This film is to remind us to stand united and continue to strive for a better, more connected world where all are respected as equals. We might think or look differently but in the end we are all human beings. We hope this piece conjures up some inspiration to act with strength and compassion in all of our daily interactions.
Let us stand together.
Director and Composer – Michael Marantz
Director of Photography – Tim Sessler
Producers – Jake Paque and Tay McEvers
Executive Producers – Noah Meisner and Michael Marantz
Edit – Nicholas Davis
Additional Edit by – Kim Pellnat
Produced by Already Alive
Spoken Word Written and Performed by – KAMAU
This is not the dream.
Divided and confused.
We dreamt a dream dwindling,
descending to where dreams die.
Somewhere between doubt and its defense
Lies a field of broken aspirations
A sea of not seeing because seeing is believing
And if we dare to truly believe, then we must commit.
Wake up!
We dreamt a dream a dream dwindling, an ember in the winter breeze,
Simmering,
Our precious fleeting freedom
the present I,
Present
Now is not the time to wallow in the trenches of despair
I said, wake up, wake up!
Our presence defies hatred
We must engage, we must build and protect self tenaciously,
Regardless of its casing, regardless of its color of its gender, of its belief
We must protect
we are soft but not weak,
We grow, learn, adapt, live
Like grass through concrete,
And Conquer
Every fear of difference with study, understanding, and gratitude for
The very breath that gives to any, gave to every
Breath is Breath, and of Breath
Love is…
Good Morning.
I said Good Morning!
Our work has just begun.
Production Coordinator – Ethan Lee
Assistant Director – Luis Restrepo
2nd Assistant Director – Isabelle McKusick Marantz
Assistant Camera – Filipp Penson
2nd Assistant Camera – Sandy SooHoo
Gaffer – John Hayden Busch
Best Boy – Vincent Davino
Key Grip – Jake A. Kump
Swings – Stefan Matwijec and Jose Bonilla
Aerial Cinematography – Brooklyn Aerials
Harlem School of the Arts Dance Team
Movement Consultant – Aubrey Lynch II
Dancers:
Brittany Alvarez
Eli Klotz
Isabella Soto
Nasrullah Abdur-Rahman
Adam Hemenes
Omarion Burke
Aoi Furutate
Post House – Joint Editorial
VFX Artists – Robert Murdock and Noah Poole
Audio Mixer – Natalie Huizenga
Color by Apache
Colorist – Taylor Black
A Very Special Thanks to:
Kaili Turner
Harlem School of the Arts Dance
Joint Editorial
Apache
Kori Darling
Jennifer Soto
Subha Ahmed
Alasia Harris
Cynthia Burke
Midori Furutate