Dancing for the Camera: Emerging Choreographers Movie Night

Canyon Concert Ballet is looking for submissions for their Dancing for the Camera: Emerging Choreographers Movie Night. Submission deadline is May 18, 2020.

Submission Requirements:

1. Application and video must be submitted by Monday, May 18th, 2020
2. Dance film may be up to 5 minutes in length.
3. Must be submitted with a raw file.
4. If dancer is under 18 years of age a guardian must also sign the application or submit a permission letter.
5. By submitting the dance film you are allowing CCB to show the film during their Emerging Choreographers Night on Friday, May 29th, 2020
6. Please submit your application and video to our school director, Analia Weber, at schooldirector<at>ccballet.org. Thank you!

HOW TO MAKE A DANCE FILM USING YOUR PHONE:

You can create magic using a little device that now fits on the palm of your hand. These days one can take amazing photos and videos with ones phone. I want to share with you my process and some of the apps and ideas I have used to make my own dance films with my phone.

MY PROCESS:

Most of my videos are created with improvised material but you can definitely create it with set dance phrases. There are times I know which piece of music I want to use other times I play with imposing different pieces of music until I find one that fits the mood I want to create. Other times there is a location that is asking me to create a dance in it. All I am saying is that there is really no wrong way to do this. You will find the process that best fits you, I will just share with you how I have approach it. Because I use an iPhone my tips will be with using the apps I have on my phone and will provide with the closest alternatives to use with other smartphones. 

Lets start making: For this first part all you need is the camera on your phone.

I. Filming

1. First, sit with yourself and think if there is an idea, storyline, location, or song you want to explore. If there is a storyline or concrete idea you might have to spend some extra time planning all the materials you need to film to present the whole story.
2. Because my dance films are improvisation I start by choosing a location that I find, interesting, curious, limiting, inspiring etc. 
3. If you have set movement phrases go ahead and try the phrase or phrases multiple times in the space. If you are going to improvise allow yourself some playtime to explore the space.
4. Once you have had time with the space start setting your phone in a stable place to film. You can use a tripod, books, rocks etc. 
5. The next step is an important one and one that will teach you a lot about angles and perspective. Film your movement phrase or improvisations from multiple angles and distances. Maybe one time you get your whole body while the next time you only film your upper body. There are really no rules, so have fun filming many times and maybe in multiple locations if that is what you are going for. Sometimes I film with the music I want to use in the background just to get the correct tempo, other times the speed of the video can be altered to fit any music you want.

II. Editing: Where the magic happens.

1. Once I have all my materials filmed I decide if I want or need any of my phrases on reverse. If so, I use my Reverse Cam app to reverse the phrase or phrases I want. Reversing a phrase adds some nice dynamics to the video and you might really love a phrase reversed! Give it a try! Once I have all my phrases filmed and reversed if desired I go ahead and add the phrases to my phones’ iMovie. For non iPhone users you can find great alternatives for iMovie here.
2. Once all the videos are loaded I will then upload the music I am planning to use. There is also a Reverse Audio App if you wish to get funky with your music choice.
3. Now that everything is loaded is when things get fun. I have no true process of why I edit and cut my material how I do. It is a lot of trial and error but I mainly play the music and start letting the video roll. When my eye is ready to see a change, sometimes determined by a change or break in the music, I will cut the movement phrase and paste another part of the dance phrase in the place where  I think will look interesting.
4. Continue with he process of playing the video/ music from the beginning and make any cuts/pastes that feel right for you or go in line with your idea or story. There are no limits to what you can do.
5. At the end I like to add a beginning title and end credits plus a fade out. You are done! Your are a dance film maker!

Extras:

Once I have the dance isync with the music how I want it I will play with different filter or effects if it fits my idea. Below is a list of apps I love to play with.

1. Colorstory
2. InShot
3. Stop Motion
4. Canva
5. Ash

I try to keep it simple when it comes to adding too many filters and effects since the movement, location and idea are more important for my style of work. The main thing is to allow this to be a fun project that will allow you to discover how a space and a camera angle will transform your dance.