Cucalorus Film Festival 2019 – Beyond This Moment
A mother of two kids putting them to sleep before going to bed as well. She dreams of herself dancing and making art with her body. She is woken up by her kids and realizes it was just a dream. But one of the children sees a paint stain on her neck. She ran to her little garage studio and seeing a big fresh painted canvas hanging on the wall: was it just a dream or reality?
Interview with Director/Actor Alyona Amato and Producer Erika Edwards
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I always wanted to create a Dance Film as a choreographer. It is a completely different field of putting dance and film together. Beyond This Moment is my 1st Dance Film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It is inspiring. It is motivating. It is about reconnecting to your dreams and coming them true. The film was inspired by women who used to dance but quit after having kids. Dreaming about dancing while not able to dance. Coming back to dance, feeling alive with tears of joy that able to move their body again.
Paints involvement as an art therapy for the soul. This kind of dance could be considered more like a dream dance. But where is the border between dreams and reality? Sometimes there is none.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I'm a mom of two kids myself and I can relate how difficult it is to keep dancing while having a baby. But dreams should live forever and I always encourage people to not give up on their dreams no matter what.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Inspiring, motivating, bright, goosebumps, never give up on my dreams.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It was pleasurable to receive that feedback.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Inspire people to pursue their dreams and never give up.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of them! =))
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Inspire people to pursue their dreams and never give up.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What was the inspiration for this film?
Would you like to add anything else?
The film was shot in one take, in about two hours with natural light from the studio's windows. There was careful planning on when to use paints and intensify them on the body as if we would forget something that there wouldn't be other chance to go back to a "clean" body with no paints on it.
It took me probably a whole day to create the floor from paper.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm working on my 1st Big Dance + Films Concert Awakening that will be presented on November 22nd at Thalian Hall!!!
There will be a lot of collaborative pieces with my Choreography and Films by different filmmakers. Including this Dance Film Beyond this Moment.
Please come and see it and include it on your web site!!! =)
Interview: November 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
Beyond This Moment
A mother of two kids putting them to sleep before going to bed as well. She dreams of herself dancing and making art with her body. She is woken up by her kids and realizes it was just a dream. But one of the children sees a paint stain on her neck. She ran to her little garage studio and seeing a big fresh painted canvas hanging on the wall. Was it just a dream or reality?
Length: 8:50
Director: Alyona Amato
Producer: Erika Edwards
Writer: Alyona Amato
About the writer, director and producer:
ALYONA AMATO was born and raised in Russia, Siberia. Alyona has loved dancing since her childhood. She has been trained in many different types of dance including contemporary, modern, contact improvisation and ballet. Being from another country, Alyona has had many opportunities to train with teachers from around the world. The Moscow dance association granted her an opportunity to participate in dance programs in Vilnius (Lithuania), Paris (France), Moscow (Russia). In her dance work. she collaborated with various artists including painters, visual artists, and musicians. In 2011 the American Dance Festival granted her to take part in the International program in Durham. After finishing the program Alyona moved to Wilmington, NC to experience America. Her performances have been selected and shown at different dance festivals including North Carolina Dance Festival (Asheville and Wilmington), Dance-a-Lorus (part of Cucalorus), Lumina Fest, Wilmington Dance Festival, Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival (Orlando, Fl). She is having her 1st Dance Concert on November 22nd at Thalian Hall this year.
Key cast: Alyona Amato (dancer)
Looking for: film festival directors, producers, journalists
Facebook: Alyona Amato Dance Studio
Instagram: @alyona_amato_dance_studio
Hashtags used: #wilmingtondance #beyondthismoment
Funders: Self-funded by Alyona Amato Dance Studio
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? 25th Cucalorus Festival / Thalian Black - November 14th at 1:30pm.