What pushed you to make Wait for Me?
GH: I wanted to create something from scratch, that used dance as a storytelling mechanism, that I could have complete control over. I typically dance alone in pieces that I self-produce, but wanted to be able to hire a team of people and utilize a large cast of dancers, which is out of ordinary for me. I wanted to do something that was on a much larger scale than just grabbing a camera and shooting something in street.
What would you consider the artistic inspiration for the short film?
GH: In the Galen Hooks Method, which is an in-depth training experience where I focus on developing artistry on dancers, I focus a lot on how to be compelling through your performance and not just as technicians. Artistically, I thought it would be exciting to utilize having extreme close-ups on dancers, allowing them to fill moments with their artistry rather than just choreography.
Did you always intend to write, choreograph, direct, produce, and edit the film (as well as compose the music)? Or did this come about piece by piece, like, “Oh wait, I can do that too.”
GH: My first intention for this project was to direct, but I just happened to have such a clear vision for what choreography and editing should be; it wasn’t efficient to have someone else doing it when I know how to. It was less about trying to add another notch in credits and more about efficiency. For the music, I was trying to think of a song that someone wouldn’t recognize because that clouds creativity. I decided to use this original song as a way for everyone to view it with the cleanest slate possible. I really loved it because I believe that it tows the line of being in the music video world and the cinematic world.
What was the most surprising part of making it?
GH: The most surprising part was how well it went on the shoot day! Everything was scheduled down to the minute, leaving no room for technical difficulties or people running late. So if one thing went wrong, it might have meant that we were unable to capture crucial shots. The fact it went on without a hitch was a surprise, but was definitely the benefit of exhaustive preparation prior to the shoot.
What was the most rewarding part of making it?
GH: The most rewarding part was being able to have the final say creatively in all aspects of the film. It really was amazing watching it back on the big screen, knowing that we shot that whole thing in one day. This was the first time being entirely on the production end and being able to watch other people’s hard work pay off.
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