Proof of Concept

in Behind the Camera by Kevin Railsback — January 23, 2010 at 1:01 pm | 0 comments

You may see that a lot of the clips on this site start out with “Proof of Concept” and may be wondering what that is all about.

The dictionary defines proof of concept as a short and/or incomplete realization of a certain method or idea(s) to demonstrate its feasibility, or a demonstration in principle, whose purpose is to verify that some concept or theory is probably capable of exploitation in a useful manner.

So what does that have to do with the CR Spirits documentary?

It’s simple. Both dance and film are very visual. To do a film about dance raises the bar even higher to create something that is worthy of the art. So, you try a lot of different things to see what creates a greater visual impact. Things like slow motion, camera moves, lighting are all things that can create greater visual impact. Once you learn if the concept or idea will give you that visual punch, you have to work on perfecting it to make it a seamless part of the film.

They say the best special effects in movies are the ones that you don’t see. The same goes for these proof of concept tests. The idea is not to say “Wow, look at those cool camera moves.” The idea is bring you into the world of the Spirits and to compliment Tiffany’s story.

Tiffany and the Spirits are strong and vivacious. These proof of concept shots help me decide if I am capturing that or not.

So why go through all the trouble of trying different ideas out to see if they capture what the Spirits are all about? That’s an easy answer for me. Because I’m passionate about Tiffany’s story and the Spirits.

I believe that there are two kinds of writers and filmmakers. Those that just want to see their name in the credits and collect awards to validate something that is lacking in their lives and those that do it because they are passionate about the subjects of their stories and films. I feel that I fall into the latter category.

When I started this project, it was never about me. It was about telling the story of Tiffany and the Spirits. Now granted, the story has evolved over time. It started out as a film about a dance team. Once I gained their trust and they opened up, it became something much more. It’s almost like dance has taken a back seat to what is really the story of Tiffany and the Spirits.

I think the real story now is about how a young woman from a troubled past has given the gift of confidence, strength and self-esteem to other women through the art of dance. Think about that for a minute. That’s really powerful stuff. THAT is what I want to share with all of your in this film. It’s not about seeing my name on the screen or proving anything to anyone. It’s about celebrating this remarkable gift that I’ve found with Tiffany and the Spirits with you.

And so, I turn the Spirits world upside down sometimes. Where they were used to practice night being just themselves and Tiffany now they have to deal with lights, tripods, dolly’s, extension cords you name it. Yet they graciously go with the flow and make it all work even though I know they wish the lights weren’t there to make the studio a little cooler or the dolly wasn’t in the way. I’m really going to miss these guys ( Yes Amy, I said guys just so you can correct me later ) when I’m done with this film. If I didn’t then I wouldn’t have been very passionate about them and their story.

Here’s a short clip of the proof of concept dolly test. A dolly by the way is just a small wheeled cart that the camera and operator sit on that is pushed around to move the camera. Take a peek and let me know if you think this is better than just a camera sitting on a tripod in the front of the room.

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Tags: Cedar Rapids CR Spirits Dance Studio Dance Team Escape to the Music Iowa Professional Dance Team Routine Tiffany