It took me just two days to record and edit this little film. Two easy, flowing days, and a year.
Time can be obstinate.
Twelve months ago, I had a very clear vision of the stories I wanted to tell on a Chasing Angels podcast.
The whole project felt like a frighteningly big leap. So last January, when I tried to make a start by speaking with my very dear friend - the aerialist, educator and researcher, Alice Watson - about her Masters in Dance Anthropology, in the hope of making a first podcast to share with you all, it took embarrassingly little to throw me off course.
We did schedule the interview a year ago, but I managed to record the whole conversation on screen, without any sound! For a podcast! That was enough - with life piling on life - to skid me to a halt.
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A year on, and everything has shifted again. My vision has grown clearer and expanded to include a window into the inspiring worlds I want to share with you, through short little films to accompany a monthly podcast. Alice aced her Masters with a Distinction and continues to evolve her profound creative movement practice and community work into new cities, new continents.
When this first project finally came together last weekend, everything that could fall gracefully into place did. As if the angels had finally given their blessing, and to prove it, were now showing off how seamless things can be.
Last weekend, Alice and I had made a plan to combine her interview with two athletes she trains with, who have founded a project called 4dmotus, which they describe as:
‘a unique collective of individuals who all have special powers yet specialise in nothing but unity’.
‘Specialise in nothing but unity.’
I mean, seriously... That’s a conversation we all need to be listening in on.
But the timings weren’t quite right for the meeting, and I felt nervous - too pressured - this being my first real filmy thing, and Alice and I moseyed on down to the wintery park together, gently, no stress, so she could do her training while I played with my new camera toy.
Ambling up to the high metal bars, it took just two seconds for us to be greeted with a ‘Hey - good to see you!’ from Shakadé Khan of Steel Warriors - the organisation that had first catalysed Alice’s use of these community spaces, and her whole calisthenics flow practice.
Shakadé couldn’t have been more eloquent, clear sighted and generous for the completely impromptu conversation that emerged in this crystal-bright winter afternoon light, after weeks of rain. You’ll hear him in the video, and catch a glimpse of him if you watch right up to the final fourth minute of this short little film.
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Do you have recurring dreams?
I regularly have an annoying one with strange and epic plot twists that lead to deep ah ha moments, in which my dreaming self always thinks, ‘This would make an amazing movie!’ But every time the dream ends the same way: the whole film slipping between my dream fingers into the real day.
So, finally letting myself get me mitts on a half-decent little film camera has been a big gift for my inner child, who is in heaven with this new way to look, listen and layer.
Two days, a year, and a lifetime.
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The deepest thanks to Alice for her friendship, strength, patience in supporting me with this first experiment… And for the determination she has channelled into enriching communities through her investigation of life via the body.
I hope you enjoy this 4-minute film introduction to her work, and the Steel Warriors and calisthenics flow community.
I hope, too, that it inspires you to carve out another quiet moment to tune in to my first ever Listening Angels Podcast next week, where you’ll be able to hear this absolute gem of a human talking with me about her brave ‘edgework’ - a practice of play - and the communities that have grown up around it.
We had a really great conversation. And I can’t wait for you to listen in, once I’ve finally finished editing the darn podcast!
Follow Alice Watson on Instagram here. Find her School of Larks circus school here.
Scroll to the top of this newsletter and press play to watch my short film about Alice’s work now, or if you’re having any trouble with that link on your email, you can also find it through your browser: here.
Drop me a comment below when you’ve had a chance to watch. I hope you find Alice and Shakadé as inspiring as I have. x
'Pushing our limits to the boundary and seeing where our boundaries are.'