Frameform – Details, episodes & analysis

This week’s episode of Frameform features three extraordinarily experienced artists-Kati Kallio, Maia Sorensen and Helena Jonsdottir- who wear many hats in the screendance field as filmmakers, curators, educators and more. Clare spoke with them about their work in screendance creation, curation and education and how it is informing the establishment of a nascent Nordic Screendance Network. The conversation broaches the necessity of regular in-person meetings for practitioners as well as how the strength of a network can aid in the advocation of a more sustainable screendance field for those working in it.

Kati Kallio is a prolific filmmaker based in Finland who was a co-founder of the Loikka Dance Film Festival, which ran between 2008-2018. Maia Sorensen is a Copenhagen-based artist and facilitator whose integrated artistic and curatorial practice includes work with ScreenMoves/Dansehallerne (DK) and the international dance film competition 60secondsdance. Helena Jonsdottir is an artist based between Brussels and Reykjavik whose artistic practice of films with a movement based core bears the name Physical Cinema, which is also the name of her long running festival. 

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https://www.katikallio.com/

https://maiaelisabethsorensen.com/

Loikka Dance Film Festival Archives

Physical Cinema Festival Reykjavík Iceland

Argos centre of audiovisual arts in Brussels   

10 Moving North dance films created in 2003 https://www.scenarkivet.se/uppsattning/1669/moving-north-ten-short-dance-films/mer/ + https://www.dfi.dk/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/moving-north, 

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Got a question? Email us at frameformpodcast@gmail.com and follow us on social for updates @frameformpod on Instagram

Want even more Frameform? Consider joining us on 

Patreon

 where we release bonus content :) The cost to access is less than a fancy cup of coffee.

Hello! We’re back from our summer recess which means we have more episodes to come for the rest of the 2024 year!

For today’s episode, Hannah sits down with Austin, Texas filmmaker Maggie Bailey, discussing her 2022 dance documentary, Moving Together. This particular doc is something I myself (Hannah), have not seen in the dance documentary mode. What made this movie really stand out from others is that the story blends a soothing balance of cinematic movement that we commonly see in screendance, but then pairing those vignettes with gentle interview voiceover. Overall, Maggie guides viewers on a weaving journey between the relationship of music and dance through the lens of 6 collaborators who approach the art form in their own way.

In this interview, we learn about Maggie’s technical process for making Moving Together and dive into some of the elements that make this movie extra special.

 

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Moving Together logline
Moving Together explores the intimacy of collaboration between musicians and dancers in Flamenco, Modern, and New Orleans Second Line in both performance and class environments. As artists, we collaborate with other disciplines consistently, but what pulls us back to specific people for collaboration? 

This feature length, performative documentary investigates the relationships between Michael Wall, modern dance accompanist and composer, and Jesse Zaritt, dancer and choreographer; Olivia and Isai Chacon, a Flamenco dancer and Spanish guitarist; and New Orleans natives Michelle N. Gibson, cultural ambassador, choreographer, performer, and Thaddeus Ford, sixth generation Trumpet player. 

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Follow and get in touch with Maggie Bailey
www.maggiembailey.com

@maggiembailey 
@movingtogetherfilm

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Got a question? Email us at frameformpodcast@gmail.com and follow us on social for updates @frameformpod on Instagram

Want even more Frameform? Consider joining us on Patreon where we release bonus content :) The cost to access is less than a fancy cup of coffee.

Frameform was honored an invitation from Jennifer “Scully” Thurston (noted RogueDancer and current Artistic Director of ADF Movies by Movers)  to moderate Q&As following the shorts programs at a weekend of the summer-long dance film institution Movies by Movers at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina in July of 2023.

This panel moderated by Clare Schweitzer, Hannah Weber and Scully featured the following artists:

• Courtney Holbrooks, director of the film Isolate
• Henry Isiah Graham, director and performer of the film Air
• Chloe Ilene, director and performer of The Wardrobe
• Jake Kruty, Jon Rodriguez and Xavier Townsend, co-directors and performer, respectively of Walls Come Down
• Maggie M. Bailey, director of the feature-length screendance documentary Moving Together 

Highlighted Dancefilms/Screendances:

Moving Together Film Page
Moving Together Trailer

Isolate dir. Courtney Holbrooks

Walls Come Down (excerpt) dir. Jake Kruty

The Wardrobe (still) dir. Chloe Ilene

Check out our Frameform Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, Zines by Clare, and more.

