STACK NZ Apr #72

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STACK : Have you been pleased with the way the film has been received in other countries? TAMMY DAVIS: I think it just goes to show that we can make these sort of positive, uplifting genre films. And I think what we have proven is that we can diversify and make lots of different films – we can make dramas, we can make comedies, we can make dance films… we can make any films we like. We should be making films about David Tua’s boxing career and Valerie Adams… this really opens up the door. Whatever kind of genre of film you want to make, we can do it. The film hasn’t been released in the US yet, but have you had any feedback from Americans? I think there is a bit of a buzz around it. I mean, Parris [Goebel, the film’s internationally renowned Kiwi choreographer] is doing amazing things in America and if that is anything to go by, as soon as they know that she was part of it, people are going to rush to see it. There are basic conventions that you need to follow with hip hop dance movies, but presumably you also wanted to give it a uniquely Kiwi flavour. How did you set about doing that? The film is about a young Maori boy who is struggling to fulfill his dreams and the obstacles that are put in front of him. I think that makes it unique. But it’s also an international film; we all have to make those decisions at some point in our life. We all go through that point when we question ourselves about what we want to do and then have to find the belief and

faced when it came to shooting – was it staging and shooting the dance sequences? You just have to let people do their job and Parris was amazing. It all starts from the dance: she choreographs it, we watch it and then we say ‘OK, this is the best way to do it’. And

the courage to chase those dreams. In regards to the dance genre, I hope what we have done has kind of reinvigorated it. We’ve actually gone back to the bones of it and said “OK, what is it about this genre that we really like?” So it’s about having really good dance moves, but also telling a good story; people

want to be entertained but they also want to feel something and want to leave the film having learned something. What’s your favourite hip hop dance movie? Born to Dance – the film we made! No, I think the early ones like Step Up 1 and 2 were really good films. I think the later films were just boring. But Stomp the Yard was a good one, Bring It On …The first and second ones are usually the best: by the time you get to the sixth one or whatever, it’s usually 70 per cent dance and 30 per cent story and no-one gives a sh*t.

we wanted the choreography to shine. What you see in those final sequences… it is edited, but we wanted everyone to see the dancing and highlight how good our dance community is. We wanted to show them that there are no tricks – this is our kids dancing and this is how good they are. Other people and dancers around the world will be watching them and say ‘hey man, that’s awesome’. How about yourself – did you have any dance moves of your own you could share?

No, man – well, maybe after a few beers…I have got a little cameo as an undercover cop but that is as far as it got!

• Born to Dance is out now on DVD & Blu-ray

What was the biggest directorial challenge you

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