@modelstrangers's reel — transcript & breakdown

The video starts with an engaging street photography approach, initiating conversation with a stranger and immediately establishing the premise of a portrait photoshoot.

“Excuse me, sir. Sorry to bother you. My name's Chris and I'm a portrait photographer. I just thought you had a really interesting look.”

The video transitions into a personal narrative, with Alister sharing his life experiences and artistic journey, creating a deeper connection with the viewer.

“Alister. Yeah. Yep. Performance art but occasionally I doodle. I love artists. I just love the creativity and there's so much beauty in this park. It's the one thing actually, even since I was very, very young, that I felt really at home with.”

Alister continues to share his struggles and how he found peace through meditation, making his story relatable and inspiring.

“And I had certain ups and downs in life. Marriage fell apart, job thing didn't work out. You were trying to find meaning in living and I was trying to find that as an artist. But one time I went to a Zen session, a retreat, and for the Roshi (teacher) to say, 'Not a real artist' was... He said, 'No... not a real artist. Out!' This was when I was about 30. I'm 83 now. I'd even contemplated, you know... But I felt I couldn't, I couldn't do that to my parents in Scotland, you know. The anguish they would have. The only thing I had was to try to find peace within meditation.”

He elaborates on his journey to find peace and the dissolution of loneliness through interconnectedness, adding a philosophical depth to the narrative.

“Took me about two years. I stopped seeing any artist friends and took a job washing dishes in a restaurant. Just basic. And it's while I was doing this one night, I still remember, getting close to midnight. The problem dissolved. It's like swimming. You merge with the whole process. No separation between the artist, artwork and the making of it. I don't think I would have developed any of the insights... I might have, if it hadn't been for dealing with some difficulties as well.”

The photographer captures Alister's portrait while he shares his wisdom about the interconnectedness of beauty and pain.

“Without the ugliness, we wouldn't experience beauty as much. The pain and the joy. Not trying to cut one off from the other because then we split ourselves.”

Alister reflects on his contributions to the world, contrasting it with traditional family achievements, further emphasizing his unique perspective on life.

“In a negative period, if I might have it, I might think, 'what have I contributed to the world,' you know? I see some other people... they have families and kids... and they can always point to the children and, 'This is what I've generated'. Be great if I had a partner. We could chat and talk and, you know, share whatever.”

Alister concludes by reiterating the profound insight gained through meditation: the dissolution of loneliness through unity with actuality.

“But then, through the meditation... you're not separate from anything. You're one with actuality. You feel interfused with everything. Not separate. So the loneliness aspect dissolves.”

The video ends with beautiful portraits of Alister, showcasing the photographer's work and the subject's profound story.