Virtuosi - a film by Sue Healey

“Sue Healey is a masterful filmmaker, choreographer and performance-maker...”
RealTime Arts Australia

SYNOPSIS
Virtuosi is a documentary dance film directed by highly acclaimed filmmaker/choreographer Sue Healey. It features the cine-portraits of 8 New Zealand dance artists who have created stellar international careers and is framed by the music of Mike Nock, an acknowledged master of jazz in Australasia.

Virtuosi is a reflection on journeys from home and artistic virtuosity.

The film takes you across the globe to ask “What drives these artists to pursue careers to the other side of the world? What are the revelations when one returns home? Why dance?”

Virtuosi dances ideas across many fascinating cities and cultures – Berlin, London, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville, Brussels – revealing fascinating dance lineages and connections back to New Zealand.

DANCE ARTISTS
Mark Baldwin, Artistic Director of Rambert Dance Company, London
Craig Bary, Independent Artist, Australia
Lisa Densem, Independent Artist, Performer with Sacha Waltz & Guests, Berlin
Raewyn Hill, Artistic Director Dance North, Townsville, Australia
Sarah-Jayne Howard, Independent Artist, Australia
Jeremy Nelson, Head of Dance, Danish National School of Contemporary Dance, Copenhagen
Ross McCormack, Independent Artist, Performer with Les Ballets C de la B, Belgium
Claire O’Neil, Independent Artist, Belgium/Wellington

CREATIVE TEAM
Choreographer/Filmmaker Sue Healey
Composer Mike Nock
Director of Photography Judd Overton
Editors Lindi Harrison and Sue Healey
Producer Sue Healey and Viv Rosman, Performing Lines

WHY WE ARE MAKING THIS FILM
From the Director
3 years ago I came up with an audacious plan - to make a film about some kiwi artists who I had always admired.  These ‘movers and shakers’, spread far and wide around the planet, continue to push the boundaries of the dance form. Amazingly, all agreed to participate.

With funding from Creative NZ and Arts NSW in Australia,  Judd Overton (Director of Photography) and I collaborated with and filmed these extraordinary artists around the globe. We travelled to Berlin, New York, London, Brussels, Townsville, Wellington, Sydney and Melbourne (on a shoe-string budget) and after 40 days of filming and 2 months with renowned editor Lindi Harrison - Virtuosi - a 80minute feature is the first outcome of this project.

The film will appeal to anyone with a creative bone in their body (ie. everyone!) and celebrates creative determination, fearlessness and the power of art.  It is quirky and real.

The special connection between music and dance is a key element of Virtuosi.  All music is by the legendary NZ composer Mike Nock, my longtime collaborator. The soundtrack for this film is a feast!  An eclectic tour de force of Nock's music featuring his solo piano and many of his bands. 

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
Virtuosi has attracted strong interest from major arts festivals in both Australia and New Zealand and also from major TV stations. Until now Virtuosi has been generously supported by Creative New Zealand and Arts NSW to get the film to where it is now. 90% of the film has been completed, but there is still more work to be done to reach our audiences.

To finalise the film we need to:
1. Complete post-production (colour grade and audio mix)
2. Output the film for cinemas and festivals

To do all of this, we require a further $15,000. We’ve set our Sponsume campaign at raising at least $8,000 because we believe this is a realistic minimum target to achieve. However, we would love to raise much more. ALL donations to this project will go directly towards the completion of the film.

Please join us with your donations to help finish this film to broadcast and film festival standard, so that many can see it.

WHY CROWDFUNDING?
I work as a freelance artist surviving on arts funding for specific projects.  I am indebted to the various funding bodies who enable me to pursue my art and employ many wonderful artists along the way. 

This is my first experiment with crowdfunding, which I see as an opportunity to directly involve people who care deeply about these artists and the artform, as much as I do.  It is a chance to empower this film and augment its possibilities, otherwise beyond my reach.  The passion and skill of these artists will inspire you!

MORE INFO
Contact: Viv Rosman, Producer, Performing Lines: viv[at]performinglines.org.au
Performing Lines website: www.performinglines.org.au
Sue Healey’s website: www.suehealey.com.au

BACKGROUND INFO
SUE HEALEY - Director Sue Healey, since leaving New Zealand to train at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne in 1981, has developed an international reputation for excellence in creating and filming contemporary dance.  As a dance artist for 28 years in Australia and internationally, she has created many works for live performance, film and site specific installations.  She is considered an innovator in the field of dance film in Australia, with recent awards including Winner Best Film Australian Dance Awards 2008, Winner People’s Choice Award Reeldance 2008, Winner Reeldance Australia 2004, and Winner Il Coreografo Elettronico, Italy, 2005, finalist in New York Dance on Camera - 2007, Cinedans Holland - 2007, Videodanza, Spain - 2007.

MUSIC - The music framing the cine-portraits was composed by New Zealand jazz legend Mike Nock. The sonic world is eclectic and virtuosic – in dialogue with the dancers, who possess similar qualities of nuance, character and brilliance.

CINEMATOGRAPHY - Judd Overton is an Australian based Director of Photography. His award winning cinematography has screened at Major Festivals including Camerimage (Poland), Rome, Edinburgh Film Festival, LA, Toronto International Film Festival (DR PLONK 2007) and the Berlin Film Festival where his short film FRANSWA SHARL [dir. Hannah Hilliard] won the coveted Crystal Bear for Best Short Film.  Judd has lensed several feature films including ALL MY FRIENDS ARE LEAVING BRISBANE, TWENTY TEN and Italian- Australian Romantic Comedy BIG MAMMA’S BOY. He has collaborated with Sue Healey on many dancefilm projects including; Reading the Body (2009), The Door, the Chair, the Bed & the Stair (2009), The Curiosities (2010).