"Inertia is one of the heaviest burdens I’ve ever carried." Amen to that...
It's funny how cities form unspoken rules of etiquette. I was reminded of the long, arched tunnel / path that leads from London Bridge station to its Underground; the same rules apply there.
Taegan, I loved the visual of you putting on your name tag, there was something quite moving about it as the story unfolded. I also loved the music you chose! (Or, perhaps, made?) Another beautiful piece - I'm impossibly excited for Woodbine!!
I definitely do not make my own music, although I would love to one day tackle that challenge. I do, however, spend all month building a playlist on Epidemic Sound, the music platform I use for royalty-free music. It's usually one of the first things that I do. Then, after building a list of maybe 10 or 15 songs, I choose the 3 or 4 that speak to me the most based on the footage I've captured.
I’m fascinated by the repetitive experiences of everyday life. The well trodden paths that we take to work, to visit family members, to the supermarket, the park, the cafe, the tea house, going for a stroll with a friend. While I wait for traffic lights to turn green, I look at the people waiting with me, at the spaghetti of streets crisscrossing our paths, enabling us to move in space and time by foot, bike, car, public transport. And I think of the people who designed these places, who created our everyday experiences in the city. Did they think about us while doing that?
Loved your documentary, Taegan! It’s very well done, it touched something within watching a documentary about these in-between moments that make up a big part of our lives but that we learn to unsee. Like these paths.
So true! I'm also fascinated by the spaces people are drawn to, and also how they change or vanish over time. It's a theme that runs through a lot of the docs. Visiting a Blockbuster, or antique store, and soon with Woodbine. Cultures develop around these places, and I think their stories are very interesting and worth documenting.
For me, situating these videos in specific places gives them a resonance. I like to think of my daughter watching One Word when she's 16 or 32, decades from now, and the meaning they can bring her, the insights they'll offer her. It's powerful in a way that I can't quite know myself. Almost like a message in a bottle, you know?
Love these thoughts, Claudia. It's moments like those when you stop and look at a moving city and think of it as a living organism, each person a molecule flowing through it, serving some purpose.
What a remarkable piece Taegan! I had missed it when you posted it first but I finally took the time to dive in. I love the new effects (fish eye, you working in a digital moving space, clouds in the elevator) they do add to your tone.
The link with your human journey is really interesting as well. We have all walked that path and observed its diversity in being the same circle. Bravo!
Video and storytelling have a powerful place here in Substack!
Once again Taegan, you hit a home run! I enjoyed the essay, but now you have given it a whole new depth! Thanks for all the work you did to share this with us. Always thought provoking!
Thank you so much for your comments and support. I had a lot of fun with this one, and it was a very different experience than having to madly write a draft as I also shot/edited -- a lot less stressful. I will say, however, that I've gotten so used to the pressure of completing everything in a month that I sort of missed the stress!
Thanks David. Very excited to see another aspiring filmmaker on Substack!
Some parts I did indeed walk and narrate. Other parts were recorded at home. I used a wireless lav to record the audio as I walked around the Path.
There’s a few exceptions, though. The security gaurd audio was recorded from my chest cam, which is an Insta360 Go. It does a good job with direct audio, and I tweaked the gain and some other settings in DaVinci Resolve
Taegan: This was a nice way to start my morning. You have a winning site here. Keep it up. Hope you got the copy of the my Collected I sent 6 weeks ago and that the mail room at my college didn't mess up.
I did get your book. I've been enjoying reading it, too. I'm planning on talking a little about it in an upcoming post. Just getting the next doc out of the way first. It comes out the end of this week, and then I should be able to dedicate some thoughts on paper.
I have been doing some catch up lately and just wanted to stop by and leave a comment as to how much I enjoyed watching this film. I really do appreciate how you are taking these personal experiences and, in sharing them with us, help us reflect deeper on such experiences of our own. Path left me thinking of my own Path I no longer take. The journey I took to a restaurant on an island in Stockholm. Thanks for this, Taegan. Looking forward to the next film.