New shorts from Dancinema’s 2023 program are LIVE at Dancinema Online! Become a site member (it’s free!) to browse festival archives and new selections for this season. 

Coming soon: Dancinema 10 year Anthology. This is a PDF guide to all of the dancefilms we have screened to date, plus collaborations and projects. Get yours by becoming a Dancinema site member or a Frameform Patreon Subscriber!

Sean Dorsey is a San Francisco-based choreographer, dancer, writer, teaching artist and cultural activist. Recognized as the U.S.’ first acclaimed transgender modern dance choreographer, Dorsey has toured his work to more than 30 cities across the US and abroad – and taught with his explicitly trans-positive pedagogy in more than 35 cities.

In July 2023, Sean Dorsey Dance presented the North Carolina premiere of the ADF commission “The Lost Art Of Dreaming”, a life affirming experience that invites the audience to reconnect with longing, embrace expansive imagination, connect with joy and pleasure, and propel ourselves toward loving Futures. This tour stop coincided with the ADF Movies by Movers screening of the film “If Cities Could Dance |Transgender Dancer Invites Trans & Queer People to Dream Big” directed by Lindsay Gauthier which profiles Dorsey and his work. The film is currently on a festival tour and recently won an Emmy.

Clare and Hannah moderated this Q&A panel following the screening of the film. On the panel were Sean Dorsey, dancers Nol Simonse, Héctor Jaime, & David Le, costume designer Krystal Harfert, and Technical Director Emily Paulson.

Special thanks to ADF Movies by Movers Artistic Director Jennifer Scully Thurston for the invitation!

Learn and Explore More:

Highlighted Dancefilms/Screendances:

If Cities Could Dance | Transgender Dancer Invites Trans & Queer People to Dream Big

Dir. Lindsay Gauthier

 

The Lost Art of Dreaming (trailer)

Check out our Frameform Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, Zines by Clare, and more.

Lighting plays a large role in cinematography. In one scenario, light is a tool to just visually see images. While in other cases, light sculpts the features in a space – illuminating the curvatures of people’s bodies, faces, sharp edges on buildings and furniture. Lack of light creates deep undertones such as darkness, evil, mystery, and secrecy while heightening other attributes to a film, like sound and emotion. In all, light is not just a necessity or a need– it’s a tool that serves more purpose than one thinks.  

In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at a few handful films that exhibit great examples of integrated lighting as a character. These films use lighting methodically, whether it be elongated shadows, different colored lighting, or even lack of visibility inside a dimly lit landscape. Consider a more thought out lighting set-up for your next film, but listen to this episode first to gather up some ideas.

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Highlighted Dancefilms/Screendances:

Cornered Dir. James Vernon

Barbarians: Origins Director & Producer: Romain Rachline Borgeaud

A Hard Day’s Night Dir. Benjamin Hoffman & Mathieu Mondoulet 

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Quick Shoutouts

Pas de Deux Dir. Norman McLaren

The Game Dir. James Kinney and Pierre Marais

The Stop Dir. Liudmila Komrakova

 

Bleu Fuchsia Dir. Marc Lesperut

 

Feelings Dir. Charlie Luccini

Hypra Dir. Tim Jockel

Plus: TV and Movies Are Too DARK - Why Is this Happening? - video essay from The Take

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Check out our Frameform Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, Zines by Clare, and more.

WARNING: Some explicit language is used in this episode. We recommend using headphones if you have sensitive or young ears around.

In this next installment of our partnership with Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival this season, we are featuring “Ghostly Labor”, a hybrid dancefilm/documentary that has been a hit on the festival circuit, and for good reason! We learn about the integral phases of research and collaboration throughout this production and the exciting next phases of this project. 

“Ghostly Labor” explores the history of labor in the US Mexico Borderlands while displaying various percussive dances, movement and musical traditions. An authentic and truly creative approach to documentary, “Ghostly Labor” is a masterpiece in its artistry, impact, and all technical elements. 

