In Aloneliness: a screendance, a dancer explores the experience of becoming over-stimulated in social interactions, which causes her to seek relief in peaceful solitude; only to find that too much solitude leads her to feelings of loneliness. The film follows her arduous journey through these dark emotions, into the overwhelming relief she finally realizes upon their passing.

Interview with Producer/Actor Summer Baldwin

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Rachel Searcey and I first met through a local yoga studio. We quickly discovered that we were both interested in similar things such as film, dance and abstract art. Aloneliness: a screendance is a re-imagining of the stage production, Aloneliness, that I previously choreographed and performed in. Together, we decided to take the concept of my 40-minute experimental modern dance, storyboard it and shoot it as a short screendance in our local town, Ocean Springs, MS. By taking the original concept of Aloneliness and turning it into a short film, we were able to reach more people with this universal theme and also expose screendance and dance as an art form to a wider audience in our region.

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

This film is an abstract imagining of how it feels to escape into necessary solitude only to find that loneliness can begin to take over. Eventually, the loneliness passes through and feelings of relief take its place. If this film's audience members are experiencing depression or feelings of isolation in their everyday lives, they may find relief in seeing that all things pass through, there is light at the end darkness and they are not alone.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The need for solitude from our chaotic lifestyles, crushing feelings of loneliness and the realization that we are not alone in our internal struggles are all universal themes portrayed by one performer, with no character name, in this film. Choosing not to name the character, give any sort of personal background and include dialogue helps to remove labels and identity to these internal, human experiences. While the perspective is personal, the experience is universal.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Since the idea for the film was from a previous production, we created our storyboard from highlight moments in the stage production. We then used those storyboard ideas to shoot the film, along with some re-shoots of scenes that did not originally work when played back. Since the original stage production was created by me, a non-filmmaker at the time, the first rough cut didn't feel as effective as we had hoped. Rachel, an experienced filmmaker and editor, then took the footage we shot together and made it her own which helped solidify both of our voices into one piece of art, completely separate from the original stage production. Billy Louviere, the sound designer, then composed an original score over the silent final cut.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Feedback, so far, has been very positive. People seem to connect with the dancer's journey in a very personal way. They have mentioned that since depression and loneliness are hard to describe in words, seeing these expressions through the abstract medium of film and dance has helped to feel less alone with some of their incommunicable thoughts and feelings.

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

We are hoping to spread the awareness of screendance as an art form; as well as provide visibility to southern female filmmakers and artists.

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

Journalists and Film Festival Directors.

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

We would like our film to create healing, a sense of community and visibility for those struggling with depression or feelings of loneliness and isolation.

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

How does the momentum between solitude, loneliness and ultimate relief manifest itself in your physical, mental and emotional body?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Performer and co-creator, Summer Baldwin (www.summerbaldwin.com) is working on an experimental modern dance piece that includes live dance, screendance, an original score and art installation. Director and editor, Rachel Searcey (www.agirlandhergoldfish.com) is working on No Regrets, a short narrative directed by Amelia Gilley on the Gulf Coast. Sound designer, Billy Louviere is creating REPRESENT (http://representthefilm.com/), a documentary about a nurse practitioner during her successful campaign for Oregon State Representative as well other women who ran for office following the 2016 election.

Interview: September 2019

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

Aloneliness: a screendance

Length: 7:23

Director: Rachel Searcey

Producer: Summer Baldwin and Rachel Searcey

Writer: Summer Baldwin and Rachel Searcey

About the writer, director and producer:

RACHEL SEARCEY is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a B.S. in Radio/TV/Film and the founder of the production company, A Girl and her Goldfish Productions. She has covered a wide variety of productions such as live events, dance choreography videos, short films, and screendances. Rachel and her New Orleans 48 Hour Film Project team were recently awarded the 2019 Alice Award from the Women in Film and Television and 48 Hours Film Project.

Key cast: Summer Baldwin (Dancer)

Facebook: Aloneliness: a screendance

Instagram: @_summerbaldwin_

Hashtags used: #aloneliness #solitude #loneliness #womeninfilm #screendance #danceonfilm #mississippifilm #southernartist #oceanspringsms

Website: www.summerbaldwin.com/aloneliness

Other: Vimeo

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Lady Filmmakers Festival/Beverly Hills on Sept. 29 @ 12:15pm (Wilshire Screening Room)