The Super 8 camera Alice was using was actually one of the most popular handheld eight-millimeter cameras in the 1980s. Its grainy film texture could capture retro and cherished images.
In 2012, even though cameras were becoming increasingly high-definition and lighter, digital cameras had become the mainstream choice. Nevertheless, retro camcorders like the Super 8 still had a dedicated fanbase.
Last year, JJ Abrams directed a science fiction movie called "Super 8." The film's name was inspired by the eight-millimeter camera wielded by the protagonist.
However, Alice wasn't just following a trend. This Super 8 camera had been a birthday gift for her twelve years ago.
Max and Ronan had teamed up to buy it for her, and Alice couldn't bear to part with it, carrying it with her everywhere she went.
She believed it held special significance, and now it had become an essential tool for her filmmaking.
Of course, using a Super 8 camera consumed a lot of film. It was impractical for Alice to carry multiple large film reels on a road trip.
For her daily shooting, she still used a digital camera. She reserved the unique lens texture of the Super 8 camera for specific shots during special moments, like tonight.
Seeing the band members in their awkward and embarrassing performances, Alice decisively activated the Super 8 camera to record the scene.
These clumsy and uncomfortable moments, surprisingly, could authentically capture the band's true essence.
However, as the band members performed with stiff limbs and expressions, Ollie secretly raised his eyes and stared directly at the camera, causing Alice to burst into laughter.
The camera shook along with her mirth, prompting Alice to shake her head in exasperation. She reminded Ollie, "The essence of a documentary is to genuinely record what I witness as an observer. You should ignore my camera or even my presence. Behave naturally, as if nothing has changed. This will capture the true meaning."
"Ah, I see," Ollie nodded quickly, then averted his eyes and pretended to be busy.
Alice wondered if she should also inform Ollie that he was holding the book upside down.
Then, Maxim, who was still recovering from his fall, inadvertently bumped into the camera lens. He was briefly surprised before lying back down without saying a word.
Alice couldn't help but sigh, "Maxim, you should ignore my presence, but if your eyes happen to meet the camera, there's no need to intentionally avoid it. Pretend the camera is me. You can say hello, talk, or act naturally. There's no need to overthink it."
Maxim's head popped out again from behind the mattress. "That's a tall order! What do you want us to do?"
Although Alice could only see his eyes, she could still sense Maxim's frustration, which made her laugh. "Just be yourselves."
The room fell silent, and the band members' stiff movements indicated that they were still struggling to adapt.
But Alice understood that standing in front of a camera required an adjustment process. This was true whether it was a professional actor performing or an ordinary person revealing their true selves.
After all, the presence of a camera lens itself was a form of "interference" between the photographer and the subject. Everyone needed time to acclimate to the camera's presence.
For documentary filmmakers, patience was key.
"Where's Ronan?" Alice asked, trying to change the subject and spare the band members from further embarrassment.
Ollie looked out the window. "I'm not sure. He went outside; he should be in the hallway."
With her Super 8 camera in hand, Alice left the room and headed to the corridor. She scanned the area and soon spotted Ronan by the swimming pool.
Alice didn't approach immediately but adjusted the focus of the Super 8 camera to capture Ronan's back. Due to the limitations of the eight-millimeter camera, it couldn't achieve true high-definition. Instead, it captured a silhouette outlined by moonlight and ambient lights. Nevertheless, she could still recognize him: it was Ronan.
Clearly unsure how to face the camera lens, Ronan had adopted an ostrich mentality and shifted his position to avoid it. Alice silently stood in the corridor, using the Super 8 camera's film to capture Ronan's figure in the night.
She appreciated the rough, grainy texture of the night, as if time was etched onto the film, frozen for eternity without fading.
After a while, Alice turned off the camera and made her way downstairs to a spot diagonally behind Ronan at the swimming pool.
Though she didn't hide her presence, she didn't reveal herself either. She sat cross-legged on the ground diagonally behind Ronan and turned the camera back on.
In fact, Alice had a secret she hadn't shared with anyone.
She admired Ronan's passion and resilience, the kind of heroic beauty that resembled a moth drawn to a flame, refusing to compromise or admit defeat in the face of harsh reality.
In life, too many people chose to give up, offering numerous excuses for their mediocrity and ridiculing dreamers as foolish. They believed themselves to be wise and enlightened but were unaware of what they were missing.
Alice cherished that kind of "foolishness." So did Max.
The Cooper family wasn't as wealthy as some might imagine. The three siblings had earned scholarships to attend UCLA, and they still carried varying amounts of student loan debt.
Initially, Max had given up his dreams for the sake of his younger brother and sister, but he didn't want Ronan and Alice to bow to the pressures of life.
So, when the opportunity arose, Max encouraged Ronan to embark on his journey. Alice followed in Ronan's footsteps.
Over the years, Ronan had contemplated giving up multiple times but had persevered due to his enduring, albeit foolish, courage.
He was willing to work part-time, do menial jobs, endure unstable living situations, and even skip meals to pursue his dreams. Ronan had always relied on his own efforts to persist.
Alice admired both Max and Ronan. Her two brothers were her sources of faith and courage.
They were also why she had come to New Orleans. In times of doubt and confusion, she hoped Ronan could once again guide her and provide her with the courage to persevere.
But Alice had no intention of sharing this secret with Ronan; otherwise, he would undoubtedly let it go to his head. Some secrets were best kept to oneself.
At this moment, Alice used her lens to silently record.