What's the Point Film Festival
What’s the Point is a film festival presenting an accumulation of commercial dance films connecting contemporary dance to the pop culture music selected for the film. The choreography, music, camera usage, setting, costuming and cast all help support one theme for each of the dance films. These films use dance to create a narrative or a purposeful message. I have found backgrounds and reasons for the making of some films that have led to a more personal story and creation. On the other hand, I have come across films that have no background and are solely for the purpose of dance on film, with a simple message created by myself or with possible intentions from the choreography. I have been interested in discovering the power of each element of creating the films, that have taken me on a journey into my own imagination and exploration of storytelling. I encourage you, as the viewer, to watch each film and allow yourself to be taken on your own adventure and seek the narrative you understand after watching each film.
Screendance 7490
Cry Me a River - Andrew Winghart
The dance film Cry Me a River posted on January 31, 2017 by Andrew Winghart uses multiple dancing bodies to narrate a story. Andrew Winghart is an up and coming convention dance teacher in Los Angeles, who is trying to get his name out there and is known for his dynamic and clear view points in choreography. The piece came from Winghart’s curiosity in creating a body of water with a wave of people. The dance film is lead by a male dancer, George Lawrence II. George Lawrence II established his name as a performer on the show, So You Think You Can Dance. The song lyrics in the song Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake are describing his feelings for person he once loved and all of the things he would do for them. Once the lyrics start to take a turn by singing “You don’t have to say, what you did, I already know, I found out from him,” an incredible amount of female dancers begin circling in from both sides in light blue long, flowy dresses. The female dancers create a visual of a wave by doing ripples of movement from one end to the other. This represents his feelings toward the wave of people coming in and out of his life. As the army of female dancers do this choreography behind him, he pays no attention to them and completely blocks them out. With the camera set-up at a long shot, we are able to see the full performing space and the visuals created by the formations and choreography.
Life is Worth Living - Emma Portner and Patrick Cook
The dance film Life is Worth Living is the official music video for one of Justin Bieber’s hit songs shared on November 14, 2015. This song comes from Bieber’s Album Purpose: The Movement, which was an internet sensation as Bieber would post each video one at a time over a period of time. When the music videos are played in the sequence they were posted, it creates a 30 minute dance film. Bieber is bringing awareness to mental health in these films. The film, which represents the message in the lyrics, starts with a close-up of a young girl coming into focus of the camera. With the sound of a gunshot, the camera begins to back away from the dancer, revealing a wound on the dancer’s left chest. The wound is a significant detail in the film because it establishes the message of suicide prevention and the girl in the film represents the one who wants to end her life. The song shares a message that living another day is worth it. The dancer is in an open dance studio space, wearing black briefs and a black bralette, the outfit choice represents the raw and realness of the dancer and the video. When the dancer begins moving, there is a male dancer watching her in the back corner and then the camera shifts, losing sight of the person. The female’s movements are direct and intentional. The girl continues dancing and the male dancer joins her, as her support system. One significant moment between the two is when he lifts her up and supports him not only physically, but mentally.
Let It Go - Talia Favia
The dance film Let it Go was created by T.Milly Production and choreographed by Talia Favia was published to YouTube on September 23, 2015. Tim Milgram is a videographer and director for dance films based in Los Angeles.Time Milgram is the creator of T.Milly Productions, which is a company working closely with influential dancers and choreographers within the industry. He notices an important expression of dance on film and is creating a viral sensation through dance on camera. The choreographer, Talia Favia, best known for her work on the show, So You Think You Can Dance, used her own break-up history to create the piece. She reflects on all the emotions that can be felt during a break-up. The song Let it Go is written by James Bay, describing a relationship that may be better off apart. In this dance film, there are two dancers, a female and a male, in an old warehouse with distressed furniture lying around. The dance is lit by the natural lighting coming through the windows, making the room feel dark and dusty. The film begins with the dancers sitting on opposite ends of an old couch in the corner, the camera captures this from a diagonal, mid-shot, to emphasize the distance between them. Once the dancers move away from the couch and together they dance powerful and high intensity movement. The choreographer incorporated slashing and punching movement to resemble their hardship. The dancer’s have intentional, yet lost eyes as they look at one another. The dance ends, with the two back on the couch in the same positions. It makes me believe nothing was resolved in their toxic relationship.
