Cultural Fruits – Gentrification – Lights / Camera / Action

– LIGHTS / CAMERA / ACTION –

It is of great anticipation that I can now confirm that filming for my new documentary feature film has commenced!

Since arriving in Oslo on a year long placement, I have become a member of the documentary filmmaking department within the ‘Oslo Student-TV’ organisation. A well respected film production company based in the heart of Oslo, at the Chateau Neuf complex in Majorstuen. Handed with the task of developing two documentaries before the year is out, that encompasses an ‘international’ premise is a wonderful opportunity to expose the many existing facets of multiculturalism throughout Oslo.

–  MULTICULTURALISM –

Our first documentary shall therefore for this reason be focusing upon multiculturalism within the Grünnerløkka region of Oslo. A district that has over the past two decades experienced a dramatically fluctuating cultural landscape, often deemed a ‘testing ground’ for the obverse and peculiar before it reaches wider consumer markets in mainstream Oslo.

As one may have already presumed, the Grünnerløkka region is held in high regards by the majority of international students coming into Oslo and also of recent years by numerous wealthy property developers aiming to capitalise and marketise the district into the next Scandinavian ‘Camden Town’, ‘Williamsburg’ or ‘Shoreditch’.

– GENTRIFICATION –

Despite the many cultural fruits that may be harvested on a typical visit to Grünnerløkka, stumbling across cultural frustration and hostility against this ‘wave’ of cultural exploitation is a common occurrence from local residents. Unfortunatley, as with any cultural exploitation often comes the very dirty word that is ‘gentrification’. A once unexploited, un-popular and untouched district has fallen to the feet of multi-corporations and is being saturated by wealthy puppeteers. This provides a perfect angle for our up and coming documentary that shall soon be available for viewing on the OSLO TV website (OSTV.NO).

Thank-you.

Joseph