Inanimate 48 – 2019 Submissions

All the submissions made for Inanimate 48 in January 2019 that are currently available online to watch are documented on this page, as well as the winner and honorable mentions

Have a favorite? Voting for fan favorite is open here until 2/22!

Winner

“A Long Friendship”
performed by April Skelton and Susan Murphy
with cinematography by Don Carson

April and Susan give tribute to their friendship with the myriad of perspectives their video/dance portrays. With their solos they reflect the personal choices of expressive gesture within the same choreographic template. Interspersed with shots of their individuality are shared moments they created, from above and below, the apparatus and the dancers. And throughout, they give kinetic voice to the richness and depth, through time and space, of their love.

Shot at the Marsh Studio, Darien, Georgia
Dancers: Susan Murphy and April Skelton
Cinematography: Don Carson
Special thanks: Tina Ridley
Music: “My Piano Night,” Federico Albanese; “Optimist,” Zoe Keating; “Said and Done,” Nils Frahm
Editing: April Skelton

Photo exhibit seen in the studio by Don Carson. To see more of his work, visit doncarsonphoto.com.

“I’m immediately loving the choices of perspective. The handheld almost candid contrast to the clean and professional look was powerful. Everything about this is powerful. I love it. I got a strong sense through the movements, conversation between the two—very impressive. I loved this one so much. It’s my absolute favorite video submission, no question. I felt a lot, and everything was cohesive. Well done. “

“I was really moved with the concept (including the written words), execution, visuals, emotions, purity, and other variables that made this up. I found the most resonance, sense of wonder, connection, and memorable impressions from this piece by far.”

Honorable Mentions

Aeriform Artists: Out of the Darkness

Received 2 honorable mentions

“This was absolutely epic from the dancing to the editing and set/shooting. In fact, I had to try to not take into account the professional set up and try to focus on the performance to make it fair. I loved everything about this. There was a clear commitment to character, a whole bunch of interesting elements, and all the editing/filming/lighting fit the energy. Unfortunately, the end and the sudden and abruptness of it rather than even a little closure drops this into second place for me. I want to see the end of this! I know it’s a lot to ask in such a short time, but some kind of ending would have been nice.”

Atomic: Pretty Thing

Received 1 Honorable Mention

“I love the framing and editing choice here. Super interesting effect and caught my attention. The observer sitting in the back, seen in the mirror felt distracting, however. The movement has very strong character and feels authentic. I’m really enjoying it. Good mix of fluid and sharp movement. I’d love to see more engagement with the viewer even when on pole, since you promise so much of it at the beginning, it feels a little bit strange—as if we’ve been abandoned by the end.”

Danni Maxwell: Forward Progress

Received 2 honorable mentions

“Opening shot was great. Attention grabbing and well framed. Loving the choreography. I also appreciate the camera person paying attention and being aware of what the viewer wants to see. I love the sense of apprehension with the use of an apparatus that was just there, as well as the precision conveyed by the movement style. Clean and clear movements, facial expression. 3:07, my attention began to diminish, probably because it felt like a return to the beginning rather than something new. Well done overall. ”

“I absolutely adored this, from concept to execution. Totally dope creation, polished, musical, innovative…I only wished that the camera work could have shown me a little more”

Femme Forte Menagerie: Half Jack

Received 1 Honorable Mention

“I really enjoyed this. Good use of tools, a lot of awareness in both the filming and editing, and the idea was really great and well executed. The energy of the performance was clearly conveyed throughout. Everyone was on the same page, from the shooting to the performing. Some of the cuts really impressed me because there seemed to be more than one camera for the seamless cuts, but with the mirror, I never saw a second shooter even though I didn’t know how that could be from the angles used. Either that or someone really was talented at putting multiple takes together into something that seemed seamless. 3:35, I’m starting to lose energy the energy. The musicality was on point as well. 4:27, I see the single shooter, so this means you tricked me because the editing and choice of shots was simply really well done :). I do think that it didn’t need the entire 6 minutes, even if the music is that long, it felt like I got the energy within the first 3 minutes. I did love the ending, however, and the complete commitment to character, and the twist. All in all, great shooting and storytelling and performing. One of my favorite submissions for sure.”

Hope Corbin

Received 1 honorable mention

“I loved the simplicity of this piece, with each element being purposeful and well done. I loved the use of highlighted the leg by keeping them bare. Great camera setup, really consistent execution and appropriate use of space and pole movements. Great song. Really lovely overall.”

Jane Fish: An Artful Life

Received 1 honorable mention

“Stunning, soft, dreamy, really beautifully executed.”

Jocelyn Wetherington : The Struggle

Received 2 honorable mentions

“Movement and technique and musicality was great and professional quality. The choreography was interesting and surprising. The background and choice of shot was pretty good, though I wish the camera had been straightened and centered. I found the emotions well expressed in the movement, though the dimensionality of the emotion was fairly straight forward; I would have like to see a wider range of feelings. I have mixed feelings about the cuts. Cuts are clearly used to the performer’s advantage, instead of playing a roll in the filming/editing, so it brings awareness to the fact that “this was the best take”. That’s the best part about video submissions—you can cut—but in a performance like this, framed this way, it was distracting and I would have felt more if the cuts hadn’t been there. That being said, mad respect for the skills demonstrated.”

“While this piece wasn’t in my preferred “style” of emotional storytelling per se, I cannot help but be in total awe of how every single movement had purpose, choreographed elements, nice details, and exciting and innovative use of the apparatus itself. I loved how my mind couldn’t assume how the hoop would be utilized. This piece really had everything in it you can think of for a “circus” style act. Only wish I could have seen some dynamic camera work to enjoy some of these moments closer up.”

Kris Hurley: 7 Ages of Man

Received 1 honorable mention

“Choreography was so…. creative. Really outside of the box use of, well, everything.”

Sam Tribble and Courtney Giannone

Watch Sam and Courtney’s performance

Received 3 honorable mentions

“Innovative apparatus work, glad to see this here.”

“This was a really fun combination, with a lot of very interesting movement elements and impressive skills. I enjoyed watching it quite a bit. I have little critique on what is being done, and I like using multiple cameras to justify the cuts—however the speed changes at times were distracting and unnecessary, and the cuts often seemed to be focused on showing a variety of tricks rather than giving us a sense of what the message is. There was also a bit of confusion on my end to if we were watching two people perform to the viewer, or perform for each other, or play with each other. The music and the two artists implied something playful, and yet there was such a serious energy in much of what was being done. A clear energy would have also allowed for the cuts to be more authentic and allow for more follow-through in expression. I enjoyed this overall.”