Hot Docs - Rebels On Pointe
Rebels On Pointe is the first cinema verite film ever made about the notorious Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the all male, drag ballet company founded in New York City in 1974 on the heels of the Stonewall riots... and who now have a cult following around the world.
Interview with Writer/Director Bobbi Jo Hart
Watch Rebels On Pointe on Prime Video and iTunes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Since I made my first documentary film in 1997, about nurses in Pakistan, in hindsight I realize that all of my films are ultimately about our shared humanity which connect wider audiences with stories of the underdog, or people in cultures of ways of life out of the mainstream. So when I saw a photo of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in a Montreal newspaper four years ago when they came to perform here, I was fascinated... asking myself "Who ARE these men behind the make-up and tutus? Who are their families? What are their dreams? How did they discover and embrace their unique identities? What is the story of this drag ballet company? What is their human journey that will help audiences connect with them and appreciate their fascinating lives and narrative?
Then I realized no one had ever told a cinema verite story about the company or dancers in their 40 year history, and I was compelled and determined to be that filmmaker... and to honour the contributions of this incredible dance company to help bring a much-needed gay sensibility to our world through parody of Russian imperial ballet. Not to mention that I wanted to share how incredibly talented they are -- all trained in the world's best ballet schools!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it is a fascinating, funny and deeply touching story about people reaching for their dreams, braving the societal pressures of "the norm" to break through ceilings and embrace their identity and passion in life. It is a film about falling in love, overcoming hardship, connecting with our family, travelling the world and connecting with different cultures, not to mention some hilarious parody of the often conservative world of classical ballet. It's a film for all ages that gives audiences permission to laugh at the absurd while weaving a narrative that makes you want to cheer for the characters and the company. And given the troubling political climate in the USA, we need films that remind of of our shared humanity and celebrate the underdog more than ever before!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
My vision as a filmmaker was to weave the fascinating narrative of the company itself -- which has survived and thrived for decades and has a cult following around the world -- with some character-driven stories of the dancers themselves... to help put a human face on the company that we grow to care about on a different level than solely as a "performer" on stage. One theme that revealed itself through the cinema verite filmmaking process was how important parents, and especially mothers, played in helping these young men navigate the often painful and tumultuous years of coming of age... and who helped them feel proud of who they are and of the dreams they had inside to dance on pointe! As well, the hilarious and signature performance they do of the Dying Swan became a metaphor for the stages of life itself.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Given my style of filmmaking has always been passionately focused on cinema verite style -- following life as it happens, so to speak -- my script was driven by the realities of the company and the dancers' lives. Luckily I had a wonderful editor, Catherine Legault, who helped me craft a narrative arc from this footage, because it is much easier to start with a script and then shoot scenes to fit that script, then it is to just let life unfold and capture it on the fly, and then weaving a narrative together in the editing room! Having said that,
I intuitively looked for potential narrative arcs or metaphors as I filmed... including how dancer Carlos Hopuy (who escaped Cuba to follow his dream to join the Trocks but left his mother behind) was dreaming to bring his mother to the USA. Or when I discovered that only child Raffaele Morra's father was facing Parkinson's disease in Italy and he was going back to help his mother. Or when I learned that Spanish dancer Carlos Renedo and American dancer Chase Johnsey were planning to get legally married in Florida shortly after the laws changed in the USA. Or African American dancer Robert Carter, who has danced with the company for over 20 years, whose mother grew up picking cotton but dreamed of a better life for her son, and embraced his identity as a gay young man who wanted to dance on pointe, when their conservative society raised eyebrows at both notions.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The response to the film has been phenomenal! At the World Premiere earlier this year at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival, I was moved to tears when the film received a standing ovation and subsequently was selected as the runner up for the Audience Choice Award. Then just a few weeks later, the film won the Best Documentary Feature Award at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. The Montreal Gazette selected the film as one of its Top Picks for its Canadian premiere in April at the International Festival of Films on Art, and I am thrilled that the film was selected as the Centerpiece Gala Film at MiFo Miami later this month -- where I will do Q&A with dancer Carlos Hopuy.
