Ambivalent Loyalty

fuckyeadance:

And now introducing…

No Gentle Men Allowed is my interpretation on the human desire of wanting to get closer to someone we are constantly craving. I pursued this concept with a long take approach, which represents a point-of-view journey of one man going into one woman’s thoughts. A carefully mapped out path for the camera man and I were put to the test with each take.

This creative process started in November of 2011 after being inspired to breathe life into one of my favorite Corinne Bailey Rae songs - Closer. Going into my first video project, my main focus was gathering a handful of my own personal inspirations dating as far back as 2003 and unite them all on the same floor, a small dream I never thought would come true. A few of these women I even managed to pull out of dance retirement while some I had never worked with as a director. To help enhance the required mood of this piece, I requested that every single dancer come to rehearsal with their own personal “target” in mind, someone that they would perform to in their head as a means of wanting to get closer to them. I wanted to keep things simple while at the same time, challenge myself somehow  by taking on a new human emotion that I have never tackled as an artist. I also knew I wanted to portray my inspirations as classy, sensual and alluring women. Filming the main sequence in one take also came with its own challenges and has given me a whole new perspective of directing dance. This experience has made me appreciate the art of film so much more and I hope to explore further within this territory.

I hope you enjoy this special video as much as we all enjoyed creating it together. Please know that it was made with a lot of love! A big thank you to my entire cast and production team for this humbling and memorable learning experience I will always cherish. Ladies - you are all amazing on AND off the dance floor. Thanks for taking this journey and moving with me.

Cheers, Philip

Movement Project presents “No Gentle Men Allowed”

Starring: Movement Project featuring Charles Collyer
Featured Choreography: Jazmyne Jenkins, Katrina Cariaso, Michelle Shim, Lauren Snook, Cindy Minowa, Lizzy Richardson & Philip Cariaso, Jr.
Featured Photography by: JustinElement 
Filmed by: Joshua Yu
Produced, Staged, Directed & Edited by: Philip Cariaso, Jr.

*Representation from: PAC Modern, KABA Modern, Culture Shock LA, Disney’s Aladdin Musical Spectacular, Essence, De La Femme, PAC & KABA ALumni, KM Legaci, Mash Up Dance Company, S2K (Style to Kill)

Please visit my good friend and photographer JustinElement’s website & blog for a closer look and the behind-the-scenes of No Gentle Men Allowed - bit.ly/yRzstg

For the YouTube link: youtu.be/H5gJICI8cO8?hd=1

Featured songs: 
Run Fay Run performed by Isaac Hayes
Closer performed by Corinne Bailey Rae
Suga Suga performed by Monifah