Somewhere in My Hall
Last summer, @cosimo179 and I were deep in contract negotiations for our web series, H+. I guess the waiting was starting to drive us a bit crazy, so we decided to channel some of that nervous energy into a little weekend project. Something that would allow us to sort of shake it out.
Since Cosimo and I both have a strong interest in dance (Cosimo is a contemporary dancer and choreographer himself), we figured it could also serve as an experiment for a future dance project on the web.
So we invited nine dancers to my apartment one Saturday morning. They had no idea what we were planning to do and no preparation. And over the next three hours, Cosimo choreographed and I shot this video. Later that night we edited it. And now, almost a full year later, we’re sharing it for the first time here.
- No… it’s not a coincidence that So You Think You Can Dance premieres this week.
- Some of you may recognize SYTYCD star, Will Wingfield, in the video.
- My sister is the one being swung around in a circle.
- It was an insanely talented and fast working group of dancers… I was blown away.
And if you’ve seen the Wisely video Through any Window, you’ll probably recognize the location… except it’s from the opposite angle. Yes, this is my apartment. I’ve done a few projects here over the past decade.
The song is a remix of the Bedroom Walls tune Somewhere in Newhall. I love this band. Check out their other music on iTunes if you get a chance.
Johnny Hugel on 18 May 2009 at 12:17 pm #
This is awesome. Well done sirs.
Ron Curry on 18 May 2009 at 12:26 pm #
I think it would be rad if folks just randomly started dancing like that, or like in that train station. How curious. It’s great. Favorite moment was the fella hopping up from behind the couch. After that I was expecting more of random people out of nowhere, but the first one was great. Also, that dude wiped his sweat on your couch. Hahaha.
I would hate to be your insurance company. You know that one commercial with the insurance adjuster is driving around and picturing the worst case scenarios?
Catherine on 18 May 2009 at 12:32 pm #
So, and now I know how you live! I like the sofa.
And the Apple keyboard and mighty mouse are obligatory.
Okay, but that was not the reason for this comment.
I really liked the dancing and how they merged the choreography with your furniture. *thumbs up*
Didn’t recognize your sister, though.
K8 on 18 May 2009 at 12:53 pm #
OMG. I love it! Even more stoked for SYTYCD now.
John Cabrera’s "Somewhere in My Hall" on 18 May 2009 at 1:00 pm #
[...] released a new short film he made last year called Somewhere in My Hall. As John describes on his blog, he and friend Cosimo (who is working with John on the H+ web series) invited 9 dancers to his [...]
Jules on 18 May 2009 at 1:01 pm #
yeah, this was fantastic. beautifully done!
I agree, Ron, I’d love to see people just start dancing randomly, that would be so cool!
also, I love that song! you always have the best music recommendations. thanks, guys!
xoxo
kelseroo on 18 May 2009 at 2:09 pm #
LOVED IT. Those spontaneous creative moments are the best- there’s nothing like getting together with your friends and creating something together. Looks like it was a really fun day! Tell @cosimo179 that his choreography is awesome:-)
jeans on 18 May 2009 at 3:10 pm #
oh man, this was awesome! lol this is what you call a “little weekend project”?? dang, yo.
great song choice too!
Itzel on 18 May 2009 at 4:11 pm #
Awesome! Yep I enjoyed it, good work both of you guys. I’ve never watched a single SYTYCD episode ever, but I guess this is the new TV show you’ll blog about?
Vanessa N. on 18 May 2009 at 4:28 pm #
3 hours and a limited amount of space…I am impressed. That was awesome! Although I wouldn’t have minded seeing that sooner, I’m glad you held it for the week of the SYTYCD premiere, since (to echo K8) it makes me even more excited for it.
Also, I’m definitely going to have to check out more Bedroom Walls music.
Caryl on 18 May 2009 at 7:00 pm #
Wow! That’s really impressive and incredibly cool!
Katelynne on 18 May 2009 at 8:03 pm #
Thank you for sharing the awesome video! The choreography was amazing how it all work within the confines of the space. Can’t wait for the new season of SYTYCD!
