood of those things: a foundation.
JOHN and CAROLYN on the street in their city
The contrast between their local “street style” and their black tie “drag” is interesting. There’s tension between their worlds. Calvin Klein, The Roxy, Tribeca, another gala, another gala, another gala. Minimalist fashion vs maximalist NYC in the 90’s. color. Carolyn’s body language under the flash pop of paparazzi is much different than that of JFK Jr.
Saul Leiter
Although from an earlier era Leiter’s colors remind me of NYC streets in the mid 90’s. His pictures are composed while remaining aloof and at a distance. Like he found a frame and waited for it to come to life using reflection, condensation, surface, to play with point of view. The point of view feels obscure and the subject unknowable - like JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette.
Mood
More abstract. Film stills & photos that speak to the more subjective aspects of the script/storytelling. Color, texture, composition, expression, interior life of characters. There’s a lot to build on in this world.
Saul Leiter, Alain Levitt, DiCorcia, Herb Ritts, Meisel, Teller, Weber, Testino, Blonde, Gone Girl, Crash, Existenz, American Psycho, Tar, Neon Demon, more…
crash, gone girl, american psycho , TAR, EUPHORIA, Arrival, birdman, ex machina, dune, michael clayton, titane, neon demon
Juergen teller, alain levitt, herb ritts, steven meisel, nan goldin
There’s a wonderful parallel through 90’s style with messy oversaturated hyper-eclectic street style on one hand, and a rigorously high concept form of minimalism on the other as exemplified by Calvin Klein and his cohorts. A kind of synthesis emerges approaching y2k that was lacking prior and that, I think, you can see taking shape in the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The fashion of JFK Jr. and Bessette will create an interesting pallette in which to play with the tension in their relationship and their relationship to the culture around them, whether they are dressed for the street, for work, or for the red carpet, and how it affects their mood.