Missing You - Tessandra Chavez
The dance film Missing You is the official music video for Black McGrath’s song, directed and filmed by Tim Milgram, choreographed by Tessandra Chavez and posted on December 6, 2017. Tim Milgram has created over 400 videos for media sources such as BuzzFeed, TIME, MTV and more. Blake McGrath came out with the song as a first lead single after going viral for covers. His choice to use T.Milly Productions in the process is smart because of the well-known platform Milgram has already established. Tessandra Chavez in an Emmy-Award winning dance choreographer who is known for athletic and intensely emotional work. In the beginning of the film, they included text on the screen to set up the message and storyline of the film. It says, “True love is always wanting the best for someone even if it doesn’t include you,” and the song lyrics are describing missing someone who is extremely special to you. The dance takes place in an open warehouse, with large windows creating the light for the film. The camera is set-up to only capture the small portion of the space where the dancers move, incorporating long-shots, mid-shots and close-ups depending on the dancer’s movements. The film consists of 19 dancers dressed in black pants and long sleeve shirts. The usage of dancers and spatial formations in the film is intricate and significant. As the film goes on, the dancer’s perform in groups and partners. It adds dimension to the piece and the partnerships between two dancers resembles the relationship between them.
Love in The Dark - Kyle Hanagami
The dance film Love in the Dark filmed by Tim Milgram, choreographed by Kyle Hanagami, was created to a song written by Adele, but covered by Leroy Sanchez. Kyle Hanagami is an experienced choreographer who has experience in live performance and film technology. Hanagami was diagnosed with Leukemia and was always reminded to find light in the darkness. The piece was created to represent his experience when he was told this news. The song is about finding the light in the darkness, even when all hope seems gone. The camera uses many different angles in the film, often following the dancers or duets that are in focus at the time. The film has 16 dancers, with 9 men and 7 women wearing all white clothing, that are dancing through the message of the song lyrics. They are in a dark room, with lighting coming from eight light bulb stands, that the dancer’s use as props. The light bulbs represents the hope a person has during a dark time. Throughout the film, the dancers dance both together and in pairs. The dance ends with one female dancer moving across the stage and as she crosses other dancer’s paths the light bulbs turn off one by one. She eventually finds her way to a singular light bulb still shining, then it shuts off to end the piece.
The dance film Recovery choreographed by Janelle Ginestra, filmed by Tim Milgram and song by James Arthur was posted to YouTube on October 19, 2018. Janelle Ginestra is a choreographer, who is creating a dance and hip-hop empire called the Beast Network. Janelle describes the piece through an Instagram post as a personal experience with addiction. She wants to make a statement about how it has the ability to consumer someone’s life and how some people find victory and some people do not. The song lyrics describes the process of recovery from some sort of addiction. The twenty dancers in the film are wearing neutral colors, while dancing in a dark, shadowy room, with a singular spotlight coming from the high back corner. The light in the film is important because it not only sets a tone, but with there being distance in formations in the beginning, it is important to see those dancers standing and those sitting. The group in the center stands with a strong focus toward the camera, surrounded by a circle of chairs around them with dancers slouched on them with their heads hanging toward the center. The camera slowly moves toward the group of dancers and as the lyrics begin, the dancers perform hand gesture movements with a lost look in their eyes. The dancer’s on the chairs begin moving as the camera starts to back away to a more long-shot. The chairs represent a support group for people who were once suffering from addiction. The stress in the dancer’s eyes helps us realize and internalize their emotional feelings through their recovery. The connection between the lyrics and the forceful movement gestures helps an audience connect the dots of the story.