La Mezcla is a polyrhythmic San Francisco based dance and music ensemble rooted in Chicana, Latina and Indigenous traditions and social justice. Vanessa Sanchez is the founder and executive artistic director of La Mezcla, and a choreographer, dancer and educator. John Jota Leaños is an animator, filmmaker, artist and professor at UC Santa Cruz. Along with a team of experts in their fields, these two have crafted “Ghostly Labor” which we cover in depth in this episode.

Learn and Explore More:

Ghostly Labor
Watch the preview | About page

La Mezcla

Website | Social @lamezcla_sf

@nessa_sanchez44 @jjleanos

Listen to additional interview with Clare on Dancing Through the Lens Podcast

Submit to Dancinema for the opportunity to be part of the online program, or screen as part of a theatrical event in Washington, DC and/or Vancouver, BC.

Dancinema
Watch On Demand  / Submit / Social @jenraydancinema

CASCADIA Dance & Cinema Festival (Vancouver, BC)

Submit / Website / Social @cascadiadcfestival

CAPITOL Dance & Cinema Festival (Washington, DC)

Submit / Website / Social @capitoldcfestival

Check out our 

Frameform Patreon

 Visit our Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, Zines by Clare, and more.

Today’s episode is part one of our “Dancine-Docs” series in collaboration with Dancinema, specifically the 2022 Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival in Washington, DC.

We’re connecting with Mimmo Miccolis and Carola Mamberto on their dance and documentary works that celebrate Italian arts and culture. 

First, we discuss the short documentary “Miccolis” which covers the story of how Mimmo grew from a boy in rural Italy with a passion for dance to a worldwide success and creative force in the ballet world. Much of Mimmo’s works are focused on social justice issues and can be explored on his website. He is currently a faculty member at the school and choreographer for the Washington Ballet in DC.

Next, we dive into “Magnifica”. Based on the works of Goldschmied & Chiari, and commissioned by the Italian Cultural Society of DC, “Magnifica” exists in many forms. We discuss the live performance, “making of” documentary, and the short screendance that brings new form and life to the signature smoke and mirror artworks of Goldschmied & Chiari. 

Learn and Explore More:

 

Mimmo Miccolis
Website | Social @mimmo_miccolis_official

Carola Mamberto
Website | Social @carola.mamberto 

The Washington Ballet 

Website | Social @thewashingtonballet

Italian Cultural Society of DC

Website | Social @italian.cultural.society 

Goldschmied & Chiari @goldschmied_chiari 

Watch the Dancine-Docs
Miccolis Doc Preview

Making of Magnifica Preview

Making of Magnifica Full Doc

Magnifica Full Screendance 

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Submit to Dancinema for the opportunity to be part of the online program, or screen as part of a theatrical event in Washington, DC and/or Vancouver, BC.

Dancinema
Watch On Demand  / Submit / Social @jenraydancinema

CASCADIA Dance & Cinema Festival (Vancouver, BC)

Submit / Website / Social @cascadiadcfestival

CAPITOL Dance & Cinema Festival (Washington, DC)

Submit / Website / Social @capitoldcfestival

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Check out our Frameform Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, a Zine by Clare, and more.

We are back from a great summer break! Check out our Frameform Patreon page for 6 awesome resources we released over the past few months ranging from Technical Tips for Video Editing by Hannah, a visual guide to all things Frameform by Jen Ray, a Zine by Clare, and more.

Today’s episode features two interviews that are linked by the Standard Vision + Dancinema showcase in Downtown Los Angeles and their trailblazing, alternative approaches to artistry and business.

First up, we speak with Caroline Haydon of SVLA about the unique and impactful work they do to offer state of the art production support for artists of all kinds, including those looking to push the boundaries of dance and cinema. From industry-leading studio resources to one-of-a-kind performance and screening opportunities, Standard Vision is on the cutting edge of how to have mainstream impact while maintaining artistic integrity. 

In part two of today’s episode, we connect with Nina McNeely, recipient of the SVLA Artistic Achievement Award for her music video “John L'' for Black Midi. Nina’s work spans from small indie productions to large scale commercial works with some of the biggest names in media. She’s a prime example that, as she said in her interview, “if you stick to what you believe in, the world will catch up eventually.”

