Online Dating
Online Dating is an editorial about a couple that craves to meet, but due to certain circumstances can only date online. It is a love story prepared by a Shanghai-based team. Rusty Nero, a photographer, brings in a hint of surrealism while Sabina Vitter, a stylist, adds a sophisticated sleek feel. Together with the team, a beautiful multi-medium experience is created which merges technology, architecture, and set decor.
The story plays with the idea of togetherness, which is made possible through modern technological achievements. The boundary of the distance of the couple and its effect on the relationship is put to question. However, through tenderness, longing, and continuous attempts to find new visual ways to connect, a certain level of hope is created.
Old TV sets, projection on various walls, while experimenting with the image, other old devices as first cordless phones, and a rotary phone come to emphasize the importance of a connection. We speak with Sabina, Nero, and Shirui about the inspiration for the story, the way COVID-19 affects the country and personal relationships, online communication, YY Studio. We finish with a charming story shared by Shirui about the difficulties lifting the old TV to the set.
Photography Rusty Nero Styling Sabina Vitter Setting Design Shirui Yang Makeup & Hair Annkey Deng & Yi Hao Lightning Director Bowie Feng Talents Ming Er & Zheng Shi Yin Styling Assistant Arina Yakupova
Special Thanks
YY Studio
‘The idea of the story is about online dating or how to get a Tinder date’
— Sabina Vitter
What is the story about?
Sabina: The idea of the story is about online dating or how to get a Tinder date. Since we were preparing our shooting for Valentine's Day in early January, at that moment, the situation in the country was not so intense, and the media didn’t spread out information about the COVID-19 yet. At that time in Shanghai, many people didn't even know that the virus existed. At least we didn’t know for sure.
While preparing images for WÜL, we thought about whether our shooting really reflects this situation in China and how people will respond to it. Since some people want to go out, but they can’t. Many companies work from home. Universities and schools switch to online learning, gyms tell us to stay healthy and offer online classes. Some of the museums also switched to online visits. Restaurants and bars offer cocktails at home. And some clubs make online sets without the need to leave home.
Our friend told us that in Beijing, he needed to make a certificate to visit his boyfriend's campus. There are situations when people can't see their loved ones for several days due to the quarantine, but this is more about the situation in Wuhan. Of course, for all of us, this is stressful, but no matter how bad the situation is, life goes on, and we must be strong and continue to give support and love to those in need.
How do you think the authentic self is affected and changed by the media and communication online?
Sabina: Today, I can’t imagine our life without media. No wonder the media is called “the fourth governance of the world" haha. Of course, it has a powerful influence on public consciousness, which plays one of the important roles in shaping public opinion. Personally, it's extremely difficult for me to navigate the huge amount and volume of information. Technology pretty much forms the way we communicate with each other.
In my opinion, online communication has more positive aspects than negative ones. After all, it makes it possible to communicate with people from different countries and continents. We can communicate with each other in real-time, even if there are hundreds of thousands of kilometers between us.
The Internet is gradually becoming the main channel of communication. New technologies help us stay in touch with people with whom relationships are gradually fading. In the end, much still depends heavily on physical contact, but we have not yet learned how to transfer touches online.
I haven’t an exact answer to this question, too much depends on a particular person and on how much effort both are ready to put in, in order not to lose touch. Online communication gives us many opportunities to strengthen the ties that already exist between us - you just need to use it.
Tell about the technical side of working with the projection of the male model’s face on the wall and the screen version of the file for the old TVs.
Nero: A week before shooting with the female model, we had a shoot with the male model. We used a professional projector to connect the laptop to project the guy on the wall on the spot. The huge projector was hidden behind the female model.
In terms of television, I asked our set designer Shirui to find a working old TV, which we were lucky to get! We used an AV to HDMI digitizer to link the TV and the laptop and managed the technical support of the old TV displaying the photos we needed.
‘For this shoot, we utilized mostly a white wall, as this concept of "online dating" required a projector to present a couple being apart. This minimalistic, even hollow space would, therefore, put the audience in the shoes of the protagonists to better understand this relationship’
— Shirui Yang
The location is an empty big space with beautiful archways. What was important for you in scouting for the location, the choices for the design set, and styling for this shooting?
Shirui: The most important thing is the general mood that space and props convey. The sense of atmosphere played an important part in my previous experiences, yet for this shoot, we utilized mostly a white wall, as this concept of "online dating" required a projector to present a couple being apart. This minimalistic, even hollow space would, therefore, put the audience in the shoes of the protagonists to better understand this relationship. For the props, we tried to merge style into an everyday life scenario, along with the costumes to make it more of a harmonious combination.
Nero: When I was looking for the perfect place for the shoot, the first thing I imagined was an open, empty space, like an art museum, but not an ordinary photo studio.
I wanted the atmosphere of this editorial to be like a multimedia video-interactive installation, with a strong sense of story, a form of performance art, with a certain performance nature, when the girl is more like an actress than a female model, and she will connect and interact with the boy’s images in the space. So, I went to ask my old friend for a big room. He is the owner of YY Studio. I told him what the project is about. As a result, he said: "I just created a space, and you guys should do it here!" When we entered this space, we were simply shocked, as it was exactly what we were looking for! I remember we were so excited and happy about the location.
What was the best part of the shooting day? Could you share a story that is fun or motivational?
Nero: The best part was probably the moment we discovered that the projector and TV could work! The shooting day was very cold, almost close to 0℃. Space was without air conditioning since, in south China and the Yangtze River area, there is no central heating.
I was hoping we could finish the shoot early, and everyone could go home as soon as possible. Since the shooting location was huge, we spent a lot of time switching and setting up the lighting. The actual shooting time was not long, but it was probably after 9 pm when we were done.
Having finished all the looks, we wanted to take a group photo, but the female model was in a hurry. So, I turned my head hahaha, because she had to rush to work the next morning.
‘What surprised me the most was how heavy that old TV set was. We bought it from an old man in a small alley in Shanghai. At that time we needed to heave it up three flights of stairs which were extremely narrow and steep’
— Shirui Yang
What was the best part of the shooting day? Could you share a story that is fun or motivational?
Shirui: Although our team encountered certain obstacles on the shooting day, we eventually finished it smoothly. We even danced in the light of the projection (bittersweet...)! What surprised me the most was how heavy that old TV set was. We bought it from an old man in a small alley in Shanghai. At that time we needed to heave it up three flights of stairs which were extremely narrow and steep (the slope was almost right-angled, and the stair itself was only as wide as that TV set). I am especially grateful to my friend Mujiang Zhang for helping me carry it. To be honest, I have never seen him so tired. Thanks to him again! (on my knees).
