School Dance

No Image To Display

TYPE: Narrative Feature
GENRE: Comedy
STATUS: Development

LOGLINE

In this Silent Dance Comedy six high schoolers confront their true identities through lush fantasies, all without words, one night at their 1980s school dance.

SYNOPSIS

One night at their 1980s school dance, classic stereotypes: Jock, Geek, Drunk, Snob, Dork, Follower, break out of their reality and launch into rich fantasy. There they discover who they really are, compelling them to stay in their lane or bust out of their shell. Underscored by popular classical hits.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

My style of storytelling is a new genre I call Silent Dance Comedy, where the whole spectrum of the narrative is told using the universal language of dance, silent film, and physical comedy. I combine these elements with familiar music, humor, and heart in an effort to unite us through our common human experiences. My influences are Charlie Chaplin, Gene Kelly, and Jackie Chan. Every move, gesture and dance step is earned, while furthering the story and unveiling more of each character. The story will vacillate between reality and fantasy. In reality, the idealized version of the 80s is stripped away, spotlighting a confusing world with outdated traditions. It will feel pedestrian and lived in like FOOTLOOSE, DIRTY DANCING and THE BREAKFAST CLUB. The fantasy moments will reflect each student's desire by being expressed in the classic style of big movie musicals, and recent dance in films that are bold in color and passion. It will feel lush and expansive as the walls break open like in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, OKLAHOMA, and WEST SIDE STORY (original). It will also mirror coming-of-age stories like BILLY ELLIOT and STRICTLY BALLROOM. Since there is no dialogue, everything must be underscored so the music is an essential storytelling element. The choice to use classical music allows greater depth, color, and storytelling than an 80s song. It allows the story and the piece to transcend beyond just the nostalgia. I am making this film for two reasons. One, to show we are more alike than different as we all go through the same experiences as humans. Love, hate, betrayal, discovering who we are, who we want to be, and how we find peace in expressing our true self. Movement immediately gets to the core of our common humanity. It is visceral and universal, the impact is deeply felt without words getting in the way or being misconstrued. The comedy helps soften our galvanized boundaries, taking people off their guard, and lowering defenses. Ideally, helping to see ourselves in each other. And two, it is a coming-of-age love note to those who had to hide their truth in order to survive. The film will shine a light on sexual identity, generational trauma, income disparity, codependency, and sexual/physical abuse. I want to show that moving forward sometimes means having to embrace our fears, while still being afraid. And only in doing so do we give ourselves the space, power, and permission to fully express our authentic self. Also, I want older audiences will look back to their own school experiences and realize that other students were dealing with these traumas. These issues are not new, the Queer community is not new, generational trauma is not new. We have been struggling with these issues for a very long time. Not recognizing them then didn’t solve the issue, it caused more harm. Now is the time to see it and embrace kids for who they are, not who we feel they should be.

KEY CREW

Connect With The Filmmakers: