12 Chairs

Mondrian Doha · 2023

A small dining experience does not need to be filmed as a large spectacle. Its appeal may lie in the attention given to very small things.

“12 Chairs” presents the caviar bar inside Mondrian. The visual approach is close and low-key, with attention to the texture, colour and precision of the food presentation.

Moving closer for a reason

Close-ups reduce the world around an object. That can be useful when the subject is a small difference in finish, a particular texture or a deliberate gesture.

The challenge is to give those details a sequence. A series of attractive plates can become a catalogue unless the film establishes a consistent way of looking. Here, intimacy is part of the proposition: the viewer is invited to notice rather than survey.

Light and restraint

Low-key lighting leaves much of the frame dark while directing attention towards the subject. The point is not darkness for its own sake. It is deciding what should be visible and what can fall away.

That approach suits a film about careful presentation. Contrast and composition can give a small element weight without requiring the entire room to compete for attention.

Describing the experience

The venue is a caviar bar, but the film’s job extends beyond identifying what is served. It needs to suggest a manner of dining: the scale of the experience, the attention to detail and the atmosphere around the food.

For me, this is where hospitality directing becomes most specific. The best approach is not the one that makes every restaurant look expensive in the same way. It is the one that helps a viewer imagine why this particular table might be worth booking.