Tree Dance
Still from the video

A Body Called Life

Runtime – 14:38Directed by Spencer MacDonald

“Two-thirds of life on this planet is invisible to the human eye, and yet we know so little about it,” writes Spencer MacDonald, a filmmaker based in Berlin. “We wonder if there are aliens beyond Earth, but we can see them right below us through a microscope: rotifers, water bears, paramecia, ciliates.”

Spencer found James Weiss, the subject of this fascinating short film, on Instagram. “I was charmed by the creatures he was able to film through his microscope and the tender lens through which he narrated their lives,” he writes. “I was particularly intrigued by how he would also narrate his own life in the third person and the way he was sharing his journey with therapy.”

A Body Called Life is the winner of numerous international film awards. You can learn more about it here (opens in a new tab).

James Weiss can be found on Instagram (opens in a new tab) where he shares his journey with microscopy. His videos are on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Creator

Spencer MacDonald

Spencer MacDonald is a filmmaker born in NYC, raised in San Francisco, and currently based in Berlin. His work resides at the intersection of documentary and fiction, exploring the space where humanity meets environmental mysteries. More of Spencer’s work can be seen here (opens in a new tab).

More: Web Site (opens in a new tab)

Credits

Starring
James Weiss as James Weiss
Director / Editor
Spencer MacDonald
Creative Producer
Pascal Duschletta
Production Companies
Avocados and Coconuts & Tasty Pictures
EP
Dalia Burde & Lea Fee
CD
Amani King
DP
Fabian Kimoto
Original Music
Dan Deacon
Audio
UKO the Audio Suite
Color
Didrik Bråthen @TMLS
Intro VFX
Buralqy
Closing VFX
Ennio Ruschetti @ Das Alte Lager
Service Production Poland
Papaya Films
Producer
Karolina Kordecka
Production Manager
Katarzyna Kordecka
1st AD
Katarzyna Iskra
Production Designer
Anna Knittel Cahlo
Gaffer
Michal 'Lary' Kruk