Don't Feed the Animals
March 5, 2011 12:08 PM Subscribe
I've been waiting to post this until they're actually finished making the movie. This is just a preview trailer, it's been funded on Kickstarter, and now they're waiting for that dancer Anne to get back from wherever she's off to so they can finish filming. Once they're done it'll be posted free on the internet and screened at free screenings around the country/world.
Don't get me wrong, the trailer's cool and all, but it'll be that superer sweeter when the whole thing is done.
posted by carsonb at 12:18 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Don't get me wrong, the trailer's cool and all, but it'll be that superer sweeter when the whole thing is done.
posted by carsonb at 12:18 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Here's a NY Times Magazine story for people who can't figure it out from your four word post.
posted by Frank Grimes at 12:27 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Frank Grimes at 12:27 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
That made me so goddam happy I cried.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:33 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by iamkimiam at 12:33 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
i hope they filmed it with the dancers dancing with no music playing.
posted by fuzzypantalones at 12:38 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by fuzzypantalones at 12:38 PM on March 5, 2011
Nice use of the Staten Island Ferry and it's somnolent passengers. Ha ha.
The girl's dancing is infectious in an awkward youthful way and I like the way she becomes more confident and flowing as the video progresses, which gives it a natural choreographic element. Also you can definitely tell she's studied capoeira training, but that's just from having know people who studied it intensely for years and remembering the way they stood and held themselves. (ie.: Very balanced, very natural).
What a cool confluence of real life and social networking factors. Plus all that great music mixed together and made new with new lyrics. Whole thing is totally inspiring.
posted by Skygazer at 12:46 PM on March 5, 2011
The girl's dancing is infectious in an awkward youthful way and I like the way she becomes more confident and flowing as the video progresses, which gives it a natural choreographic element. Also you can definitely tell she's studied capoeira training, but that's just from having know people who studied it intensely for years and remembering the way they stood and held themselves. (ie.: Very balanced, very natural).
What a cool confluence of real life and social networking factors. Plus all that great music mixed together and made new with new lyrics. Whole thing is totally inspiring.
posted by Skygazer at 12:46 PM on March 5, 2011
Oh and joyful too.
(With the backdrop of a city that barely ever cracks a smile in public.)
posted by Skygazer at 12:47 PM on March 5, 2011
(With the backdrop of a city that barely ever cracks a smile in public.)
posted by Skygazer at 12:47 PM on March 5, 2011
I think it's that early 80s vintage jacket that really makes this.
posted by chinston at 1:11 PM on March 5, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by chinston at 1:11 PM on March 5, 2011 [5 favorites]
Dancers are the new vampires. (Please! Please!)
posted by SPrintF at 1:20 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 1:20 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
The City that never cracks a smile? wow. Steve Jobs opened a store there because (said he) THEY CALL IT THE BIG APPLE
posted by Postroad at 1:37 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by Postroad at 1:37 PM on March 5, 2011
Ho ho ho...corporate humor. Phew. I can barely breath. Good stuff...good stuff...
*Slaps Knee*
posted by Skygazer at 1:47 PM on March 5, 2011
*Slaps Knee*
posted by Skygazer at 1:47 PM on March 5, 2011
Also you can definitely tell she's studied capoeira training, but that's just from having know people who studied it intensely for years and remembering the way they stood and held themselves. (ie.: Very balanced, very natural).
Any reason to suspect capoeira specifically? Anyone who has spent a great deal of time studying any form of dance or martial arts, not to mention other possible sports and activities, will have those traits.
posted by CaseyB at 1:58 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Any reason to suspect capoeira specifically? Anyone who has spent a great deal of time studying any form of dance or martial arts, not to mention other possible sports and activities, will have those traits.
posted by CaseyB at 1:58 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Either way, she definitely deserves props for being able to move with such fluid grace and dexterity while still somehow projecting the energy of an enthusiatic amateur. I'm pretty sure only a quarter of that was due to the goofy-looking windbreaker.
posted by arto at 2:19 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by arto at 2:19 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
When watching this it made me think of Christopher Walken dancing to 'Weapon Of Choice' by Fatboy Slim.
posted by ericb at 2:19 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ericb at 2:19 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure some of the moves are lifted right from the Walken video.
posted by Decimask at 2:37 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Decimask at 2:37 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I recall when I first saw this project some mention that she had trained ballet, but honestly any training regimen that lets her pull off that windbreaker is aces in my book.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to bust-a-move in my living room.
posted by Panjandrum at 2:57 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to bust-a-move in my living room.
posted by Panjandrum at 2:57 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
This video reminds me of a boy I used to date. Sometimes walking around town with him was, I imagine, kind of like walking around with a male version of this lady. Which, actually, wasn't nearly as fun as that might sound, sadly.
posted by mingo_clambake at 3:18 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by mingo_clambake at 3:18 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
Any reason to suspect capoeira specifically?