The film will make its Spanish premiere at the Barcelona Documentary Film Festival in May, where I will do Q&A with dancers Carlos Renedo and his husband, dancer Chase Johnsey. We've also received many requests from dedicated Trocks fans around the world to bring the film to their cities, which is wonderful. And I am SO thrilled that the film has been selected by the prestigious Hot Docs International Film Festival in Toronto, which takes place in early May.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
As previously mentioned, I feel the timing of the film is more important than ever, especially considering the ultra conservative, and dare I say fascist-leaning political climate in the USA. I took my daughter to the Women's March on Washington because I wanted her to know that one voice does matter and that it is vital to turn our fear of what is happening into positive action. So much of the feedback to date has often been by people who feel that the film is a testament of the beauty of diversity, and how important it is to celebrate and embrace this is our world, instead of focusing on differences and fueling the flames of fear and divisiveness.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would hope that this story helps bring more awareness to a wider audience about this film, and how the narrative is so universal. How anyone of any age will appreciate this film and connect with it on some personal level. Be it someone who has never seen a ballet or a dance aficionado, or people who love to root for the underdog or just enjoy learning about other cultures and ways of life. The film has something for everyone as it is ultimately a film that celebrates nothing less than our shared human experience on planet earth.
Yes it is about incredible young men performing with impeccable ballet technique and razor sharp comedic timing. But I hope this story on your website helps people also connect with the narrative subtext of sacrifice, determination, family, love and the elusive alchemy of finding and embracing our identity and purpose in life.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
At this stage, I hope that the film's wonderful momentum will capture the attention of more international film festival directors, including those in New York City, where Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 and where they are still based and all the dancers have made their home. So I'd love for the film to screen at the New York Film Festival or DocNY. And I'm working hard to bring the film to the hometowns of some of the main characters, including Barcelona, Miami and hopefully Charleston and in Italy as well. Given the incredible cult following in Japan, I'd love for a theatrical distributor and festival programmers to come on board for sure. And of course, gaining the attention of more film critics and journalists to see and review the film would be wonderful as well.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I feel this is a film really connects with audiences and I'd love for that momentum to build even further because the public response after screenings has been phenomenal. I'd also love to partner with community-based organizations dedicated to raising public awareness about LBGTQ issues, as well as local ballet organizations who have boys that dream of dancing on pointe... to organize workshops or cross-promote in ways that help support their vital work as well as that of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. And of course, after the festival tour in 2017 and 2018, I'd love for the film to be acquired by Netflix and/or television networks around the world to help bring this film and its vital messages, to global audiences on another vital platform.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is "normal"? or "What have you dreamed of that you feel might push the envelope of social norms or cultural expectations in your OWN lives?" Because the Trocks dared to dream differently back in 1974, and turned something "different" and outside the box into a new norm (boys and men dancing on pointe). Society evolves when we push our individual boundaries and dare to dream the unthinkable dream. That is how we ended up on the moon and in flight. And that is how I hope we can ultimately create a more tolerant, compassionate and peaceful world... if one person at a time dares to normalize what the majority may not yet accept or embrace. The more we do that, and encourage diversity in all shapes and forms... the more we can start seeing each other without labels, but as simply... a fellow human being.
Would you like to add anything else?
I would just like to thank my co-producer Robbie Hart for believing in the film and fighting for it every step of the way. I am also grateful for my editor Catherine Legault, who helped weave this cinema verite footage into a powerful narrative. Although I filmed most of the documentary myself, I had some incredible DOPs who infused their talent to make the images so beautiful, including Stephanie Weber Biron, Renald Bellemare and Jenni Morello. Without the early support of Bruce Cowley at the Documentary Channel, who saw my rough demo a few years ago and immediately jumped on board, I would never have been able to get this film off the ground. ARTV and so many wonderful Canadian governmental funding agencies were great as well. And of course, I am forever grateful to the dancers of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, including their Artistic Director Tory Dobrin, who took a risk on me and trusted in me to make this film and to tell their incredible story.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Well I'm literally driving from Montreal to Massachusetts later this week to do some development filming for a new feature documentary that I am SUPER excited about! The film uncovers perhaps the most important, untold story of women in rock 'n roll. More to come on that soon!
Interview: March 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Rebels On Pointe
Rebels On Pointe is the first cinema verite film ever made about the notorious Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the all male, drag ballet company founded in New York City in 1974 on the heels of the Stonewall riots... and who now have a cult following around the world.
Length: 90 minutes (there is a 52 minute version as well)
Director: Bobbi Jo Hart
Producer: Bobbi Jo Hart & Robbie Hart
Writer: Bobbi Jo Hart
About the writer, director and producer:
Director/Writer/Co-Producer Bobbi Jo Hart:
Bobbi Jo Hart is an award winning Canadian/American documentary filmmaker with Adobe Productions International, based in Montreal, Canada. With a career that has spanned nearly 20 years, she has filmed in countries as diverse as Pakistan, Russia, Guatemala, Australia and Zimbabwe — with subjects ranging from women’s professional soccer and tennis to classical music, comedy, dance and manic depression. All of her documentaries explore often elusive or misunderstood people and ways of life, weaving universal threads of dreams, family, love, loss, happiness, sadness, success, failure and determination — which result in thought-provoking films that ultimately celebrate our shared humanity.
