POPera

A purple werewolf, electronic music, striking costumes, and a performance that rarely went where I expected. POPera gave me an unusual subject for my video work: a live show where voice, movement, and visual experimentation shared the stage.

I donated my filming and editing services to document the production. This page showcases that work and the challenge of translating an unpredictable live performance into video.

Behind the camera

My interest was in capturing how the show felt in the room — the performers’ expressions, the movement onstage, the costume details, and the relationship between the music and the action.

Filming live performance means making decisions as things happen. Where do you place the viewer’s attention? When does the full stage tell the story, and when does a smaller detail matter more? Those questions shaped my approach to documenting POPera.

About the show

POPera was one of the strangest performances I’ve seen. At times, it seemed to enjoy being strange simply for the sake of it. Strong vocals gave the production an anchor as the story moved through surreal characters, club culture, and unexpected turns.

At its center is the Purple Werewolf, searching for his long-lost father and a sense of acceptance. Created around the work of Michael Richardt and Diana Burkot, the production brings electronic music, opera, dance, and queer performance together in a world with its own logic.

To me, its willingness to be eccentric felt very Icelandic. That freedom made it an interesting performance to experience — and to film.

Credits

Film & edit

Brandon Leon

Contribution

Donated filming and editing services

Performance and production credits

Listed below