love you lately | dance
march 2018 - may 2018
love you lately is a dance concept video project inspired by the original music video. It is co-choreographed by Jennifer Li and myself, directed by me, and filmed/produced by Karen Yang.
i. ideation & concept development
I reached out to Jennifer with the initial idea for love you lately in March 2018. We did not have a song finalized until a month later. After a few recommendations sent back and forth, we came across "Love You Lately" by Ariana & The Rose, RKCB. We both immediately started to envision the concept video, visually and thematically.
By April, the narrative became more concrete. love you lately is a piece about heartbreak, expressing vulnerabilities, and the toxicity of poor communication in relationships. Through choreography, light, and color, we emphasize the contrast between harmony and conflict for the two dancers. Chemistry quickly follows discord, and vice versa.
ii. choreography
It was a joy to choreograph with Jennifer! She brought a contemporary background that complemented well against my fusion hip-hop. We challenged each other to step out our respective comfort zones and to create something unique.
Generally, we worked individually to brainstorm ideas and met routinely to combine ideas. When we met, we would rehearsal for 1-2 hours per week for a month. We started with a skeleton, laying out when major moments would take place—the solos, the lift & the partner sections. Then, we focused on filling in with the details, expressions, and textures.
iii. filming & post-production
Filming took place one early morning in May, and was finished in 3 hours. Prior to the shoot, I had collaborated with Karen on the direction and creative vision for the concept video, prioritizing lighting design.
Karen filmed the entire video handheld, and did an incredible job capturing the choreography from multiple angles. We encountered a few technical difficulties with the camera equipment along the way, but were able to resolve them with the help of a mutual friend, Merry. For some behind-the-scene antics and a quick laugh, please check out the end of the video!
After filming, Karen edited the video and handled the post-production. We met to review the footage and exchanged comments on drafts several times. The final draft was produced at the end of May, and I published the project on June 3rd, 2018.