THE LAB: DECOY | 6 Photographers 1 Man - A Portrait Photography Session With A Twist

Summary

In this intriguing encounter, a photographer is tasked with capturing the essence of Michael, a complex individual who claims to be a self-made millionaire, ex-inmate, commercial fisherman, and psychic. Despite the pressure of a ten-minute deadline and the challenge of portraying Michael's multifaceted persona, the photographer aims to reveal his true character. The twist? Michael later admits that parts of his story were fabricated, leaving the photographer to reflect on the creative process of capturing someone's essence beyond the facade.

Takeaways

• 📸 Michael is the subject of a photography session, where the photographer aims to capture his essence.
• 🔮 Michael claims to be psychic, which is a new aspect of his identity.
• 🎣 He is described as a commercial fisherman, which adds to his rugged persona.
• 🆘 Michael has saved someone's life, highlighting his heroic nature.
• 🍻 The script mentions that Michael is a former alcoholic, suggesting a past struggle with addiction.
• 💰 There's a claim that Michael is a self-made millionaire, indicating financial success.
• 🚫 Michael is also described as an ex-inmate, which implies a history of legal troubles.
• 🕒 The photographer is given a limited time of ten minutes to capture Michael's essence.
• 🤔 The photographer's approach is to get to know Michael to portray him authentically, not just aiming for a perfect portrait.
• 😅 At the end, Michael reveals that parts of his story were fabricated, adding an element of surprise and questioning the authenticity of the portrayal.

Q & A

Who is Michael according to the transcript?

Michael is described as a self-made millionaire, ex-inmate, commercial fisherman, former alcoholic, and a lifesaver who claims to be psychic.

What is the task given to the person with the camera?

The task is to photograph Michael and capture the essence of who he is within a limited time of ten minutes.

How does the photographer plan to approach the photograph of Michael?

The photographer plans to find out about Michael's character and portray his bravery, aiming to capture his essence rather than creating a conventional, perfectly lit portrait.

What is the significance of the statement 'not everything I told you today was true'?

This statement implies that Michael has been misleading or not entirely truthful about his background and identity, adding a layer of complexity to the photographer's task.

What is the revelation about Michael's claims of being a psychic?

Michael admits that he is not psychic and cannot even spell it, suggesting that his earlier claim was false.

How does the photographer feel about the environment they are in?

The photographer finds the environment intimidating, which adds to the challenge of capturing Michael's essence.

What does the photographer hope to achieve with the photograph of Michael?

The photographer hopes to capture Michael's bravery on film, reflecting the intensity of the encounter.

What is the photographer's reaction to the complexity of Michael's character?

The photographer is intrigued by the complexity and feels pushed into a creative space they are not familiar with, which challenges their approach to the task.

What is the final outcome of the photographer's attempt to portray Michael?

The final outcome is not explicitly stated, but it is implied that the photographer has captured something of Michael's character, despite the challenges.

What does the photographer suggest about the need for creativity in their task?

The photographer suggests that to portray someone like Michael accurately, one needs to be more creative and possibly dig deeper to understand the subject.