The 6th annual 4 The Camera Outdoor Dance Film Festival will take place in the dance
center courtyard on the CSULB campus on Friday. The festival was inaugurated in 2009 to
showcase the choreographic work produced by dance students for the screen dance genre.
Screen dance is different from a narrative film because there is rarely a story line and it often needs little character development,; much like stage dance, the content relies on movement to produce the intended emotional effect, co-coordinator of the film festival Gregory Crosby said.
“The way choreographers [and] directors develop choreography for the camera, is different because the camera removes the limitations of the proscenium stage and allows the viewer to view the choreography from 360 degree vs. a static theater seat,” Crosby said.
Crosby, who is also a filmmaker, said the films celebrate the intimacy of dance combined with films, many of which were produced in a class taught by him and Colleen Dunagan.
The film festival also accepts films from dance students, dance faculty and staff and dance alumni. Most of the films featured in the festival are modern dance; however, each short film will represent a view of the world from a culturally diverse list of directors, Crosby said.
Crosby also said students, family and CSULB’s nearby neighbors will be in attendance, and popcorn will be provided. He said attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic style dinner to enjoy during the show.
There will also be an introductory video at the beginning of the festival, which celebrates the Dance Center’s 20th anniversary, which was last semester. Afterward, 12 short films will be shown, said Crosby.
Crosby said admission for the festival is free, and this year’s festival is projecting the new 14.5 feet, blow-up screen in the Dance Center Courtyard.
The film fest will start at around 6:30 p.m. depending on sunset. Run-time of the event is approximately 90 minutes, Crosby said.