Nature Body Light
Nature Body Light is a slow film, a meditation, a study of light and form and texture, the body in its complex simplicity.
Interview with Director and Choreographer Monica Thomas
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Nature Body Light is a meditative art film. I was inspired by how fluctuating lighting environments can affect mood. Also, I wanted to create a film where the nude body was not sexualized and was even devoid of content or symbolism. At its heart, the aims of this film are simple; it is about light and form.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Nature Body Light is a slow, meditative piece. It encourages viewers to adjust the pace they are accustomed to in film. It is ultimately a beautiful film, but the contrasts of the bodies with the environments can be unsettling.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The themes in this work are universal, but also incredibly personal. This film encourages viewers to examine their relationships; to time, to nature, to their own bodies. I hope every audience member has a different, personal response to viewing this film.
Nature Body Light
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The scale of my original concept was nearly impossible to execute, both logistically and financially. I wanted ten performers nude in an enormous tree. I had a crazy idea to put a huge light source on a ferris wheel type contraption and film long shots at night as this light source moved. I would still love to try something like that, but it was not a feasible idea at the time. I scaled back this vision and distilled it to the essence of that original idea.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have received a variety of feedback about this film; that it is everything from beautiful to spooky. I hope at the very least it is affecting.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not really; one of my goals in creating art films is for viewers to walk away with individual perceptions, allowing for disparate interpretations. I hope my work is open enough for a multitude of reactions.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would love for this film to get more exposure; it has been difficult for me to find the right festivals, venues, and audience for this film as it is not narrative and slow-paced.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to do a gallery showing of this film as an installation, even projecting it onto live nude performers. I have dreams of continuing this project with versions in a multitude of natural locales and with a wider age-range of performers. I would love for gallerists interested in programming art film, journalists, or producers who would like to support the display and possible continuation of this project to see this work!
Nature Body Light
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want audiences to examine their relationships to time, to nature, and to both nudity and their own bodies. It is a body positive project and challenges audiences to consider bodies as beautiful objects without objectifying them in a sexual sense. I tried to accomplish this by using bodies as part of natural landscapes, something we are accustomed to appreciating for the face value beauty they offer.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What emotions did this film evoke?
Is the pace of this film challenging? Why?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have some dance films from a museum residency that are in post production; films we shot in the galleries and one I’m particularly excited about shot in a James Turrell Skyspace installation. I plan to release those online in the next couple months.
My next project is in development. I am in the process of fundraising for a project called Brought to You By, a series of satirical commercials that addresses sexism and racism inherent in commercial media.
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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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Nature Body Light
Nature Body Light is a slow film, a meditation, a study of light and form and texture, the body in its complex simplicity.
Length: 6:08
Director: Monica Thomas
Producer: Monica Thomas
Concept and Choreography: Monica Thomas
Cinematographer: Mike Weldon
Colorist: Jeff Altman
Special Thanks to James Ballard and The Ballard Family Farm
Key cast: Stacy DeMorrow Miller, Tajh Stahlworth, Abby Suskin, Patrick Tobin
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): all of the above! Would love an opportunity for a gallery showing with this film as an installation
Social media handles:
Facebook: montomarts
Twitter: montomarts
Instagram: montomarts
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?