Sound Of Movement

"When a young ballerina is told her Grandmother and biggest fan will lose her eyesight, she switches her skills to tap dancing so Nan can be part of the show once more".

The film begins with Ann, a spritely woman of 70,  watching her Granddaughter Sophie perform Ballet on stage. As she is fixated on Sophie’s arabesque, it is clear something is wrong. She blinks. A stage light blows out and darkness envelops the theatre...

• Synopsis

In hospital, Ann learns that she will lose her sight completely, which means she will no longer be able to watch Sophie dance and therefore no longer share this important part of Sophie's world. 

On the surface it may seem a film about loss of sight, but it is actually about the fear of losing connection with loved ones. Ann’s biggest fear is that being unable to watch her granddaughter dance will lead to them no longer being able to create new memories together and that she might lose the special relationship they have. 

Sound of Movement contests that through both Ann and Sophie’s resilience and love for each other, they both can adapt to continue experiencing their love of dance and life together. 

• Personal Connection

Sound of Movement tells the story of the unique relationship and love that we have for our Grandparents. My Gran used to come to all my shows and rehearsals, supporting me through the ups and downs of dance competitions, even when experiencing the shock of first learning that she would lose her eyesight. She faced her journey toward blindness with resilience and positivity and continued to be present at my dance shows even if it was just to listen. She would always say she was grateful that tap dance was my favourite form of dance as it meant she could hear my movements and be involved in every performance. 

As a dedication to her spirit, Sound of Movement will not depict Ann as a tired elderly stereotype often depicted in film. Ann is not that character. She is a strong, resilient woman who is fuelled by finding the joy in life and the love for her Granddaughter. Sound of Movement is not a film about the limitations of age or disability, but about the strength and courage to adapt to new circumstances along with the importance of family support. 

• The Director's Vision

As a huge fan of Golden Age musicals, I want Sound of Movement to feel like it has been made in the 50’s. Through bright saturated colours, vibrant wardrobes and painted backdrops, we want to recreate the visual aesthetic of technicolour seen in Singin’ in The Rain, Kiss Me Kate and The Red Shoes. Like our last film Letters From Space, in which we had complex VFX and animation, Sound of Movement will be ambitious, and a step up from our previous work.  Furthermore, as we are making a film about sight, I would like to explore how we can depict the loss of sight as a visceral experience for the audience; playing with focus and perspective.

• Accessibility

Accessibility within the arts is a key theme within the story and obviously something we look to address through our own practices. Audio Description is often overlooked within short films due to budget restrictions etc. We are keen to ensure we make an audio described version of Sound of Movement to increase the film's inclusivity. We also want to work closely with Sound to create a rich tapestry of audio throughout the film so it is possible to hear the stylized movements throughout even the day-to-day conversations as well as the dances themselves.

• Budget Breakdown

We are asking for £5000 to help fund Sound of Movement. This will aim to cover Cast and Crew expenses, camera hire, costumes, props, locations and post-production. Please find a breakdown of the costs below: