FollowLeadLOVE ( a Documentary Film Project- currently still in Production Stage)
General Information
Duration: 0 min 0 sec
Genres: Docu-Feature
Language: English
Country: United States
Submitted By: Brian Rubiano
Festival Rating
Logline: Can a QUEER PERSON of COLOR and an AGING ASIAN FEMALE Broadway veteran once and for all break the barriers of the ballroom world’s MALE as LEAD and FEMALE to FOLLOW? Can they usher it to the next level of TRUE GENDER EQUALITY?
Story Summary/Synopsis:
FOLLOW...LEAD...LOVE… is a Film that TRANSCENDS BEYOND the WORLD of DANCE, a Documentary that TACKLES THE NUANCES OF SOCIALLY AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT ISSUES OF OUR TIME..
Can a queer person of color and an aging asian female broadway veteran defy the odds of once and for all break the barriers of the ballroom world’s traditional gender roles of male being the leader and female as the follower? This documentary is about the journey and dance partnership of Abdiel Jacobsen a former principal dancer of Martha Graham and Kristine Bendul a 47 year old ballroom dance newbie bonded by their aspirations of ushering an evolution and a new era of INCLUSIVENESS, ACCEPTANCE, DIVERSITY, FEMALE EMPOWERMENT & GENDER EQUALITY in the world of ballroom competition. Witness their triumphs and tribulations both on and off the dance floor to prove that their vision has its rightful place to further enhance the acceptance and recognition it deserves while realizing its parallelism and significance to our current cultural and social climate.
The world of ballroom competition only serves as a backdrop to reflect a much bigger and more significant message outside the world of dance. FollowLeadLOVE intends to be one of the catalysts to start a more civilized conversation on aforementioned issues beyond Dance and Art Communities and reach out to a broader and wider audience such as the LGBTQI+ , Asian, African-American communities and the Female demographics .
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DirectorBrian ThomasLink: https://www.brianthomasfilms.com/
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ProducerBrian RubianoLink: https://www.stage32.com/brianrubiano
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Written and Conceptualized byBrian Rubiano
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Written and Conceptualized byBrian Thomas
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Production Assistant/Social Media ManagerMason Chapello
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Main Subjects of the DocumentaryKristine Bendul
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Main Subjects of the DocumentaryAbdiel Jacobsen
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Production CompanyTransend'DaensLink: https://www.transenddaens.com/
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Film TypeDocu-Feature
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GenresDocumentary Feature
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Runtime0 minutes 0 seconds
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Production Budget983318 USD
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Country of OriginUnited States
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Country of FilmingCanada, United States
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Film LanguageEnglish
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Shooting FormatDigital (Sony FS7 422HQ)
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Aspect Ratio16:9
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Film ColorColor
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Student ProjectNo
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First-time FilmmakerNo
Director's Biography
Brian was nominated for an Emmy Award for his choreography for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special and received outstanding recognition from the national academy of television arts and sciences (Emmy Award) for his 10 years working as lead choreographer for PBS series, Sesame Street in 2010-2011. He was the Creative and Associate Director for Cirque Times Square for Cirque du Soleil. Brian is also the Director/Editor of the documentary Amy’s Victory Dance by SpinKick Pictures a company he owns and operates. He is also the Director and Editor of the Short Film Dark Matter with Desmond Richardson as the main character. Both films are currently an Official Selection and have received multiple accolades to Film Festivals and Film Competitions Worldwide.
Director's Statement
When producer Brian Rubiano came to me about making FollowLeadLOVE, I have to say I was unsure. As a former dancer I understand the in’s and out’s of the business but only from a “white perspective” which is much different from our subjects' experience. That’s why when I agreed I told him that this story has to be told thru Abdiel and Kristine’s point of view.
As we started to film I recognized that even in the dance community... politics, racism, and inequality exist. Directing this film opened an opportunity for me to transform myself to be more aware on the reality of class division, social injustice, and racial prejudice.
Thru this process I began to realize that this film transcends beyond the world of dance and how it parallels our current social and cultural climate. I hope this film will promote empathy and further elevate a conversation on representation, diversity, and inclusion.
