Some search far and wide for happiness, but for Fred Nelson true joy is the sound and feel of tap shoes on wood.

Interview with Director/Producer/Cinematographer Jessica Beshir

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! I decided to make He Who Dances on Wood because I fell in love with Fred Nelson's daily ritual of tap dancing under a tunnel. Every dawn he was there, rain, hail or shine. It was like a prayer for him, he showed up to his practice no matter what. That strong pact he had with himself, his commitment and the joy he exudes in his practice was the impulse that I needed to start making films.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

The film is an affectionate portrait of an individual whose dedication to the universal search for inner peace will resonate with anyone that has ever found refuge in nature. Told entirely through his own words and animated with his particular style of movement, we come to see that Fred dances to forge a divine connection with the natural world, to absorb the rhythm in all things and to have “a conversation with God”. And in watching him dance, we join him on his daily journey to find the secret joy and beauty of life in an old piece of wood.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

On a personal level, I had been wanting to make a film for a long time, but I didn't know how to start. I had no experience plus I was a new mom. But being a new mom is what led me to Fred because I first saw him tapping under the tunnel at dawn in one of my daily walks to Prospect Park with my baby. I kept going back and something about his daily practice spoke to me, about the fact that all I needed was a strong commitment to myself to make a film. So I got a cheap camera and started to film his daily practice, that was my film school. Just as he has found his joy in a piece of Wood, so did I, in filming his joy, the peace he had found with himself in the sounds and rhythms of nature around him.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback has been very positive, Fred's ritual has touched the hearts of many.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I've always been interested in the way we arrive at quieting the mind, in the way we make peace with our lives and find meaning and passion for what we do. The feedback has enforced my belief that there there is beauty in everyone's search for that peace.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible onwww.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope more people see the film.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

As we are starting the festival journey, it would be great to have journalists put the word out there so that the film gets a wider viewership.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I hope people experience the joy that Fred has found in connecting with the sounds of nature and the rhythms that in his words,"go around the world and come back."

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How and where do you find refuge and peace?

What are the key creative developing or working on now?

I am currently working on a feature documentary about the khat culture in Ethiopia and in development of my first feature film based in New York.

Interview: May 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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He Who Dances on Wood

Some search far and wide for happiness, but for Fred Nelson true joy is the sound and feel of tap shoes on wood.

Director | Producer | Cinematographer Jessica Beshir

Jessica Beshir is an award winning Mexican-Ethiopian Filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Her short film Hairat premiered at the 2017 Sundance film festival and recently produced and directed Heroin which made its world premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.

Key Cast Fred Nelson

Social media @jessybeshir, INSTAGRAM @jessybeshirfilms www.jessicabeshir.com

TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/210925336