Recovery - Janelle Ginestra
The dance film Instead directed by Drew Suppa, choreographed by Blake McGrath, Matt Cady and Ricky Palomino, to the song Instead originally by Ryan Amador, but covered by Blake McGrath was posted to YouTube on March 15, 2017. Blake McGrath is a professional dancer and pop singer, who uses dance and song to relay an emotional message. Matt Cady began his choreography track with the dance group Fanny Pak who performed on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Now, he is choreographing all over for Madonna, So You Think You Can Dance, dance conventions and music videos. Ricky Palomino trained in ballet, modern and jazz as a kid then graduated to dance in NYC with Alvin and Ailey and Broadway Dance Center. Now, he is choreographing for TV shows using his passions for dance, music and fashion to create work. The piece was performed by 21 male dancers, in an open desert area with mountains and clear skies in the background. The dancers are wearing black suits while rolling around in the dirt, making them look dirty and disheveled. It describes the hardships and jealousy of losing someone who you care about romantically. As the dancers perform as a group in synchronization, the camera captures these moments from the front at a long shot with intention to capture all dancers. The location resembles loneliness. As the dancers move to partners, representing the romantic relationship, the camera dances with them and gets closer to the performers. The camera often captures an overview of the dancers and the formations they are in. The dancers show emotional expressions of aggression and heartbreak which relates to the story in the lyrics.
Instead- Blake McGrath
Fix You - IaMEmilidosal and Kelsey Landers
The dance film Fix You choreographed by IaMEmilidosal and Kelsey Landers, to the song “Fix You” by Coldplay was posted to Youtube on October 9, 2015. Kelsey Landers is a commercial dancer living in Los Angeles performing for various choreographers and commercials. The piece was made for a friend who was diagnosed with Lupus and as a friend it is a battle itself to watch your friend try to fight this. It is hard to stand by and watch someone you care about suffer. The piece is danced by a male and female duet, in an open deserted area with sand and mountains. The lyrics in the song are describing someone who is going through defeat and someone else is there to try to help you through it. When the dance begins, the female dancer is lying under a white sheet, alone in this open space unable to move. Suddenly, the male dancer enters the scene and begins to help the dancer move her limbs. The lyrics say, “Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you.” (Coldplay). The dancer brushes through the air, over her body and by his presence, she finds the ability to move. The storyline of the dance film is someone who was diagnosed with a disease and the other person being there to help and support them. The choreography represents the story because in the beginning the only way the female dancer can move, is with the help of the male dancer. The female is supported by the male’s physical abilities to lift her and toss her in the air and as the piece goes on the dancer regains the ability to move by the power and support of her friend. Eventually the story ends and the female is back where she began. The dance is an emotional, yet true and real sensation when someone you love is going through something like this.
In This Shirt - Kate Jablonski
The dance film In This Shirt choreographed by Kate Jablonski to the song “In This Shirt” by The Irrepressibles was posted to YouTube on January 16, 2014. Kate Jablonski is the owner and founder of Beyond Words Dance Center, who started her career training in New York City as a member of Broadway Dance Center Professional Program. Kate then found YouTube and used it as her platform to post her work. Quickly she gained 53 thousand subscribers and over 20 millions views around the world. This lead her to teach at conventions internationally and eventually start her own studio. The dance company trains dancers ages 18 and up in a professional environment. The dance film In This Shirt showcases the companies talents, Kate Jablonski’s choreography and the usage of social media and film to showcase work. The piece takes place on a dance stage with strung light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The dancers are in soft light brown button down tops, emphasizing the softness of the music and the rawness of the dancer’s talents. The choreography emphasizes complexity that corresponds with the musicality and the beats. As the music tempo speeds up, the choreography also reflects the speed and becomes more dynamic, with quicker movement and formation changes.
Him - Kyle Hanagami
The dance film Him choreographed by Kyle Hanagami, directed by Ryan Parma to the song “Him” by Sam Smith was posted to YouTube on June 8, 2018. The song “Him” by Sam Smith is in reference to his experiences and struggles finding his place in religion as a gay man. Kyle Hanagami has created this piece to support that love is love, in all forms, in response to LGBTQ parades and festivals happening all over the world. Sam Smith created the song and Kyle Hanagami made the lyrics come to life within this piece. Hanagami has dedicated the video to everyone who is brave enough to love who they love. The dance film takes place in a ballroom with twelve dancers wearing all black in a bright space. One male dancer is the focus of the film, who has a romantic connection with another male dancer in the piece. The other dancers represent the things and people who may be holding him back from following his feelings and love for this other man. As the film progresses, we see the two male dancers interacting with one another, while the other dancers to perform synchronized choreography. The dance ends with the two male dancers together and in-love, no matter all the things that were keeping them apart, they fought through it for love.