A narrative dance film
COLOR
The dance scenes in the video mimic the classic urban dance style, drawing inspiration from renowned dance cinematographer Tim Milgram. This style features vibrant LED lighting in magenta and cyan hues, high contrast, and clear highlights and shadows to accentuate the dancers' movements and separate them from the background. The resulting high contrast and dark shadows create a sense of fantasy by minimizing background detail and maximizing negative space on the screen.
In contrast, the classroom/reality scenes utilize gray tones with hints of yellow and green, resulting in a subdued atmosphere. The contrast is lower and highlights are less pronounced, evoking a dull and mundane feeling. Angular shapes and symmetrical compositions in the classroom shots highlight the robotic and lifeless nature of the setting. This stark contrast in colors and lighting between reality and fantasy illustrates the disparity between the character's visions and her actual surroundings.
Coordinating with the dancers, we opted for white attire to allow the lighting to control the colors. This choice of white, symbolizing innocence and purity, contrasts sharply with the teacher's black outfit, representing maturity and perhaps a strict demeanor. The clothing choice emphasizes the contrast between the teacher's rigid personality and the students' carefree nature.
TRANSITIONS
1. Match cut on action
2. Whip pan
3. Whip pan
4. Match cut on action
5. Graphic match cut
6. Graphic match cut
All transitions were meticulously planned and coordinated with the team and performers. For example, I collaborated with the cinematographer to ensure precise head movements for graphic match cuts, and consistent camera pushes to maintain continuous movement between scenes. Employing Edgar Wright-style transitions between reality and fantasy highlights these pivotal moments, aiming for an abrupt effect that is noticeable while maintaining continuity.
STILLS
