The Summer of Love: An Interview with Fraser Kershaw

Please tell us about the steps you took to make ‘The Summer of Love’ happen. How did you start?

The week after experimenting with some concepts with Francis in Oklahoma, I literally took a flight to Pennsylvania to film some of my friend’s special life moments and then the next day I was in Latin America. The moment I finally had time to gather my thoughts a friend described the camera that was designed in Japan, but I thought yes, and it was meant for the world. But one must pay lots of money for a camera. So, there is an agreement, or exchange. I saw the pollination. I have been fortunate enough to meet many people in life, that selflessly give themselves, to another, with nothing in return. I began to ask the questions. Where does that selflessness come from? And, has love been happening since the beginning of time? I think we all know the answer, but why? That was the first step and seemed very natural and not stressful at all.

Director Fraser Kershaw and Donnie Valesquez

Tell us some inside info about ‘The Summer of Love’. How did it start?

I had the vision stuck inn me for years, but never had time to finish it, and it was sort of poking at me in my side for a few years, and I knew that it had to be completed in this lifetime, then I found a wild cat, or shall I saw a wild cat adopted me. That took away my ability to work remote and I had time to sit. Then it began. I put the pieces together.

Please tell us about the future of experimentation in film and how future filmmakers can also expand into new areas never seen.

I think it’s terribly dangerous for any kind of artist to fulfill others’ expectations. I think they produce their worst work when they do that. Or, if one feels safe in their creation, perhaps the work has not even begun yet. If one feels safe, you’re not in the right area, always go a little further outside the safe zone, and then keep going, until your way outside, where you never have been before, where the path is untraveled. Maybe that’s where it is, waiting there for you to walk.

If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?

Give it all away, to people who really need it for survival. Then borrow a camera and go... Wouldn’t be the first. It’s where the magic is…(Kershaw reaches for his phone and holds up his camera-phone in that instance). Fraser Kershaw Directing method

As a director, describe how you kept the production on schedule. What steps did you take?

For this one, we allowed the light to be the boss. The natural light controlled our schedule. Everything was on schedule as it rose, and fell, rose and fell. We were just following the pattern, which became the schedule.

Congrats on everything. Currently you have 38 Selections, 5 Winners, 4 Finalist, 4 Nominees, and you still have 7 months on the clock and counting into 2025, what was the most difficult part of making the, The Summer of Love?

Thank you. Yes, lots of patience and failing. Failing is important, as the pieces need to be rearranged unlimited, until it works. The people of Tokyo showcase hospitability better than most and even if I would be in the festival, the cuisine in Japan is as good as it gets. Every human should take a mandatory art of cooking class here. The world would be better for it. Director Fraser Kershaw set his lighting the day before to follow the sun’s patterns.

If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?

I work within the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting Network and have more festivals that have invited us out to learn from one another. It will be a future of creations in hopes to make it all work together for a greater purpose. I would love to attend each and every festival and give my all to the greater Virgin Islands at the same time. But, the amount of time we have on earth is a question for us all. We must make our bed each day in hopes to return. Love you all. Thank you.