Exit Film inc., the company in charge of film planning and production, created ‘Wheelchair Dance’ as an independent short and web production focusing on the wheelchair and contemporary dance. Set in Kanazawa Prefecture’s Kamakura City, this piece takes up the themes of diversity and disability sport, through which we hope to express the various influences of the dancers, musicians, web developers, photographers, models and wheelchair manufacturers who collaborated on the projected.
Photography by Kenichi Aikawa
‘Wheelchair Dance’ combines artistic impressions of contemporary dance and the wheelchair with themes of diversity, the social engagement of minorities. It approaches this whilst refusing to reject the melancholy that is universal to all of us, regardless of disability with another philosophical one: to present negative emotions that are universal.
The short film was shot on location in Kamakura, Kanazawa Prefecture, with the kind cooperation of the local residence, of which the sunset as seen from the Zaimokuza coastline comprised the main part of the film.
This is a collaborative independent piece. All photographers, web designers, film creatives and musicians took park in the project were self-funded. However all shots used in this film were captured in 6K with the RED EPIC DRAGON and with variety of looks considered for accompanying online content scrutiny has been paid to ensure a high level of quality and the ambition throughout.
As for the cast, we have entrusted the role of the protagonist and choreography to award-winning contemporary dancer, Daisuke Omiya who has helped bring the piece out of the confines of disability or minority sport. Model and TV talent, Ai Matsumoto brought finesse with her performance as the heroine.
This piece was made with the hope that people who have found themselves in difficult circumstances might draw on the negative feelings they have felt and allow the piece to evoke a simple, direct ‘wow’ feeling. In turn, we hope that this piece might be part of a wider movement that, in time, might bring people together in order to make new types of content and ultimately a more sustainable culture.