Stories of the Heart

The film is an experimental attempt to visually interpret ideas of the heart, its place and relevance to humans. It intends to evoke conscious or unconscious feelings, and elicit deeper thoughts from the audience about the heart as place.

  • Ro Lara
    Director
  • John Hunt
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 13, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds
  • Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    March 3, 2021
    Official Selection
  • North East International Film Festival
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    United Kingdom
    November 19, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Serbest International Film Festival
    Kishinev
    Moldova, Republic of
    September 23, 2021
    Semi-finalist
Director Biography - Ro Lara, John Hunt

Biography
Rodrigo Guadarrama Lara (Ro Lara)

Ro was born and raised in Mexico City. In 2012, he completed a master's degree in engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Ciudad Universitaria), and decided to seek an opportunity to study abroad. In 2013, he came to Leeds, United Kingdom, to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering. During his studies and the process of adaptation to a multicultural society, Ro has experienced an important change in mindset that brought him closer to different forms of art and self-expression.

Initially, Ro adopted photography as a means of expression and communication. He has attended a course in London at the Nikon School Centre of Excellence. Also, at Magnum Photos, he attended the NGO, Social Practice and Advocacy: How to Use Storytelling for Social Change course with representatives from Save the Children and Amnesty International. Due to his great desire for continuous professional development, and to effectively communicate and interact with his audience, in September 2020, he began a master's degree in Film, Photography and Media in the School of Media and Communication (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures) at the University of Leeds.

Ro recently co-produced the short film Stories of The Heart, which was screened in March at the Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival 2021. He has also collaborated with artist Liza Cox producing a digital performance exploring the idea of the human body becoming an extension of urban landscapes and vice versa. The film was presented at the RUINS|BODIES Symposium in Dublin, Ireland (July 2021). The symposium was a part of the WoW Project (Women on Women).

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Director Statement

My professional work is founded upon informed, responsible and conscious photography and videography. I uphold principles, values and best practice, maintaining rigorous self-evaluation and critical reflection. I aim to become a better human being, continuously listening to people and learning from them, which enables me to evolve with contemporary practice and ideas.

I actively seek collaborations with individuals to build stronger efforts to promote communities’ diversity and culture. At all times, I encourage reflection, critical thinking and action from my audience. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to the betterment of our societies and environments.