F.bird
A film by Jules Cunningham, Julie Verhoeven, JD Samson
This film contains flashing images.
Enfolding, unfolding, alight,
queer intelligibility of birdwatching
or is it the birds watching?
Unclassified, without knowing.
Discontinuous. dancing. Taking flight, fire fight.
This collaboration between Jules, Julie and JD for Digital Stage & Studio is an exploration, a glimpse into the alternative worlds of fire bird.
F.bird departs from Jules’ live dance solo fire bird which was a queer interpretation of the iconic Stravinsky musical score, Firebird, written and first performed over 100 years ago beginning with the Ballet Russes.
Collaging and creating its own outsider nest through repetition and difference, construction and unmaking. Embodied, interspersed, overlaid, chopped up with soulful sonics undulating, escalating, evaporating. Seeking the external within, a gentle surveillance towards, a becoming, softly defiant and undefended.
Refracted realities offer lucid, other-worldly, all-worldly windows into flame, apples, princes/sses. Warnings, jumps and beacons, tangling, tension and freedom from. Natural affirmations around queerness and mad time. Places of personal connection and partnership.
This film is part of Motion Picture, a series of dance films which pairs top choreographers and filmmakers.
Credits
Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage
Produced by Julie Cunningham & Company
Supported by Bethlem Gallery, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and London College of Fashion, UAL East Bank Production Team
Jules Cunningham – Choreography, Performance, Concept
Julie Verhoeven – Filmmaker, Designer, Concept
JD Samson – Sound, Performance, Concept
Brandon Thompson – Editor, Post-Production, Hand model
Kat Bridge – Producer
Rosa Manzi Reid – Assistant Producer
Adedamola Bajomo – Audio Description (Script and Recording)
Michael Picknett – Sound Mastering
Katarzyna Perlak – Original footage of fire bird solo
Yu-Chien Cheng – Movement Research Sessions
Sarah McCormack – Costume Maker and model
Clay Hattam – Hose Shoe Designer
Thanks to:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Harry Alexander, Orrow Bell, Tim Spooner, Lydia Wharf, Louisa Fleischer
In partnership with Bethlem Gallery
Sophie Leighton – Director
Karim Sultan – Curator
With support from London College of Fashion, UAL East Bank Production Team
Nicholas Sargeant – Specialist Technician
Tom Hall – Specialist Technician
Chris Williamson – Specialist Technician
Dan Adakpor – Specialist Technician
Ann Kaguima – STEP Intern
With thanks to
Marcus Saunders – Associate Director, Technical Resources
Alex Marshall – Technical Coordinator, Content Production
James Montgomery – Technical Manager, Media and Performance
Mary Jennings – Technical Coordinator, Media
Film Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage & Studio
Director of Digital Stage & Studio – Bia Oliveira
Senior Content Manager – Eithne Kane
Producers – Martina Ryholt
Video & Digital Specialist – Anna Vialova
Senior Digital & Content Officer – Angharad Mainwaring
Digital & Content Apprentice – Queensley Osemwengie
Marketing Consultant – Izzy Madgwick
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