Amy's Eton Mess

Amy's Eton Mess - a quick video guide to making the perfect Eton Mess.

In the height of summer the best dessert is considered to be strawberries and cream, however this alternative is without a doubt a popular favourite. 

(https://vimeo.com/103262182)

Eton Mess is a classic British dessert made up of a mixture of strawberries, meringue and cream. The dessert has been known since the beginning of the 19th century, and is traditionally served at Eton College's annual cricket game.

"I always thought that the Eton Mess was 'invented' around the 1920's when, during the annual cricket match at Eton College, a rather giddy labrador sat upon the picnic blanket containing the strawberry pavlova, squashing it. The plum-mouthed boys didn't care a single jot that their dessert had been essentially ruined (and probably covered in dog hair) and ate the thing anyway, preferring it to the pavlova. And so the Eton Mess was born and served up as a summertime pudding ever after." 

 - http://britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/eton-mess/

This quick guide was created as part of my sister's Queen's Guide Award, (which is the highest Award one can achieve in Girl Guiding). It was filmed at Essington Farm in Wolverhampton using two small Canon Ixus cameras. 

The entire film relied on improvisation as nothing was planned fully. The majority of the film was shot in the farm, whereas the guide to preparing and making the dessert was filmed in the car park from the boot of my mother's car. Whilst my mother filmed the wide shot (by sitting in the boot), I filmed the close ups by sitting in the grass next to the table just out of shot.

Inspired by many cooking programs, especially Jamie Oliver's 15-minute meals, it was interesting to see how two shots - one wide and one close - could make all the difference to giving information to the viewer.

In the video, the close up camera is at times quite visibly blurred. There is no particular reason for this, except perhaps the inability of the fixed lens to cope in bright sunlight. However, from a viewer's point of view, I and several others have found it gives the film an almost warm and soft vintage look in appearance. Of course from a filmmakers point of view, it would essentially be a disaster. On the other hand, as it has not deterred from the message or hindered the film, it can be counted as an unexpected attribute.

The film was edited on Adobe Premier Elements, but (DISCLAIMER) the music does not belong to me in any way, shape or form. No Copyright Infringement intended.

You can watch the finished video here:

https://vimeo.com/103262182