Grandad's camcorder

No-agenda joy making with the panasonic camcorder my Grandad gifted me.

I think it’s fair to say I’ve never really been camera shy. So much so that while I was enjoying being in front of the camera, I was also simultaneously trying not to give it away—keep it natural, Louise.

My Grandad was my filmmaking partner-in-crime as a child. Together, we made short films on his handheld camcorder. He was my first scene partner, my first director, and he gifted me my first encounter with film.

For as long as I can remember, we created short stories in his garden or anywhere we could. I’d scavenge leaves and pebbles to create my mark, and he’d say “Aaaand action” in his adorable Scottish twang. Sometimes, I’d go full presenter mode, tasting the different fruits in season around my Nan and Grandad’s garden, commenting on the “beautiful hanging baskets” or how “somebody definitely likes geraniums(!)”

Other times, I’d be casting spells, leaving my Grandad to experiment with editing tricks to make me disappear. And sometimes, we’d go full documentary mode, reporting on a family holiday just for fun. I’m glad I have memories of making things simply for the joy of it—without the pressure of an audience. (Although I did unofficially organise screenings in my primary school classroom and at family gatherings.)

When we visited the Edinburgh Fringe Festival together for the first time, we walked the Royal Mile, soaking in the energy of the buskers and theatrical acts that filled the streets. In that moment, we decided to call ourselves "PenChild" (Pensioner + Child—how creative! You can tell I was young). It was a full-circle moment when I returned to the festival as a performer in 2015.

…and they were there for it!

Now, as we near the process of making our feature film, my Gramps gifted me the very camera we used to make our films together, saying that now it’s time for me to capture some memories of my own.

So, putting the camera to good use from the outset, I took it for a test run—capturing a day with my Grandad when he came to visit me in London, making new memories fuelled by great coffee. You watch the 2 min video here.

One of the things I’m most looking forward to is diving into the (dense) archive my Grandad has been curating and storing in his personal treasure chest. Grandad, if you’re reading this—thank you for the time and effort you’ve recently put into transferring three decades’ worth of photos and videos onto an SSD card.

I realise now that, beyond your humour, storytelling abilities, and love for documenting life through film, this is one of the greatest gifts you could have ever given me.

Nowadays, I feel the pleasure of paying it forward—capturing home video memories for others in the same way my Grandad gifted them to me. Like when my friends moved into their new home together, or when friend’s become parents or when Natalie and Lucy had their 30th birthday parties. It’s a low-key hobby for now but getting this camera out feels like a direct connection to the spontaneous joy of my childhood.

Remember your serendipitous contemplations - don’t expect things to happen. Serendipity operates in environments without expectation. Do it for the process. Do it for the honest joy of doing it.

No-agenda joy making.

^ the weapon of mass-construction/light-hearted fun

Oh and don’t get me started on the footage I’ve captured in Brazil…

But that’s another story…