THE STORY
A female dancer finds herself struggling with self-doubt due to the hate and negative forces around her. She fights off the demons, metaphorically portrayed through smoke, dust, fabric and lighting. In addition, she struggles to reach a second dancer, her romantic interest. Gradually, the first dancer is able to fight the obstacles so she is able to separate their distance. The two women finally dance in a pas de deux and embrace in a kiss.
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DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
This video serves as a metaphor for self-acceptance and healing. The binds that tied down the woman weren't entirely of someone else's creation, but mostly her own. She was able to release herself, but mentally couldn't because of fear of the unknown. As a nod to the LGBTQ community, this story represents what many struggle with. Whether it be coming out, battling mental illness or addiction, or defending against bullies, we must stand up to our own demons before we can let love in.
This film was inspired by my own love for ballet, and my memories as a young ballet student in the closet. I was captivated watching the pas de deuxs between the two principal dancers, the man strong and lifting the woman, the woman light and sophisticated. It was pure magic. Though not to respect the precious traditions, I always felt myself yearning to watch a different version. A fairy tale of sorts, where the prima ballerina's savior is not a handsome prince, but another ballerina.
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WHY TELL THIS STORY?
This film parallels what many struggle with, in the LGBTQ community, as women, or just as a living, breathing human beings. In using metaphors, close-ups of facial expressions, and universal language of dance, this film will be relatable to people of all backgrounds. Therefore, it will provoke empathy and acceptance in those who were previously skeptical.
We will also be introducing unique choreography into the world of ballet, an art form that, though beautiful, sometimes feels 30 years behind. Art is meant to depict life, and by neglecting to tell queer stories, we are dismissing the day to day life of so many people. Introducing queer storytelling into ballet will not only make ballet more appealing to new audiences, but it will also push it into the modern age.
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PREVIOUS WORK
My latest film, The Transgressor, told the story of a young girl who discovers music for the first time while living in a dystopian society where it is outlawed. The project also involves subtle metaphors that paralleled the experience of LGBTQ people. It won Best LGBTQ Film at The Lady Filmmakers Festival in Beverly Hills, Best Drama at Gold Star Film Festival, and the Editing Commendation at NYU's First Run Film Festival. It also screened at New York No Limits Film Series, Longleaf Film Festival, and New York Lift-Off Film Festival, among others.
Indie Shorts Magazine says "‘The Transgressor’ is a must watch, one that forces the audience into a contemplative silence. If short films were paintings then ‘The Transgressor’ is a Van Gogh!"
You can watch the film on Amazon Prime HERE.
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TIMELINE
PRE-PRODUCTION | June/July 2019
We're currently in the midst of casting, location scouting, and assembling our crew.
PRODUCTION | Mid-August 2019
We'll be shooting the film over one day at the YouTube Space in NYC.
POST-PRODUCTION | Late August/September 2019
We will be cutting and coloring the project so that it will be polished and ready for it's big premiere!
PREMIERE/FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS | Late September 2019
We plan to premiere the project on Daphne Willis's YouTube page so that you all can see our hard work brought to life! We also plan to submit to dance and LGBTQ film festivals.
WHO WE ARE
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VICTORIA DUNCAN | Writer/Director
Victoria is an award-winning director based in NYC. She earned her degree at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and also studied 35mm Filmmaking at FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic. Her work has screened at over a dozen film festivals and her latest film, The Transgressor, won Best LGBTQ+ Film at the Lady Filmmakers Film Festival in Beverly Hills. Victoria also works as a post production coordinator, recently finishing CBS's "Evil" Pilot by the creators of "The Good Fight", FX's "Fosse/Verdon", and USA's "The Sinner". Victoria strives for sincerity in the her work, and aims to encourage open-mindedness through unlikely characters.
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DAPHNE WILLIS | Singer
Collaborating across multiple genres ranging from Roots-Rock and Pop to Hip Hop and Electronic Dance Music, the songs and performances of Daphne Willis are sincere, compelling and relevant. Based in Nashville, TN and with over 1,000 shows under her belt, she was signed to a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in early 2016. This partnership has resulted in several of her songs being recorded by other artists and used in commercial, film and TV productions such as One Tree Hill, Empire, and a Microsoft Ad Campaign.