Here's a quote pulled from the NYTimes article Frank Grimes linked above.
"Since dropping out of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia a year earlier, she had gone rogue, dance-wise, taking three or four classes a day from studios all over New York City — jazz, modern, tap, salsa, flamenco, belly-dancing, break- dancing, West African, pole dancing, capoeira — borrowing gestures and movements and boiling them all down into her own unique B-girl bouillabaisse."
posted by i less than three nsima at 3:23 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Here's a quote pulled from the NYTimes article Frank Grimes linked above.
"Since dropping out of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia a year earlier, she had gone rogue, dance-wise, taking three or four classes a day from studios all over New York City — jazz, modern, tap, salsa, flamenco, belly-dancing, break- dancing, West African, pole dancing, capoeira — borrowing gestures and movements and boiling them all down into her own unique B-girl bouillabaisse."
posted by i less than three nsima at 3:23 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
i had a smile on my face the whole time. that chick is fuckin dynamite.
posted by facetious at 3:46 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 3:46 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's too bad the passengers were too busy wondering whether they should call the police to enjoy it.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 3:49 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 3:49 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
it's really funny that this is elevated to a status above youtube videos of kids just dancing and having a good time. is it because it's shot with a good camera, was a little more organized, and is being called a 'film'? i loved it, just sayin i think that's really interesting.
posted by victory_laser at 3:50 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by victory_laser at 3:50 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Awesome to hear they got the kickstarter funding.
Side note, here's a homemade music video for Kraak and Smaak's "Squeeze Me" that the female dancer, Anne Marsen, made last year.
And here's the "Human After All" dance improv referred to in the article.
posted by neda at 3:59 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
Side note, here's a homemade music video for Kraak and Smaak's "Squeeze Me" that the female dancer, Anne Marsen, made last year.
And here's the "Human After All" dance improv referred to in the article.
posted by neda at 3:59 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
Anne Marsen's first music video. Incredible? Incredible.
posted by jellywerker at 4:00 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by jellywerker at 4:00 PM on March 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
Or... what neda said...
posted by jellywerker at 4:00 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by jellywerker at 4:00 PM on March 5, 2011
is it because it's shot with a good camera, was a little more organized, and is being called a 'film'?
That kind of seems like asking why The King's Speech won Best Picture instead of OMG Cat.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:10 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
That kind of seems like asking why The King's Speech won Best Picture instead of OMG Cat.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:10 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
I suspect that if you see someone dancing madly in a public place with a camera operator following them and capturing their moves, you are likely to react differently than if you just see somebody dancing.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:21 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:21 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
That was really fun. Honestly my favorite part was that she was being obviously followed by a camera operator. It seemed to make everybody else a lot calmer/less distracting. These things always seem to be at least half about "hey look at all the normals freaking out."
Least favorite part? WINDBREAKER.
posted by penduluum at 4:33 PM on March 5, 2011
Least favorite part? WINDBREAKER.
posted by penduluum at 4:33 PM on March 5, 2011
The male dancers were meh, but she was completely mesmerising.
A+++ would watch again.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:34 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
A+++ would watch again.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:34 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
The male dancers were meh, but she was completely mesmerising.
That's funny. I thought the male dancers were pretty great but I don't think she can really dance at all. She can move to music but this isn't really dancing; dancing is about meaning and there is no meaning or logic to what she does. The male dancers were awesome and she was just stupid and forgettable. But everybody loves white girls, amirite?
it's really funny that this is elevated to a status above youtube videos of kids just dancing and having a good time
This is a really good point. It's interesting that the NY times had to give their stamp of approval to this before this got big. I suspect this is a transitional piece, a kind of herald of what's to come. It makes me excited about what's to come. Anything that elevates the game
posted by nixerman at 4:58 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
That's funny. I thought the male dancers were pretty great but I don't think she can really dance at all. She can move to music but this isn't really dancing; dancing is about meaning and there is no meaning or logic to what she does. The male dancers were awesome and she was just stupid and forgettable. But everybody loves white girls, amirite?
it's really funny that this is elevated to a status above youtube videos of kids just dancing and having a good time
This is a really good point. It's interesting that the NY times had to give their stamp of approval to this before this got big. I suspect this is a transitional piece, a kind of herald of what's to come. It makes me excited about what's to come. Anything that elevates the game
posted by nixerman at 4:58 PM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pretentious much nixerman? You get to judge what is dancing and what has meaning? Would you mind explaining why her dancing is meaningless? Have you considered that as a freestyle dancer, having no logic to her movements might be exactly what she is aiming for?
posted by jellywerker at 5:12 PM on March 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by jellywerker at 5:12 PM on March 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
Her dance's meaning is that dance doesn't have to have meaning.
posted by theredpen at 5:15 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by theredpen at 5:15 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
dancing is about meaning and there is no meaning or logic to what she does
One of the primary functions of dance has historically been about assessing someone's willingness or desirability to mate.