I’m very behind on my favourite writers, too. I’ve got your interview on my list, and your latest memoir piece. The next doc, Woodbine, has grown into a larger piece. Maybe around 30 mins? And it’s been a rough experience emotionally - digging into the past is such a strange creative endeavour, you know?
But that’s for watching Path and taking the time to consider the word’s influences on your life. Always appreciate our interactions. Yours is a voice I’m very glad to have found on this newsletter journey. Talk soon!
I think my favorite part of your storytelling this time is seeing where you went from a sea anemone, to a barracuda all happening within (the literal and figurative) path/PATH!
I've been seeing YouTube essays and talks about "third places", and it mainly talks about places we roam between work and home, and I'm just finding those types of third home (and in this case paths) so interesting as someone who'll eventually need to discover my own. Literally!
Life is so anew, that even learning to walk around places by myself is new and nerve-wrecking (but I'm making progress!).
Can't wait to see what paths and memories I make as time continues to move forward. It'll be fun to revisit, just like an alma mater or a nostalgic mall. :)
Thanks so much for your thoughts here. It means a lot that you take the time to watch. And I can tell you really watch the videos. Hope you're doing well on this new path and getting back out there. Curious to know what your third home will end up being.
Absolutely! I really do watch the videos you create! :D
They're not only engaging to watch, you always bring up a point or two that really makes me think.
And just taking it day by day over here, but excited myself around how things will pan out both with digital homes and physical ones as well! Where will we find ourselves most comfortable roaming and growing? Hmmm...
0:28 to 0:31 is brilliant in several ways. Book store employee to construction worker is bold, looking forward to that transition. And I'm relieved to know "you can take selfies passing through" the PATH but standing there as you are taking pictures you need pre-authorized permission. Can I ask what branch of the gestapo she represents and what other "options for her" at finding a new job.
Well written and the chest mount worked wonderfully - thank you.
Always glad to hear from you. Been working on the next doc - this one took a few months. I thought you'd find the gestapo scene humorous. I ended up buying a pill cam called the Insta 360. The thing is great for quirky shots and mounted things. You'd be a monster with this thing.
It appears we are on the same frequency. I've been eyeing the 360-GO-3 recently. I had the insta360 X and loved it. I sold "used" during Covid for 150 bucks more than what I paid for it. haha! I miss using it but I don't miss the 2 camera 1 man crew. However, I agree with you - it's time for me to work it back into my spiel.
Do you write in an "cinematic" style on purpose? I have been thinking about this lately, not about you, but in general. I recognize that as a writer you want to provoke something in the reader, whether it is amazement, outrage, surprise of what have you.
Also, the PATH sounds amazing. It reminded me of the university I studied abroad in Finland where all the buildings were connected which was helpful during the winter months.
Hmm... I've never thought of my writing as cinematic. By that do you mean that I'm trying to evoke emotion? I am always thinking of where the emotion comes from in the story, and most of the time, that means digging into some part of my experience, as it's what evokes the emotion in me.
For the episodes I write as I shoot/edit, I do think of how I'll capture the sentences as a scene, and in that way, I am often editing the words for a visual or even timing. I cut lots of words so I hit a certain tempo.
That makes sense. I thought the words came first but it makes sense to have scenes thought out first and the words follow. Thank you for the insight into your creative process!
You are walking the PATH to remaster the rest of the Words! Aren't you? I hope you do. This is great. You handled the bit with the officer like a champ. I have been in a couple of those situations as mentioned on Notes.
Path is such a powerful word and for me it always invokes Emerson: "Do Not Go Where The Path May Lead, Go Instead Where There Is No Path And Leave A Trail."
I may remaster another one of the original words. It was such a different experience when I wasn't worried about visuals, however, and I end up having to edit and revise sections that I may not be able to capture as they were initially intended. We'll see!
