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While throwing out her memories, a paralyzed dance diva (now wife and mother), is confronted by her ex-lover/ dance partner, who shows her that the spirit of a dancer doesn’t die with the use of her legs, forcing her to choose between her family and an artistically fulfilling life from her wheelchair. TRT 29:59

I’d Rather Be Dancing A short film by Yvonne Farrow

Winner of ABC Entertainment’s Talent Development Scholarship/Grant 2003-2004

IRBD Nominated “Best Short” Pan African Film & Arts Festival 2005

IRBD Nominated Special Prize “Special Interest” Short Drama FESPACO 2005

Yvonne Farrow Winner “Best Actress” In IRBD for Monta Cummings American Theater of Harlem Film Festival 2005

I’d Rather Be Dancing a short film Written, Directed and Produced by

Yvonne Farrow

Winner of the 2003-2004 ABC Talent Entertainment Television Group Talent Development Program Grant/ Scholarship

One Sentence Logline for Brochures and Programs:

A paralyzed dance diva, now wife and mother, is confronted by her ex-lover/dance partner, who shows her that the spirit of a dancer doesn’t die with the use of her legs.

TRT 29:59

Synopsis:

I’d Rather Be Dancing is the story of a paralyzed African American dance diva, now wife and mother, confronted by her ex-lover/dance partner, who shows her that the spirit of a dancer doesn’t die with the use of her legs. The bitter choice between her family, her lover and an artistically fulfilling life from her wheelchair, makes this decision an intensely poignant spiritual battle between the three great loves of her life. IRBD is a soul searching look at what keeps us bound in our lives mentally, emotionally or physically and is a heartwarming testament to the human spirit.

Director’s Statement

I’d Rather Be Dancing is loosely based on a significant occurrence in my own life – a dance injury that left me barely able to walk, let alone dance for two years, at the prime of a dancer’s life. It was this crippling incident that inspired me to begin the long journey to getting this project made. This drama has had several incarnations – as a full length stage play, a one act stage play, a radio play, and now as a short narrative film.

I’d Rather Be Dancing was produced, in part, by a grant from ABC Entertainment Group where I was one of ten in the nation selected for their 2003-2004 ABC Talent Development Scholarship/ Grant Program to write, produce and direct my first sync- sound film. Larry Farrow, plus many financial and in-kind donations, got it finished.

I’d Rather Be Dancing is the story of a paralyzed dance star, now wife and mother, confronted by her ex-lover/ dance partner, who shows her that the spirit of a dancer does not die with the use of her legs, forcing her to choose between her family and an artistically fulfilling life from her wheelchair. The bitter choice between her family, her lover and dancing again, makes this decision an intensely poignant battle between the three great loves of her life.

I’d Rather Be Dancing is about spiritual and creative re-birth, shedding the old and becoming something new. It is a soul searching look at what keeps us bound in our lives and is a heart warming testament to the human spirit.

I’d Rather Be Dancing is my dream and marks my professional debut as a writer/ director/ producer. I am indebted to my cast and crew whose time, talent, and devoted service to realizing my vision, made this film possible. I hope the fruit of their labor will promote forward movement in their own careers as well.

My greatest desire, however, is that I’d Rather Be Dancing not only give voice to a community of artists that are grossly underserved – the disabled, but that it will serve and uplift anyone who has been disabled emotionally, mentally or spiritually.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Yvonne Farrow Filmmaker

YVONNE FARROW______PO Box 8566 Los Angeles, CA 90008 • 323-938-3258 (o) • 323-965-0658 (f) • [email protected]

GRANTS I’d Rather Be Dancing Currently writing feature film version of short film 2006 (29:59) Currently screening in film festivals nation wide and abroad Wrote, produced and directed in this short film through ABC 2004 Entertainment’s Talent Development Scholarship/Grant Program, Organization of Black Screenwriters, sponsor. PILOTS The Y Factor Produced at Wm. Grant. Still Reader’s Theatre w/Steve Duncan. 2002 Wrote original one hour dramatic television pilot episode. 2001 Vanilla Bean Wrote, produced and showcased at the HBO Workspace. 1999 STAGE & TELEPLAYS Autobiography Assoc. produced with writer/director Yvette Heyliger through 2003- of a Homegirl our production company, TWINBIZ, at several venues. 2000 Exec. produced at Hollywood Court Theatre, selected “Best 1996 Of the Weekend” LA Times, won a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs, additional funding from Bill Cosby

Oreo Wrote and directed 10-minute teleplay in an Act/Write Lab 1992 under the supervision of writer/producer Rob Dames.

Movements Adapted stage play for live radio broadcast at 1991 LA Theater Works, The Play’s The Thing Radio Theater Series. Aired on KCRW 89.9 FM.

Won Third Place in the Inner City Cultural Center 1991 Act II Short Play Competition.

