The Journey of Creating Back on 74: From Concept to Festival...

Creating a film is a journey filled with challenges, creativity, and profound discoveries. For me, this journey culminated in a short film I did in October of 2023, “Back on 74 - A Body Language Short Film”, which has recently been accepted into the 2024 International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival. This blog post will take you through my creative process, from the initial spark of inspiration to the final moments of the film, highlighting the unique intersection of dance and storytelling through body language.

Finding Inspiration

The seed for Back on 74 was planted during an early train ride on my way to an internship I was doing that semester with FOX Nation (not to name drop or anything ;)). I stumbled upon a Yerba Tea TikTok ad, as one does while awaiting my arrival into Grand Central Stattion. But in this ad, there was a main character dancing with his tea and with retro style headphones and fashion, all while in a library. It all looked so playful and fun but as I was watching, I realized I had the song Back on 74 - by Jungle playing in my headphones which is what made the vision for this film come to life in an instant. When I connected those peices, I knew I was not getting much work done at my internship that day unfortunately. I saw each dancer in my minds eye. At which parts of the song they danced, how the story all brought them together, the way the camera would move around our school library to make it all work... it had to be done. Dance has a unique ability to communicate feelings and thoughts, and I was jumping out of my seat on the train to explore this in a cinematic context.

Crafting the Concept

With the initial inspiration in mind, I began brainstorming. I wanted Back on 74 to reflect themes of connection, color, and the power of unspoken words, particularly within a diverse community. I envisioned a narrative where 3 dancers, through their movements, would express a new found friendly relationship sparked by relatability which would be the struggles and distractions of having to study or be a student. I instantly got to work with creating a shot list with timecodes, storyboarding my ideas, and most importantly making sure the dancers I invisioned for this production were on board...they were!

Collaborating with Dancers

Once I had a clear concept, it was time to bring my vision to life. I coordinated with my dancers and set up times to meet with them over the weekend to rehearse. Oh did I mention we got this whole production done in about 3 to 4 days from conecpt to screening in class for an assignment... yeah kinda nuts! I am so lucky that my dancers were just as passionate about this as I was because they were so extremely receptive to my vision and their talents worked so well with the storyline and camera movements I saw in my head, it was truly transformative. We met the next day in the dance studio and got to work exploring various dance sequences, focusing on how specific movements could convey our story without words. The dancers became not just performers but co-creators, bringing their own stories and dance styles into the film.

Pre-Production and Planning

With the choreography taking shape, I transitioned into a pre-production. This phase involved meticulous planning, from visiting the locations I invisioned in my head to designing costumes and colors. I chose for the lancers to wear pops of color but not all the same color and to be somewhat stylish, I still wanted them to be able to express who they were. Each location was carefully selected to match the dance sequence of the characters and their movement with the story.

I loved taking the lead on all aspects of this project in all aspect of production as I was the dance instructor, director, producer, editor, cinematographer & more! I had some crew help out with some lighting I invisioned on set as well for the fact that I unfortunately do not have 8 arms :/.

The Shoot

The shooting day was exhilarating yet challenging. We filmed for 8 hours straight and in all different locations of the library. The librarian was actually so interested in our production that she allowed us the whole second floor to use and gave us full access to do whatever we wanted! It was extremely appreciated. Watching the vision I had in my mind with the dancers translate on camera and come to life in front of me was mesmerizing. I had set the intention to allow for spontaneity, so we embraced unexpected moments that added depth and authenticity to the film.

As the director, I aimed to create a supportive atmosphere, encouraging the dancers to express themselves fully. There were moments of creativity and joy, and capturing these nuances became the heart of "Back on 74". I made sure to involve the dancers in the editing process, allowing their insights to shape the final cut.

Post-Production and Festival Submission

Post-production was a time of reflection and refinement. Editing the film while integrating such a fun and groovy score was the cherry on top to really see the full picture I saw that very first time on the train that morning. The final product felt like a tapestry woven from threads of movement, sound, and beautiful cinematography.

With the film complete, I submitted it to various festivals, and the acceptance into the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival was a dream come true. This platform provides an incredible opportunity to share Back on74 with an audience that appreciates the diversity I so badly wanted to showcase in this production.

Conclusion

Creating Back on 74 was a labor of love, a blend of passion, diversity, and collaboration. As I prepare for the festival screening in November of 2024, I am filled with gratitude for everyone who contributed to this journey. I hope this film inspires others to explore the power of body language and storytelling, celebrating the beauty of unspoken connections within our communities. Thank you for following along on this adventure!