Learn and Explore More:

 

Standard Vision Website

SVLA Studios LA Website

SV + Dream Outdoor

Standard Vision Social Links

IG: @standardvision

FB:@standardvisionmedia

Vimeo: @standardvision

LinkedIn: @standardvision-llc

Nina McNeely:

Website

Social: ID @ninamcneely

TedTalk: "Once There Was III" -- a mesmerizing blend of dance, animation and tech
Another great interview: Words that Move Me Podcast with Dana Wilson

Submit to Dancinema for the opportunity to be the next SVLA Award Recipient, be part of the online program, or screen as part of a theatrical event in Washington, DC and/or Vancouver, BC.

Dancinema
Watch On Demand  / Submit / Social @jenraydancinema

CASCADIA Dance & Cinema Festival (Vancouver, BC)

Submit / Website / Social @cascadiadcfestival

CAPITOL Dance & Cinema Festival (Washington, DC)

Submit / Website / Social @capitoldcfestival

In today’s episode, we welcome Lolly, a friend of the podcast and Dancinema collaborator. Dancefilm is a special mode of expression and calls for a different approach of reception. Lolly has been our liaison, guiding us to consider screendances – the way we view, feel, and discuss them – from a new perspective.

Lolly’s various projects intersect art, dance and somatic coaching. At Dancinema’s festivals for a few years now, Lolly has led somatic meditations before screenings to help us transition from the buzzing of the outside world into a clearer mind and body space to actively receive the projects on screen. The results have been increased kinesthetic empathy and more lively, reflective conversations to follow each screening.

All of us on the podcast have experienced it for ourselves, and we want to share a version of it for you at home through the podcast. Jump to 38:50  for our Somatic Meditation to play before you watch your next dancefilm, or just as a system reset whenever you need it.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Audience as Community: Corporeal Knowledge and Empathetic Viewing - Research Essay by Karen Wood 

Cold Storage (2016)
Dir. Thomas Freundlich

https://www.raekallio.fi/cold-storage

Somatic Coaching, Merchandise and more at www.lollypopculture.com
Follow on IG @lollypopculture

Submit to Dancinema

Follow on IG @capitoldcfestival @cascadiadcfestival 

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*** JOIN OUR PATREON! *** We'll be on break this summer, and to fill in the time while we're away from your headphones, we're releasing exclusive non-audio drops that can only be accessed through our Patreon. With the price of a basic cup of coffee from your local coffee shop, you'll be able to experience some extra special perks that we've carefully put together for our super-fans, you. So what are you waiting for? Become a member today!

Copy and paste the link to visit our Patreon page! >>> patreon.com/user?u=86801561

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Got a question? Email us at frameformpodcast@gmail.com

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Follow us 

@frameformpod

This episode is full of COLOR. Maybe not every color of the rainbow, but do they look very pleasing to the eye. Today’s keyword for this episode will be ‘aesthetic’ which is definitely the first thing that comes to my mind while watching these 3 picks.

Red, yellow, green, blue, and so on can emphasize many different moods. If you’re someone with synesthesia, you absolutely know the feeling of what color does to the brain when you are either listening to music or reading a story. It wasn’t until 1939 when Technicolor perfected the 3 color process making its big debut in MGM’s The Wizard of Oz, making it a normal thing having everything we capture and watch in a full color spectrum. Today, color is used in film to heighten the tone of a story. We associate monochromatic colors with dramas and thrillers, while saturated palettes are most often seen in comedies and stylized sets. In post production, color is seriously pushed to the boundaries with its “looks” while going above and beyond with color keying green screens, or perhaps changing the hue of someone’s shirt. When they say to color outside the lines, colorists took that saying to heart.

In this episode we’ll be examining films that demonstrate color that satisfies our eyeballs. We question what the color means to the film and why it works. At the end of the show, Hannah lays down some key tips for correcting and grading films.

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FILMS

FEELINGS (2022) - France

Dir. Charlie Luccini

Featuring Louise Courant

Colorist - Wouam

GOLDFISH (2022) - UK

Director/Choreographer - Charlotte Edmonds

Starring - Aishwarya Raut and Edwin Louis
Color grade - The Mill

Wake (2017) - Canada

Dir. Katherine Macnaughton

Choreography- Ashley Werhun

Color grade - Derek Branscombe

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Follow us on Instagram @frameformpod

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Got a question? Send us an email! 

Please reach out anytime at frameformpodcast@gmail.com