Karolina Kuras: National Ballet Photographer
True Calling Grants Participant
Director / Editor:
Haya Waseem
Cinematographer:
Diego Guijarro Alvarez
Composer:
Nick Grimshaw
Photographer:
Karolina Kuras
Dancer / Choreographer:
Brent Parolin
Dancer:
Tanya Howard
Steadicam Operator:
Kevin Packer
1st AC:
David Stuart
Make Up Artist:
Ashley Readings
Karolina Kuras is a Toronto-based ballet and portrait photographer. In this piece, we explore her creative collaboration with Canadian National Ballet dancers Brent Parolin and Tanya Howard, as well as make-up artist Ashley Readings.
In discussing our approach for the project, we wanted to encapsulate the essence rather than the information. There are many pieces where Karolina is featured as a photographer discussing her work, but we wanted to get underneath the surface, into the intangible matters that drive and inspire her to create and collaborate so intimately.
Many things became clear in conversations with Karolina. First, her awe towards the dancers. She recognizes the discipline it takes to be an athlete and an artist all at once, and honouring the dancers and their extreme talent is a deep core value. This made it clear that in making a piece about Karolina, we had to make it about the dancers. They are her muse, her collaborators, and her friends, and can’t be separated from her.
Karolina is also an artist who would rather speak through her work than through words. As someone who is quite shy yet curious in conversation, she completely transforms and commands the stage when she is in her element. She says herself, “It’s like another Karo shows up when I am directing.”
With all this, we ended up with a film that hopefully displays her internal and beautifully tender approach that’s so viscerally connected with her collaborators, into an objective, external view that ultimately takes us on a short journey of a collaborative experience with her.
This project was captured on 35mm film, with a small crew in Karolina’s home studio over a short, yet fulfilling evening of dancers, filmmakers, photographers and artists at play, enjoying the opportunity to create and collaborate together.
Haya Waseem
Director/Editor
Born in Pakistan and raised in Switzerland, Haya Waseem grew up with a fascination for people and places, igniting her passion for storytelling. Her work focuses on capturing honest characters and visuals that embark on an emotional journey. Her shorts have screened at several festivals including TIFF, Berlinale and Cannes.
Diego Guijarro Alvarez
Cinematographer
Born in Madrid, Diego moved to Canada in 2009. He graduated from the Media Arts program at Sheridan College in 2015 with a focus on cinematography. That same year he won the CSC award for outstanding cinematography on a student film. Since then, his interest in the medium has only grown in both the celluloid and digital world with a focus on character based story telling.
Nick Grimshaw
Composer
Nick Grimshaw is a Canadian composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto. Nick crafts his sounds by combining acoustic and electronic instruments in unique ways. His work can be heard in movies, television shows and advertisements and seen live at concerts and art exhibits.
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