Alexa Meade’s art is the medium for visual storytelling in Color of Reality, a short film written, directed, and choreographed by Jon Boogz. Movement artists Jon Boogz and Lil Buck deliver performances that speak in powerful protest to the gun violence haunting American society today. Produced by Kalie Acheson of Animi.Design
For inquiries: info@alexameade.com AND info@sozomedia.com
Internationally-acclaimed artist Alexa Meade is famous for inventing a style of painting that transforms the 3-dimensional world of reality into what appears to be a 2-dimensional representation of itself. She explains her technique in her TED Talk “Your Body Is My Canvas,” seen by millions. She has exhibited her art across the globe at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, The Saatchi Gallery in London, The Grand Palais in Paris, and the streets of Tokyo. As artist-in-residence at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Alexa is pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Jon Boogz is a movement artist, choreographer, and director who seeks to push the evolution of what dance can be – sharing with audiences of all backgrounds an appreciation of the melding of art forms while inspiring and bringing awareness to social issues. Originally motivated to begin dancing by the painstaking choreography of Michael Jackson, Boogz embarked as a movement artist 15 years ago and soon thereafter was participating in dance competitions around the world. Since then he has choreographed work for numerous notable icons including ballet’s Mikhail Baryshnikov, Naomi Campbell, and Gloria Estefan.
His collaborations include work with the TriBeCa Film Festival, Lil Buck, and Bonobo and his choreography is used in the FOX TV show “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Cirque du Soleil MJ ONE show in Las Vegas, and he was recently featured at the Geffen Playhouse “Backstage at the Geffen” gala with his dance company Control Freakz and Lil Buck, honoring actor Morgan Freeman. Boogz’ forthcoming works-in-progress continue to seek to seamlessly merge movement with the world of fine art, film, and the stage.
International phenomenon LIL BUCK began jookin’– a street dance that originated in Memphis –at age 13 alongside mentors Marico Flake and Daniel Price. After receiving early hip-hop training from Teran Garry and ballet training on scholarship at the New Ballet Ensemble, he performed and choreographed until relocating to Los Angeles in 2009. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, his collaboration with Spike Jonze and Yo-Yo Ma performing The Swan went viral in 2011. This opened the door to collaborating with a broad range of renowned artists ranging from Janelle Monae to JR and the New York City Ballet to Madonna. Buck is acclaimed as a versatile artist and channels his creativity and charisma into works spanning the performing arts, commercial endeavors, and is a vocal advocate of arts education with a firm belief that art facilitates the learning of everything else.
International phenomenon LIL BUCK began jookin’– a street dance that originated in Memphis –at age 13 alongside mentors Marico Flake and Daniel Price. After receiving early hip-hop training from Teran Garry and ballet training on scholarship at the New Ballet Ensemble, he performed and choreographed until relocating to Los Angeles in 2009. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, his collaboration with Spike Jonze and Yo-Yo Ma performing The Swan went viral in 2011. This opened the door to collaborating with a broad range of renowned artists ranging from Janelle Monae to JR and the New York City Ballet to Madonna. Buck is acclaimed as a versatile artist and channels his creativity and charisma into works spanning the performing arts, commercial endeavors, and is a vocal advocate of arts education with a firm belief that art facilitates the learning of everything else.
From left to right, starting with the back row: Editor Charles Latham of Animi.Design, DP Kyle Stryker, Director/Writer/Choreographer/Movement Artist Jon Boogz, Producer Kalie Acheson of Animi.Design, Artist Alexa Meade, Set Decorator Ashley Snively, Movement Artist Lil Buck, B Camera/Ronin Operator Sinziana Velicescu, Choreographer/Editor Alec Clawson, Behind the Scenes Gavin Millette, Set Decorator/Behind the Scenes Abbey Sacks, Project Coordinator Liz Olenski, Set Decorator Britt Harrison. Members of the crew not pictured: Musician Wondagurl, Musician DBR, B Camera/Ronin Operator/ Special Effects Ethan Coco
“A powerful portrait reflecting the tensions of modern society.”
“In the lushly hypnotic video ‘Color of Reality,’ a quick tale told through movement and visual art, these men are dancers and their message is not just about social justice. It’s also about their art…Think of it as a van Gogh — that is, if one of his paintings were brought to life as a performative protest…used to inspire positive change and empower.”
“Stunning tribute to black lives”
