ANTE MERIDIEM

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This meditative short film, Ante Meridiem, quietly explores the passage of time through nature from a single, steady viewpoint over a six-month period. Through a series of 184 continuous images, captured in the early morning hours from March to August 2021 in the Crazy Mountain Range, Shields Valley, Montana, USA, the film invites a contemplative reflection on the power and beauty of nature, accompanied by an originally composed musical score. Each morning, a single photograph was taken to represent the day’s unfolding, creating a serene record of nature’s rhythms — from light and weather shifts to the gentle cycles of the seasons and the transformative force of fire.

For artist and filmmaker Scott Duce, the project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as an artistic outlet. Filming each morning, isolated in the vastness of Shields Valley, provided the foundation for a project that would span the next three years. The title, Ante Meridiem, was chosen to evoke the morning hours. The term refers to the Latin abbreviation “AM,” meaning “before noon” or “forenoon”. While it is rare to write out the full Latin phrase, this form is used to convey the depth and quietude of the early hours.

The film employs the abstraction of layered images and transitions, synchronized with musical notes and rhythms, to enhance the contemplative experience of nature. Duce worked in close collaboration with composer Stuart Weber, who composed and performed the original soundtrack. Together, they merged the visual imagery with a hypnotic musical score during the final editing process.

The film is divided into six chapters, each representing the months March to August, with each chapter introduced by a thematic title. The musical score evolves to reflect the themes and moods associated with each month while maintaining an overarching unity in the film’s structure. The lyrical progression of the film begins with an early spring snow, shifting to heavy grey skies, then gradually moving into the fluid sunlight of early summer. These changing skies gradually build toward the wildfires of July, where edited layers of film and animation evoke nature’s destructive power.

In the final chapter, August is portrayed as “Repose”, symbolizing a state of tranquility, hope, and renewal following the devastation of the wildfires. The film concludes with the rising sun in the last week of the month, and as the visuals fade, the music takes center stage, symbolizes a new beginning and cyclical nature of life.

The film, rather than following a narrative, is rooted in the poetic exploration of time, inviting the audience to contemplate the fleeting moments and changes in the natural world. It is a film that speaks to the connection between human existence and nature, offering a serene reflection on time itself.

Film by Scott Duce

Producer Scott Duce/ DuceStudio

Music composed

and performed Stuart Weber

Sound Mixing Jake Fleming and Stuart Weber

Release Date September 2024

Running Time 14:05

Film Methods photographs, time lapse film, and animation. experimental editing

Screenings: Festival Release Only at this time

Short. Sweet. Film Festival, Cleveland, Ohio

Bozeman Film Society, Bozeman, Montana

Sound on Screen Music Film Festival, Cape Town, South Africa