John Cabrera on 19 May 2009 at 2:42 am #
Thanks guys for your thoughts. Cosimo and I have been eager to show it for a while. I was actually planning to post it months ago, but then I got into the Lost thing. At some point we just decided it would be cool to post it the week that SYTYCD premieres. Back then we didn’t even know when that was, so the timing worked well with Lost.
Catherine, my sister was the one with the dark hair that has the duet right before Will comes in at the end for his solo. She gets swung around in a circle by her partner (the dude with the big hair). Actually, interesting fact that many Gilmore fans don’t know… my sister was in an episode of the show. She was the Uma Thurman dancer at the Pulp Fiction party.
Kels, I’m sure he’s read your comment by now, but I’ll let him know just in case.
Tinker_Ramone on 19 May 2009 at 4:17 am #
Amazing! I love how the girl danced on the table in the background. hah. Just what I needed this morning to make me want to dance through the office. I will have to check out that music.
cosimo on 19 May 2009 at 8:05 am #
Thanks everybody for the kind comments! I’d also like to thank our talented dancers again for being so quick and patient on that very hot Saturday morning
Ron Curry on 19 May 2009 at 10:37 am #
Yeah, Cosimo. I was going to mention all the sweat. I figured John was either stingy with the a/c or that it was just normal dance sweat levels.
Also, you should have done a cameo! Next time, just walk by in the background with a Pepsi or something.
Cosimo on 19 May 2009 at 10:52 am #
Ron, next time I’ll have John doing a cameo…I’ll have him doing the robot
John Cabrera on 19 May 2009 at 10:52 am #
Ron, this apartment was built in the 1920s… there’s no central a/c. I only have a/c in my office upstairs (which I only turn on when it gets extremely hot). We used it as a place for the dancers to cool off. But yeah, there was a lot of sweat going on. I’d say we ran it through for camera about 4 or 5 times. The two takes I edited together were the last two. There were actually some good moments from earlier takes I would have liked to use… but the dancers were too dry and it didn’t match. And there’s something about the sweat that I really like. Especially Steph there at the beginning. When she swings her head.
Ron Curry on 19 May 2009 at 12:02 pm #
Haha. Even if not the robot, perhaps some hieroglyphics on the wall in the background? John?
Yeah, the fact that everyone started off already sweaty was interesting. I bet you never thought you’d have to match scenes to sweat levels when you were studying editing.
Cosimo, how much of the three hours did it take you to choreograph it, and how much of it was dictated by the space? I like that the furniture became dance space, rather than a restriction.
Cosimo on 19 May 2009 at 12:40 pm #
Ron, it took me about 2 hours to choreograph and work with the dancers. I had an idea of how I wanted to use the space, but I came up with the movement that same morning. The choreography was born in that room; it wasn’t adjusted to make it work there. Space and furniture were some of the elements John and I wanted to play with, so definitely not a restriction, but a way of inspiration.
kelseroo on 19 May 2009 at 5:32 pm #
Yeah the sweat adds something. Makes it more organic and real. For another Movement Monday I would love to see a Cosimo solo!
SarahSamudre on 19 May 2009 at 7:09 pm #
John- that was amazing. Amazing choreography- the dancing and the music moved me deeply, as stupidly cliche as that reads- I’ve debated for a minute or more but I can’t think of a less stupid cliche way to say it. Great camera work, it moved with the dancing, which is HARD to do without making someone aware of the camera. I think actually filming dance is one of the hardest filming to do, to move as fluidly, without attracting notice, but to deepen the viewer’s feeling of movement. Awesome job.
Oh and kudos to your sisters moves- I love the episode with the Tarantino Costume party. Great job in this and that!
cosimo on 19 May 2009 at 7:47 pm #
Haha! Kelsy, we’ll see about that…
Leslie on 24 May 2009 at 5:20 pm #
That was really cool, John. Great job! I’m off to read all of your Lost blogs now…
VetovsVictory on 03 Nov 2009 at 3:20 pm #
BLOWN AWAY..(i’m late yees)