Presumably, it's a different gender that turns your crank?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:15 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
One of the primary functions of dance has historically been about assessing someone's willingness or desirability to mate.
Presumably, it's a different gender that turns your crank?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:15 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
The dancing was entertaining enough, though I couldn't see this as a full length film without some sort of narrative beyond "attractive young hipsters dance happily in public places."
Not to derail, but my main attention was drawn by the music and seeing how quickly I could identify the sampled tunes. Does anyone know off hand how credit and royalties are handled in cases like this? I seem to have some recollection of a previous post dealing with this.
posted by ikkexile at 7:09 PM on March 5, 2011
Not to derail, but my main attention was drawn by the music and seeing how quickly I could identify the sampled tunes. Does anyone know off hand how credit and royalties are handled in cases like this? I seem to have some recollection of a previous post dealing with this.
posted by ikkexile at 7:09 PM on March 5, 2011
I have no idea what I just saw.
But echoing what was said above: The "Oh my god, I'm going to go through with this" hesitation of the dancer getting up from the bench at the beginning of the video and ending with "Fuck yeah, I'm dancing in public! Watch!"
Both male dancers display the same "I'm dancing in public? Er, Yeah!" on their faces and body, and we get to see them dig in and enjoy themselves.
It not only added tension and energy to the video, it made me pay attention to the music in a new way; I have to confess Girl Talk usually leaves me cold, but this all worked together.
It wouldn't have been half as much fun if it had been rehearsed. Whatever it was.
posted by ardgedee at 8:06 PM on March 5, 2011
But echoing what was said above: The "Oh my god, I'm going to go through with this" hesitation of the dancer getting up from the bench at the beginning of the video and ending with "Fuck yeah, I'm dancing in public! Watch!"
Both male dancers display the same "I'm dancing in public? Er, Yeah!" on their faces and body, and we get to see them dig in and enjoy themselves.
It not only added tension and energy to the video, it made me pay attention to the music in a new way; I have to confess Girl Talk usually leaves me cold, but this all worked together.
It wouldn't have been half as much fun if it had been rehearsed. Whatever it was.
posted by ardgedee at 8:06 PM on March 5, 2011
So basically, everyone is super turned on by her flopping around like one of my classmates from the early 90s? Shit, man. I have at least one VHS* to market then.
*Five of us, in similarly horrible jackets, Umbros, and bangs doing an aerobics dance routine for PE class.
posted by ntartifex at 8:24 PM on March 5, 2011
*Five of us, in similarly horrible jackets, Umbros, and bangs doing an aerobics dance routine for PE class.
posted by ntartifex at 8:24 PM on March 5, 2011
Meaning? My take away was move with joy in public without shame or scruples. The dancers are fit and talented, but not so much so that they are capital D dancers. We'd all do well to go ahead and turn a cartwheel or slide down the escalator rail, or whatever our age and physical capacity allows us to do. Who cares? It's fun, and good for you.
also not sold on the windbreaker
posted by rainbaby at 8:44 PM on March 5, 2011
also not sold on the windbreaker
posted by rainbaby at 8:44 PM on March 5, 2011
Most amazing part: That is the cleanest this city has ever looked. Ever.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 9:52 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by evidenceofabsence at 9:52 PM on March 5, 2011
ikkexile: "Does anyone know off hand how credit and royalties are handled in cases like this?"
Hint: the song is hosted on a website called "illegal-art.net".
For the most part such eclectic sampling disappeared from the scene when courts started enforcing royalties. The folks who still do it just plain don't pay for it and only continue because they haven't been busted yet.
posted by idiopath at 10:57 PM on March 5, 2011
Hint: the song is hosted on a website called "illegal-art.net".
For the most part such eclectic sampling disappeared from the scene when courts started enforcing royalties. The folks who still do it just plain don't pay for it and only continue because they haven't been busted yet.
posted by idiopath at 10:57 PM on March 5, 2011
Not everyone has as good taste as you, ntartifex. And we're getting off your lawn, don't worry.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:10 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:10 PM on March 5, 2011
Pbbbbfffttttt (and I say that with the utmost pbbfft-ness), everyone hating on her dancing needs to stop their daily regimen of haterade. The male dancers were doing A Dance, she was Just Dancing, and if you think the latter is easy I urge you try to replicate her moves in the comfort of your own home and/or urban environs.
