Twig Art (1958)

Canterbury, Kent. Exterior. M/S of the Rev. Harold de Mel walking up a grassy slope from the road to pick up twigs from the base of a tree in Canterbury Close. In the background Canterbury cathedral is visible. Low angle C/U of Rev. M. inspecting the branch of twigs he has picked up. C/U of Rev. M.’s legs leaping up the stairs to enter a church. Rev. M. is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and is studying at St. Augustine’s college, Canterbury. Interior. Rev. M. enters a room and places the twig on a desk. He is an expert in ’arborics’ - “which means simply twig sculpture“. Beside him on the desk are several twisted wooden figures. Rev. M. picks up a saw lying on the table and sets to work chopping up the branch. C/U of Rev. M’s face as he works. C/U of Rev. M.’s hands as he sweeps away the excess twigs and holds up what remains. C/U of Rev. M. admiring the finished product - a twig carved to resemble a discus thrower. C/U of the figures on the desk, also made from twigs but painted and varnished.