As part of Birmingham International Dance Festival Online 2021, produced by DanceXchange, a series of new screendance films were commissioned in support of the creative practice of artists working in the Midlands.
The films were live-streamed as part of our Midlands Made programme and premiered in June 2021. With the support of the experienced screendance production company The Motion Dance Collective the artists were supported to turn their vision into reality.
What an undiluted pleasure to get the opportunity to commission two very exciting and varied projects for BIDF 2021. The art scene within the Midlands is so full with creative seeds ready to be brought to fruition, and it’s wonderful to know that there are organisations out there who are able and ready to provide the right support for works of such hybridity. I sincerely hope that this will be the first of many, as screendance becomes a practice that is supported just as much as it is created. Dopeness at its finest.
Don’t Play with L(Kn)ives by Brooke Milliner
Don’t Play with L(Kn)ives is an original hip-hop screendance based on true stories of knife crime in the UK. Bringing together some of the UK’s finest hip-hop dancers, spoken word and original music composition, delivering a poignant message to young people of awareness, prevention and hope.
Film Content warning: parental guidance advised. Running Time: 14 minutes 58 seconds
Awards:
- Honourable Mention for Best Music/Soundtrack at Exeter Dance International Film Festival 2022.
Festivals
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- January 2023 – Denton Black Film Festival, Texas. USA.
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- November 2022 – British Urban Film Festival, London, UK.
- November 2022 – Aesthetica Film Festival, York, UK.
- October 2022 – Fifth Wall Fest, PHILIPPINES.
- October 2022 – Exeter Dance International Film Festival, Exeter, UK.
- June 2022 – Cinedans — Dance on Screen Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- May 2022 – Flatpack Festival, Birmingham, UK.
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- April 2021 – Birmingham International Dance Festival, Birmingham, UK.
about brooke
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Brooke Milliner is best known as the choreographer and lead dancer of Plague, winner of two Hip Hop International World Championship titles; and as Co-Director of Fiya House – the UK’s leading Popping collective. His new film ‘Don’t Play with L(Kn)ives’ is an original Hip Hop Screendance piece that explores knife crime in the UK. Bringing together some of the UK’s finest Hip Hop dancers, a live violinist & a spoken word artist. ‘Don’t Play with L(Kn)ives’ shines a light on this taboo aspect of British culture – sharing untold stories to deliver a poignant message to young people.
credits
- Directed & Edited by Omari ‘Motion’ Carter
- Concept and Choreography Brooke Milliner
- Cinematography & Colour Grade by James Williams
- Assistant Director: Anna Clifford
- Commissioned and Executive Produced by DanceXchange (FABRIC)
- Produced by Motion Dance Collective
- Producers: Anna Clifford, Matthew Critchfield & Sandra Figueiredo
- DanceXchange Producers: Lucie Mirkova, Rosie Clements & Emily Labhart
- Dancers: Toby Jackman, Chris Arias & Aaron ‘Shintastic’ Duncan.
- Spoken Word Poetry by Casey Bailey
- Violinist: Helena Logah
- Music by Brooke Milliner & Aaron ‘Shintastic’ Duncan
- Assistant Choreography by Robia Brown
- Choreographic Consultancy by Dickson Mbi
- 1st Assistant Camera: James Haslam
- 2nd Assistant Camera: James Dann
- Sound Recordist and Sound Design by Arthur Turner
- Makeup Artist: Chloe Bayliss
- Production Runner: Genavieve Decaria
- Production Marshall: Natalie Thompson
Anywhere Is A Dance Floor by Jason Guest & Fatt Butcher
‘Anywhere is a Dancefloor’ is a collaboration between choreographer Jaii Guest and drag artist & cultural producer Fatt Butcher. Through celebrating the creativity, resilience, and fierce spirit of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community this new work is an invitation to the city to create their own dancefloors anywhere and everywhere!
Running Time: 7 minutes 54 seconds
Awards:
- WINNER of Best LGBT Pride Celebration Film – Color’s of Love International Queer Film Festival
- WINNER of Best Short Film – Thessaloniki International G.L.A.D Film Festival (LGBTI+)
- WINNER of Best Film in Music & Dance Category – Short Film Factory
- Semi-Finalist in LGBT Film Category – Sweden Film Awards
Festivals
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Beijing Queer Film Festival – Love Queer Cinema Week, Beijing, CHINA.
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- Short Film Factory, Bucharest, ROMANIA.
- Transition International Queer Film Festival, Vienna, AUSTRIA.
- Sweden Film Awards, Stockholm, SWEDEN.
- Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival – Round 5, Los Angeles, USA.
- Fifth Wall Fest, PHILIPPINES.
- Thessaloniki International G.L.A.D Film Festival (LGBTI+), Thessaloniki, GREECE.
- SHORT to the Point – Târgu Mureș, ROMANIA
- Screen Dance International, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
- Out & Loud – Pune International Queer Film Festival, Pune, INDIA.
- Brighton Rocks Film Festival, Brighton, UK.
- KAHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Mumbai, INDIA.
- uberbia Cinema, Manchester, UK.
- Flatpack Festival, Birmingham, UK.
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- Color’s of Love: International Queer Film Festival, Punjab, INDIA.
- London Lift-Off Film Festival, London, UK.
- Birmingham International Dance Festival, Birmingham, UK.
credits
- Director, Cinematography and Edited by Mathew Beckett
- Concept and Music by Adam Carver
- Concept and Choreography by Jaii Andrew Guest
- Assistant Director/Producer – Anna Clifford
- Commissioned by DanceXchange (FABRIC)
- Produced by Motion Dance Collective in Association with River Rea Films
- Producers: Matthew Critchfield & Anna Clifford
- Production Co-ordinator: Sandra Figueiredo
- DanceXchange Producers: Lucie Mirkova, Rosie Clements & Emily Labhart
- CAST: Black Peppa, Chanda John, Joey Taylor, Simone Mendez, Mama Mamba, Jay Andre, Jason Andrew Guest (Luna Myztique), Blue Romantic, Lacy Lou, Fatt Butcher, Christian Gay & Yshee Black
- Camera Operator: Johnny Rhodes
- 1st Assistant Camera: Sam Kemp
- Jib Operator: Christopher Hood
- Sound Recordist and Designer: Ollie Smith
- Make Up Artists: Liam Hall Shelton/LILITH & Quinn Bragginton
- Music Production: Charles Cragg & Adrain Kimberlain
- Music Mixing: Adam Green
- Production Runners: Genavieve Decaria, Tansy Rawlings & Jade Smith
- Production Marshalls: Lucie Mirkova & Jamaal O’Driscoll