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QINZA MALIK KHAN | Producer
After studying at New York Film Academy, and developing a wholesale company, Qinza was inspired to start her own production company, Qinza Productions. The company operates like a think tank to produce short films, experimental videos and documentaries. Qinza's motivation for producing this music video comes from her love of dance, her desire to tell stories, and her experience growing up gay. This project, for both personal and artistic reasons, has quickly become very special for her as it is her first music video but mostly because of the team that they have managed to put together. She is already proud of the effort that she knows this team will put into this dreamscape.
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POOJA CHAUHAN | Co-Producer
Pooja Chauhan is an Independent Creative Producer with 10 years of experience. She’s worked with India’s leading TV companies like BBC India, Sony, MTV, and Colours on reality shows, award events, and fiction shows. In 2017, she worked as 1st Assistant Director to Vasan Bala on his feature film ‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’ which won the Audience Award for Best Film at Toronto International Film Festival. In 2013, she co-produced the film ‘Tamaash’ which won the prestigious National Award presented by the Indian Government, along with 14 other international & domestic awards. Trained as a Creative Producer at New York Film Academy, she brings a detail-oriented approach to all of her projects. Coming from a small village in Haryana, India, she understands the struggle one has to go through to go against the norms of the society. Hence this film resonates deeply with her.
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KAT CAMERON | Co-Producer
Kat Cameron is a successful gaffer-turned-producer. Having worked years as a crew member, she now uses that knowledge to provide better work experiences for everyone involved. As a dance film artist, Kat has brought many stories and ideas to the screen as a producer, DP, and choreographer. She recently worked on the feature film, Centigrade, with Phiphen Pictures, and the short film, Tomorrow Tomorrow, and in her free time Kat continues to produce site-specific dances for herself and the people of NYC.
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SHELDON WALKER | Cinematographer
Born in New York and raised in Rhode Island, Sheldon J. Walker graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts Institute of Film & Television at New York University. Since his graduation in 2014, he has worked actively in the New York City film community, as a Director of Photography, Camera Operator, and Lighting Technician. He has had the honor of shooting films in three continents, for clients ranging from Mountain Dew to small start-up, R2R Cosmetics. His photography has been awarded by the International Photography Awards and the Queens Council on the Arts. Moving forward, he hopes to use the camera to tell stories in the most unlikely of places and continue to travel the world as a filmmaker.
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ADRIANA PIERCE | Choreographer
Adriana Pierce began her professional dance career as an apprentice with New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theatre. Pierce was selected to participate in New York Choreographic Institute's Fall 2014 choreographic session and completed a residency in the inaugural Resident Fellows program with the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. For the past five years, she has been commissioned to create dance elements for Miami’s annual Mainly Mozart Festival by the Miami Chamber Music Society. Adriana Pierce was recently seen in the original cast of Broadway's 2018 revival of Rodger's and Hammerstein's Carousel at the Imperial Theater, as well as the FX mini series, Fosse/Verdon. In December 2020 you can catch her in Steven Spielberg's film remake of West Side Story.
VISUAL REFERENCES
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Pina (2011) dir. Wim Wethers
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Billie Elish's Hostage Music Video (dir. Henry Scholfield)
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Sia's Elastic Heart Music Video (dir. Daniel Askill)
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Billie Elish's Hostage Music Video (dir. Henry Scholfield)
WHY SHOULD I DONATE?
Great question! We've actually cut down much of our budget through choosing to shoot at the YouTube Space in NYC, and using their cameras and gear.
The funds we raise through Indiegogo will allow us to compensate our top-notch dancers, choreographer, and crew. It will also allow us to feed our hard-working team (many of whole are lending their time and talent to this project for free), decorating the blank space through captivating production design, and rent rehearsal space for the weeks leading up to the shoot.
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...BUT WHY SHOULD I DONATE?
This is more than just a passion project; it's a chance to put queer women on the screen in an authentic, captivating, and timeless way.
Not only will you be supporting the artistic expression of progressive storytelling, but you will also encourage the exposure of new choreography to a broader audience. You will also be supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
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PERKS!
We have AMAZING, EXCLUSIVE perks for you to choose from, including "I Am Enough" T-Shirts and mugs signed by the artist, Daphne Willis, invitations to the live premiere screening, and a signed poster by the cast and crew.
THANK YOU...
...for taking the time to read through our campaign. We hope you join us in bringing this unique, innovative project to life!
If you do not have the financial means to donate, please SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! We can't do it without you!
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