Stunning. And quite the treat to go back and revisit this as video. I have real nostalgia over the first time I read this, months ago, in those burgeoning months of discovering Substack and your work.
Fantastic edits. Great rhythm and flow, especially with the soundtrack.
So, err, did you get permission to film in the end? 😉 I've always wondered what filming rules were for public spaces.
It's wild how even just 4 months ago feels like a different era for Substack and for what we've been creating here, eh? I feel the same way.
I did not get permission! I was careful in that section of PATH where the guard stopped me. But throughout filming I crossed paths with many guards and she was the only one to stop me, so I figured it wasn't that big a deal.
Wild for sure! It so does. Lots of change, both on the platform and in growth, but also just with the passing of the year and everything that has come and gone during these months.
Heh, good work with the blurring of the guard and presumably not an issue if no-one else had an issue.
You're getting very very good at this my friend. And you know this is one of my favourites ;)
I haven't watched it all yet, just wanted to drop a comment first to say a) sorry I'm days late getting to this, and b) take as much time as you need for Woodbine.
I had a few lines from a song called Roads go through my head as I both read your words and watched the video: “There are roads in this life that we all travel/There are scars and there are battles where we roam/When we are lost, oh, wherever we may go/They will one day lead you home.”
Thanks for reposting with a visual! To me, that video gave more meaning to this article. You can describe a certain area very well, but sometimes having that visual amd narration enhance the written word more. I’m looking forward to Woodbine!
For my money, visuals and words work very well together when exploring a space. There are so many angles, experiences, and people connected to the PATH system, that I always felt like it was worth tackling as a short doc.
Looking forward to getting Woodbine done. It definitely feels like a mountain I need to finish climbing. In some ways it's a doc that's been on my mind even before I started One Word. Wish me luck!
I’m so glad that you liked the song! I actually met Chris Mann back in 2018 at a concert he did in my hometown. It was a 2nd year anniversary gift from my boyfriend. Chris is a very sweet human in person-he took the time after his concert to talk to fans who stayed after. My boyfriend took a picture of us. If you (and anyone else reading this) are ever able to make one of his concerts (especially his smaller ones where it’s just him and one of his bandmates playing a keyboard which is one that I met him at) I highly recommend!
You’re video has me hoping that I can visit Montréal one day, to visit the Path and the city itself. I’d also like to visit the Toronto area-my dad’s mom was from there, from a little town, although I don’t remember the name of it.
Sending you lots of luck on Woodbine and good vibes! You’ve got this!
The Path. I think it's a odd name for what seems to be an underground shopping centre. A path in the UK is usually a narrow footway that leads to somewhere and, invariably, it's outdoors. I wonder why this place you document so beautifully in words and video is called The Path. I'm rather intrigued by this.
Oddly enough, PATH doesn't stand for anything. It's not connected to a brand or development acronym. It's just all caps PATH. Three of the biggest underground paths/malls in the world are located in Canada, and they are all very much the same. Lots of shops and connections to downtown buildings.
Thanks for your response, Taegan. I heard about these places from Brits who have lived or visited Canada but never seen any pictures, so your film adds to my imagining of them. The name is quite surreal, which makes it a perfect subject for you.
"Inertia is one of the heaviest burdens I’ve ever carried." Amen to that...
It's funny how cities form unspoken rules of etiquette. I was reminded of the long, arched tunnel / path that leads from London Bridge station to its Underground; the same rules apply there.
Taegan, I loved the visual of you putting on your name tag, there was something quite moving about it as the story unfolded. I also loved the music you chose! (Or, perhaps, made?) Another beautiful piece - I'm impossibly excited for Woodbine!!
Hey Chloe,
I definitely do not make my own music, although I would love to one day tackle that challenge. I do, however, spend all month building a playlist on Epidemic Sound, the music platform I use for royalty-free music. It's usually one of the first things that I do. Then, after building a list of maybe 10 or 15 songs, I choose the 3 or 4 that speak to me the most based on the footage I've captured.