Seriously, the fact that she makes her moves look easy and effortless is in no way a detraction from her obvious skill, quite the opposite.
posted by Panjandrum at 12:40 AM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seriously, the fact that she makes her moves look easy and effortless is in no way a detraction from her obvious skill, quite the opposite.
posted by Panjandrum at 12:40 AM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well hey. It seems to me like her dance was largely or completely improvised. And out of the improvisation was borne joy that she was helpless to contain. That's what gives this video such power, and elevates it from merely good to near magical. And Greg Gillis would definitely approve of that windbreaker. I don't know if I'd watch a full-length movie, but this was great.
posted by naju at 1:06 AM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 1:06 AM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Does anyone know off hand how credit and royalties are handled in cases like this?
Transformative use. Sampling and fair use.
I see that some of the NYT commenters agreed with nixerman. I'm sort of leaning in that direction as well. She's appealing, but she's not the best dancer I've ever seen on the street and 71 minutes? Oy. It's more like the intro to a John Hughes movie.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:05 AM on March 6, 2011
Transformative use. Sampling and fair use.
I see that some of the NYT commenters agreed with nixerman. I'm sort of leaning in that direction as well. She's appealing, but she's not the best dancer I've ever seen on the street and 71 minutes? Oy. It's more like the intro to a John Hughes movie.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:05 AM on March 6, 2011
Wow, those hater comments on the NYT article are incredibly racist. They barely hold back from saying "She obviously can't dance because she's White" while simultaneously saying "Black kids are ignored by the NYT because they are Black"
I watched the video a couple times now; and yeah, at points it's awkward and unstructured; isn't that kind of the "narrative" that is being put forth? I'm looking forward to the full thing.
posted by NiteMayr at 9:22 AM on March 6, 2011
I watched the video a couple times now; and yeah, at points it's awkward and unstructured; isn't that kind of the "narrative" that is being put forth? I'm looking forward to the full thing.
posted by NiteMayr at 9:22 AM on March 6, 2011
Seriously, the fact that she makes her moves look easy and effortless is in no way a detraction from her obvious skill, quite the opposite.
Then, they need to make better presentation choices. She has another video where she's not wearing that bag of a windbreaker, and you can see more clearly the moves she's making. Frankly, that fugly windbreaker obscures everything going on in her torso/core region and makes it look like abject flailing.
posted by ntartifex at 9:42 AM on March 6, 2011
Wow talking about harshing on a buzz. All I see is freedom and I love that. If you wanna put rules on your random public dancing, then sure whatever.
posted by Submiqent at 11:30 AM on March 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Submiqent at 11:30 AM on March 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Achtung!! Dance Nazis of zee Vorld UNITE!!
Vee must stop ziss meaningless formless VINDBREAKER danzing!!
I kid...I kid....
posted by Skygazer at 12:00 PM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Vee must stop ziss meaningless formless VINDBREAKER danzing!!
I kid...I kid....
posted by Skygazer at 12:00 PM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
The dancers' moves was good, but their facial expressions was what made me continue watching. That's what holds you for seven-and-change minutes. The weakest part of the video is where the guy dances in silhouette.
Seriously. Watch the faces of the dancers and the bystanders.
posted by ardgedee at 3:14 PM on March 6, 2011
Seriously. Watch the faces of the dancers and the bystanders.
posted by ardgedee at 3:14 PM on March 6, 2011
The non-verbal gestures of one of the young men (4m55s) doesn’t match the lyrics from Wale’s “Pretty Girls”. His mondegreen labor has been immortalized.
posted by mistersquid at 7:10 AM on March 8, 2011
posted by mistersquid at 7:10 AM on March 8, 2011
dancing is about meaning and there is no meaning or logic to what she does.
posted by nixerman
This is a very similar viewpoint to some of the discussion over in the "Art Students Can’t Tell Famous Paintings from Paintings by Monkeys" thread.
Anyway, I thought it was fabulous and it's a bonus to see those neon windbreakers are still managing to annoy people 30 years on!!
posted by Lanark at 3:35 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by nixerman
This is a very similar viewpoint to some of the discussion over in the "Art Students Can’t Tell Famous Paintings from Paintings by Monkeys" thread.
Anyway, I thought it was fabulous and it's a bonus to see those neon windbreakers are still managing to annoy people 30 years on!!
posted by Lanark at 3:35 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
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