conceptualizing and planning

• fleshing out overall concept

• creating a relevant and seamless storyboard

• translating that storyboard into a shot list digestible to my editor and dancers

i understood exactly what i wanted this video to be as soon as i heard the song. I wanted this to be reminiscent of an older time, but still modern and applicable to a new age. i drew style and choreography inspiration from multiple places, but still found a balance to keep it my own genuine concept.

choreography and blocking

• creating expressive movement that included gestures for storytelling purposes

• blocking while being mindful of timing in the music as well as transitions from a film perspective

• choreographing pedestrian movement of extras and dancers out of focus

as a choreographer, it’s easy to get carried away by the dance aspect. i had to work really hard to have my dancers understand that each portion of choreography was part of a larger story. this included keeping each dancer present and contributing even if not the focal point of a scene.

creative and artistic directing

• dealing with the challenge of trying to remain time period agnostic

• focusing on evoking a feeling of nostalgia, youth, and happiness

  it was really important to me to mirror the same vibe that the music gave me. i wanted to be “reminiscent” of a time period instead of anchoring myself to trying to be accurate to a certain era. i thought using elements such as lighting and wardrobe to create this modern world with older influences can build that nostalgic feeling no matter your age. i needed to claim that balance where i was able to paint a picture of a surreal world while still feeling genuine.

choreography

• choreography variety (heels, partner, prop work, pedestrian)

• maintaining interest for a full song

• working with multiple dancer schedules on a time constraint

  since this was a full length music video, i needed choreography to fill an entire song without reusing concepts or deviating from the original storyline.

creative brief and character/scene direction

• developing reference documents for all dancers, crew, and extras

• creative briefs included wardrobe details, reference photos and mood board, character descriptions and direction

• see sample of creative brief here.

  since i had limited studio time and venue time, i knew that i had to make everything i wanted down to the smallest details known ahead of time. i didn’t have the luxury of being able to change wardrobe or props quickly. again, i really wanted a time period agnostic environment, but with some retro style influences.

extras

• casting and recruiting extras

• coordinating and directing their movement during a scene

• making sure all extras are engaged in the vision

  i had to establish a process to recruit extras for the larger prom scene involving prepping them for the scene and how it fits into the bigger vision, creating a sense of motivation throughout the shoot, directing on wardrobe details and aesthetic.