Not sure this will work (?) but here's the playlist for Path: https://www.epidemicsound.com/playlist/f4g5rsz5tl07gc6679ysv8k7h5i9yluj/
I’m fascinated by the repetitive experiences of everyday life. The well trodden paths that we take to work, to visit family members, to the supermarket, the park, the cafe, the tea house, going for a stroll with a friend. While I wait for traffic lights to turn green, I look at the people waiting with me, at the spaghetti of streets crisscrossing our paths, enabling us to move in space and time by foot, bike, car, public transport. And I think of the people who designed these places, who created our everyday experiences in the city. Did they think about us while doing that?
Loved your documentary, Taegan! It’s very well done, it touched something within watching a documentary about these in-between moments that make up a big part of our lives but that we learn to unsee. Like these paths.
Hey Claudia,
So true! I'm also fascinated by the spaces people are drawn to, and also how they change or vanish over time. It's a theme that runs through a lot of the docs. Visiting a Blockbuster, or antique store, and soon with Woodbine. Cultures develop around these places, and I think their stories are very interesting and worth documenting.
For me, situating these videos in specific places gives them a resonance. I like to think of my daughter watching One Word when she's 16 or 32, decades from now, and the meaning they can bring her, the insights they'll offer her. It's powerful in a way that I can't quite know myself. Almost like a message in a bottle, you know?
Love these thoughts, Claudia. It's moments like those when you stop and look at a moving city and think of it as a living organism, each person a molecule flowing through it, serving some purpose.
What a remarkable piece Taegan! I had missed it when you posted it first but I finally took the time to dive in. I love the new effects (fish eye, you working in a digital moving space, clouds in the elevator) they do add to your tone.
The link with your human journey is really interesting as well. We have all walked that path and observed its diversity in being the same circle. Bravo!
Video and storytelling have a powerful place here in Substack!
Thanks Keva,
I also think that video storytelling has a place here. All the platform needs to provide is the tools -- us storytellers can handle the rest, right?
True indeed, we can!
Once again Taegan, you hit a home run! I enjoyed the essay, but now you have given it a whole new depth! Thanks for all the work you did to share this with us. Always thought provoking!
Hey Celia,
Thank you so much for your comments and support. I had a lot of fun with this one, and it was a very different experience than having to madly write a draft as I also shot/edited -- a lot less stressful. I will say, however, that I've gotten so used to the pressure of completing everything in a month that I sort of missed the stress!
This is really great! I love the creativity and the glimpse you've given us into this underground world. As an aspiring filmmaker, this is inspiring!
Were you narrating as you were walking/filming? If so, how did you capture such clean audio?
Thanks David. Very excited to see another aspiring filmmaker on Substack!
Some parts I did indeed walk and narrate. Other parts were recorded at home. I used a wireless lav to record the audio as I walked around the Path.
There’s a few exceptions, though. The security gaurd audio was recorded from my chest cam, which is an Insta360 Go. It does a good job with direct audio, and I tweaked the gain and some other settings in DaVinci Resolve
Taegan: This was a nice way to start my morning. You have a winning site here. Keep it up. Hope you got the copy of the my Collected I sent 6 weeks ago and that the mail room at my college didn't mess up.
Hey Peter,
I did get your book. I've been enjoying reading it, too. I'm planning on talking a little about it in an upcoming post. Just getting the next doc out of the way first. It comes out the end of this week, and then I should be able to dedicate some thoughts on paper.
I have been doing some catch up lately and just wanted to stop by and leave a comment as to how much I enjoyed watching this film. I really do appreciate how you are taking these personal experiences and, in sharing them with us, help us reflect deeper on such experiences of our own. Path left me thinking of my own Path I no longer take. The journey I took to a restaurant on an island in Stockholm. Thanks for this, Taegan. Looking forward to the next film.