Her most recent feature documentary I AM NOT A ROCK STAR premiered at dozens of worldwide film festivals and was broadcast on networks in many countries, including BBCFour, SVT Sweden, ABC Australia, Documentary Channel. Music in the film included Jack Johnson & Patrick Watson. This film won many festival awards as well. Hart’s previous award winning films include SHE GOT GAME: Behind-the-Scenes of the Women's Tennis Tour (LIFE Network, Starz), which had exclusive access during over a year on tour. Hart is currently starting the festival tour for her exclusive theatrical documentary celebrating Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Documentary Channel, ARTV).
Filmography
REBELS ON POINTE (2017)
RISE (2015)
I AM NOT A ROCK STAR (2012)
SHE GOT GAME: Behind-the-Scenes of the Women's Pro Tennis Tour (2003)
SHRINKAGE (2001)
A CALLING TO CARE (1997)
Co-Producer Robbie Hart:
Robbie Hart has been producing and directing award winning, international documentaries since 1986. He has over 60 documentary films to his credit and has directed throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the United States and the Caribbean. He has also made several highly acclaimed films in his hometown of Montreal, Québec as well as others across Canada. Documentary series, one offs, feature docs, theatrical releases and international distribution have all been a part of the storied 30 year history of the company he founded Adobe Productions International, notably NOS AMOURS – The Saga of the Montreal Expos, a feature length doc released in 2004 and CIRQUE FOR LIFE, a one hour doc produced in collaboration with Le Cirque du Soleil.
Some of his best know doc series are TURNING SIXTEEN, an eight part series on teenagers around the world and RAINMAKERS, a 13 part series on human rights activists. Robbie’s films have earned numerous festival distinctions including Banff Rockie, Hot Docs, NHK, Nord-Sud, Chicago International and Gemini & Gemeaux awards. Other award winning documentaries produced by Robbie include…EYE OF THE SON, THE BRASS MAN and NI ROSE, NI BLEU.
In 2009-2011, Robbie produced and directed TURNING 32, a feature length documentary that sequels the original series, TURNING 16. The 104 minute film was produced in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, SODEC, the Documentary Channel, CBC Newsworld, TV5, TFO and the Rogers Documentary Fund. Also in distribution worldwide is THE SUMMER OF DANCE, a one hour documentary about Les Grands Ballets Canadien.
Still in active distribution is the 2013 feature doc I AM NOT A ROCK STAR that chronicles the life of Quebec pianist Marika Bournaki. The doc has been selected in nearly 30 film festivals worldwide has been sold to more than a dozen networks outside Canada. The film is airing across Canada on the Documentary Channel, Knowledge Network, IChannel and ARTV. New documentaries currently in distribution include FENNARIO – THE GOOD FIGHT featuring iconic Canadian Playwright David Fennario and NI ROSE, NI BLEU – La SUITE, a sequel to the very popular 2003 original. Both of these feature docs were produced in collaboration with Canal Vie, Canal D, IChannel and the Documentary Channel.
Currently in theatrical release is PATSY, a feature documentary about the life, career and music of Pasty Gallant, one of Canada’s greatest singers. The film is directed by Robbie Hart and produced by Sergeo Kirby. Currently making the international fesitval tour in 2017 is REBELS ON POINTE, a feature documentary directed by Bobbi Jo Hart featuring the world famous, all male dance company known as Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (The Trocks).
Key cast: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, including dancers Robert Carter, Raffaele Morra, Carlos Hopuy, Chase Johnsey, Paolo Cervellera, Carlos Renedo as well as their incredible staff and corps du ballet.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): film festival directors, journalists, buyers, theatrical distributors
Social media handles: #RebelsOnPointe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebelsonPointe
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Twitter: @BobbiJoHart
Funders: Documentary Channel, ARTV,
International Distributor: Sydney Neter of SND Films
Where can I see it in the next month?
MiFo Miami on Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival on Thursday, May 4, 2017
Barcelona Documentary Film Festival on Saturday, May 27, 2017
Go to www.rebelsonpointe.com for the most updated festival screening dates and locations.