Hey Wil,
I’m very behind on my favourite writers, too. I’ve got your interview on my list, and your latest memoir piece. The next doc, Woodbine, has grown into a larger piece. Maybe around 30 mins? And it’s been a rough experience emotionally - digging into the past is such a strange creative endeavour, you know?
But that’s for watching Path and taking the time to consider the word’s influences on your life. Always appreciate our interactions. Yours is a voice I’m very glad to have found on this newsletter journey. Talk soon!
Excellent on spaces I've always wondered about, and so much more. Thank you!
Hey Kenneth. Thanks for stopping by and checking out Path.
A wonderful video essay, as always, Taegan!
I think my favorite part of your storytelling this time is seeing where you went from a sea anemone, to a barracuda all happening within (the literal and figurative) path/PATH!
I've been seeing YouTube essays and talks about "third places", and it mainly talks about places we roam between work and home, and I'm just finding those types of third home (and in this case paths) so interesting as someone who'll eventually need to discover my own. Literally!
Life is so anew, that even learning to walk around places by myself is new and nerve-wrecking (but I'm making progress!).
Can't wait to see what paths and memories I make as time continues to move forward. It'll be fun to revisit, just like an alma mater or a nostalgic mall. :)
Hey Cierra,
Thanks so much for your thoughts here. It means a lot that you take the time to watch. And I can tell you really watch the videos. Hope you're doing well on this new path and getting back out there. Curious to know what your third home will end up being.
Absolutely! I really do watch the videos you create! :D
They're not only engaging to watch, you always bring up a point or two that really makes me think.
And just taking it day by day over here, but excited myself around how things will pan out both with digital homes and physical ones as well! Where will we find ourselves most comfortable roaming and growing? Hmmm...
0:28 to 0:31 is brilliant in several ways. Book store employee to construction worker is bold, looking forward to that transition. And I'm relieved to know "you can take selfies passing through" the PATH but standing there as you are taking pictures you need pre-authorized permission. Can I ask what branch of the gestapo she represents and what other "options for her" at finding a new job.
Well written and the chest mount worked wonderfully - thank you.
Hey James,
Always glad to hear from you. Been working on the next doc - this one took a few months. I thought you'd find the gestapo scene humorous. I ended up buying a pill cam called the Insta 360. The thing is great for quirky shots and mounted things. You'd be a monster with this thing.
It appears we are on the same frequency. I've been eyeing the 360-GO-3 recently. I had the insta360 X and loved it. I sold "used" during Covid for 150 bucks more than what I paid for it. haha! I miss using it but I don't miss the 2 camera 1 man crew. However, I agree with you - it's time for me to work it back into my spiel.
That’s the cam I have. I use it a lot. It’s not perfect but the pill allows you to think creatively and the thing is damn durable too.
I’ll probably pick one up - just wish it was a full 360 lens...
Do you write in an "cinematic" style on purpose? I have been thinking about this lately, not about you, but in general. I recognize that as a writer you want to provoke something in the reader, whether it is amazement, outrage, surprise of what have you.
Also, the PATH sounds amazing. It reminded me of the university I studied abroad in Finland where all the buildings were connected which was helpful during the winter months.
Hey Walther,
Hmm... I've never thought of my writing as cinematic. By that do you mean that I'm trying to evoke emotion? I am always thinking of where the emotion comes from in the story, and most of the time, that means digging into some part of my experience, as it's what evokes the emotion in me.
For the episodes I write as I shoot/edit, I do think of how I'll capture the sentences as a scene, and in that way, I am often editing the words for a visual or even timing. I cut lots of words so I hit a certain tempo.
That makes sense. I thought the words came first but it makes sense to have scenes thought out first and the words follow. Thank you for the insight into your creative process!
You are walking the PATH to remaster the rest of the Words! Aren't you? I hope you do. This is great. You handled the bit with the officer like a champ. I have been in a couple of those situations as mentioned on Notes.
Path is such a powerful word and for me it always invokes Emerson: "Do Not Go Where The Path May Lead, Go Instead Where There Is No Path And Leave A Trail."
Hey Alexander,
I may remaster another one of the original words. It was such a different experience when I wasn't worried about visuals, however, and I end up having to edit and revise sections that I may not be able to capture as they were initially intended. We'll see!
Stunning. And quite the treat to go back and revisit this as video. I have real nostalgia over the first time I read this, months ago, in those burgeoning months of discovering Substack and your work.
Fantastic edits. Great rhythm and flow, especially with the soundtrack.
So, err, did you get permission to film in the end? 😉 I've always wondered what filming rules were for public spaces.
Hey Nathan,
It's wild how even just 4 months ago feels like a different era for Substack and for what we've been creating here, eh? I feel the same way.
I did not get permission! I was careful in that section of PATH where the guard stopped me. But throughout filming I crossed paths with many guards and she was the only one to stop me, so I figured it wasn't that big a deal.
Wild for sure! It so does. Lots of change, both on the platform and in growth, but also just with the passing of the year and everything that has come and gone during these months.
Heh, good work with the blurring of the guard and presumably not an issue if no-one else had an issue.
¡PATH as video!
You're getting very very good at this my friend. And you know this is one of my favourites ;)
I haven't watched it all yet, just wanted to drop a comment first to say a) sorry I'm days late getting to this, and b) take as much time as you need for Woodbine.
Beautiful video and repost, Taegan!
I had a few lines from a song called Roads go through my head as I both read your words and watched the video: “There are roads in this life that we all travel/There are scars and there are battles where we roam/When we are lost, oh, wherever we may go/They will one day lead you home.”
Thanks for reposting with a visual! To me, that video gave more meaning to this article. You can describe a certain area very well, but sometimes having that visual amd narration enhance the written word more. I’m looking forward to Woodbine!
Hey Kimber,
Thank you very much! I looked up the song by Chris Mann and it's quite powerful. In case anyone else wants to hear it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB-Db3xh5A8
For my money, visuals and words work very well together when exploring a space. There are so many angles, experiences, and people connected to the PATH system, that I always felt like it was worth tackling as a short doc.
Looking forward to getting Woodbine done. It definitely feels like a mountain I need to finish climbing. In some ways it's a doc that's been on my mind even before I started One Word. Wish me luck!
I’m so glad that you liked the song! I actually met Chris Mann back in 2018 at a concert he did in my hometown. It was a 2nd year anniversary gift from my boyfriend. Chris is a very sweet human in person-he took the time after his concert to talk to fans who stayed after. My boyfriend took a picture of us. If you (and anyone else reading this) are ever able to make one of his concerts (especially his smaller ones where it’s just him and one of his bandmates playing a keyboard which is one that I met him at) I highly recommend!
You’re video has me hoping that I can visit Montréal one day, to visit the Path and the city itself. I’d also like to visit the Toronto area-my dad’s mom was from there, from a little town, although I don’t remember the name of it.
Sending you lots of luck on Woodbine and good vibes! You’ve got this!
Thanks so much Kimber - Woodbine took a few months, but it's out on the 28th. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.
Hope you're doing well!
I’m floating on a raft in a sea of homework, but otherwise I’m good! I hope you’re doing well too!
Huzzah! I’m looking forward to reading it!
The Path. I think it's a odd name for what seems to be an underground shopping centre. A path in the UK is usually a narrow footway that leads to somewhere and, invariably, it's outdoors. I wonder why this place you document so beautifully in words and video is called The Path. I'm rather intrigued by this.
Hey Yasmin,
Oddly enough, PATH doesn't stand for anything. It's not connected to a brand or development acronym. It's just all caps PATH. Three of the biggest underground paths/malls in the world are located in Canada, and they are all very much the same. Lots of shops and connections to downtown buildings.
Thanks for your response, Taegan. I heard about these places from Brits who have lived or visited Canada but never seen any pictures, so your film adds to my imagining of them. The name is quite surreal, which makes it a perfect subject for you.