L’Esprit Dance for Me Finalist at the American College Theater Festival 1980 through the University District of Columbia and produced at Howard University. 1981 SHORT FILMS The Eclipse Wrote. 2003 Movements (9:58) Wrote, directed, choreographed and edited on 16mm. 1998 Produced at the New York Film Academy held at UCLA. Nominated “Best Short”, Pan African Film Festival. 1999 Won Second Place, Black Filmmaker Hall of Fame. Aired on the African American Filmmaker’s Show. 2003

The Break-Up (1:58) Wrote/Produced/Directed/Edited at NYFA. Screened at 1998 Women of Color & Reel Alternative Film Salon in NYC. 1999

Vanilla Bean (13:30) Wrote/Produced/Directed, video. Exec. Prod., Gregory Hines. 1998 EDUCATION UCLA Ext. Writer’s Pro. - Selected for Advanced TV Episodic Workshop. 2003 - Won scholarship from Black Filmmaker Foundation. 1994 New York Film Academy - Won scholarship from Career Transition for Dancers. 1998 New York University - Received Bachelor of Arts Degree. 1983 Duke Ellington High School of the Arts - Dance Major. 1977 MEMBERSHIPS Screen Actors Guild Film Independent (formerly IFP/LA) American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Organization of Black Screenwriters Actors Equity Association American Choral Director’s Association WWW.TWINBIZ.COM Yvonne Farrow began her career in dance at the Duke Ellington High School for the Arts and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University while working with such companies as the Dance Theater of Harlem as an apprentice, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater III and the Clive Thompson Dance Company. She was also one of the first African American models of dance-wear for the Capezio and Danskin catalogs and still models today. Ms. Farrow danced in Tulsa Opera’s Porgy and Bess and Virginia Opera’s Harriet: A Woman Called Moses. During this time she also performed in such dance related features as Beat Street, A Chorus Line and Disney’s Off Beat and dance commercials.

Ms. Farrow is a professional actress. Recent credits include The Bernie Mac Show and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. She has recurred role on such series as Alias, Passions, Melrose Place, Models Inc. and South Central. Film credits include The Disney Channel’s, Gotta Kick It Up, Sexual Predator, the award winning Letter To My Mother, A Very Brady Sequel and Mantis, to name a few. Some television credits include Girls Club, Roswell, Pacific Blue, The Gregory Hines Show, Sinbad and Seinfeld. Some theater credits include leading roles in What Would Jesus Do? Sorrows and Rejoicings, Company Policy, The Visit, A Raisin in the Sun (where she won Best Actress) and Autobiography of a Homegirl and numerous television commercials.

Yvonne is co-partner in the production company, TWINBIZ, with twin sister Yvette Heyliger, where she writes, produces and directs with an emphasis on television and film. She produced a staged reading of her hour-long television pilot, The Y Factor, as well as wrote a half-hour sitcom pilot, Vanilla Bean, which was developed and showcased at The HBO Workspace. Yvonne’s very first play, L’Esprit Dance for Me was produced at the University District of Columbia. Her play, Movements, was produced at the Inner City Cultural Center, where it won the attention of LA Theater Works and was chosen for their, The Play’s The Thing Radio Theater Series. On screen, Yvonne wrote, produced, directed and edited three 16mm short films. Movements, an adaptation from the play, was nominated Best Short at the 1999 Pan African Film Festival, won Second Place at the Black Filmmaker Hall of Fame and aired on The African American Filmmaker’s Show. In 2003-2004 Yvonne was one of ten in the nation selected for ABC Entertainment Television’s Talent Development Scholarship/Grant Program where she wrote, produced and directed her short film, I’d Rather Be Dancing. This, her first sync-sound film, was nominated “Best Short” at the 2005 Pan African Film & Arts Festival and FESPACO, an international film festival, where it was nominated for the Paul Robeson Award, “Best of the Best” in the African Diaspora, Special Prize for “Special Interest”, Short Drama. A heavy favorite, IRBD is now a part of the permanent FESPACO film archives. Yvonne won “Best Actress” at the American Theater of Harlem Film Festival for her role as Monta Cummings in I’d Rather Be Dancing.

Also a choreographer, her ballets have toured around the world. She has worked with many professional, semi-professional and scholastic choirs such as The Choral Project, The Appelton West Singers, The Northridge Singers (which won “World Choir” with her work War Song), Gwen Wyatt Chorale, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers of LA, San Francisco Girls’ Chorus and the European Council of International Schools (Dusseldorf, Germany). Yvonne’s performance suggestions for She Take Me Money (Matilda), part three of Larry Farrow’s medley, Me Island: A Tribute to Harry Belafonte, are available through Hal•Leonard Corp., as well as an instructional video which she wrote, directed and choreographed. Ms. Farrow is not only a “choralographer”, but also serves as a dramatic coach and technical director for choral groups as well. For more information about Yvonne please visit her web site at www.twinbiz.com.

TITLES & CREDITS

Opening: Twinbiz Productions in association with ABC Entertainment Television Group Talent Development Programs Presents

I’d Rather Be Dancing A Film by Yvonne Farrow

End:

Monta Cummings Yvonne Farrow Aziz Kifano Stogie Amir Kenyatta Brian Cummings Sam Scarber Faith Cummings Paige McGhee

I’d Rather Be Dancing

Written, Produced and Directed by Yvonne Farrow

Contributing Director Yvette Heyliger

Director of Photography Charles E. Swanson

Producer Kathy McDonald Jones

Composer Larry Farrow

Editor Dean Hill

Sound Designer David Sonnenschein

Production Designer Natalie Perkins

Costume Designer Meredith Palin

Choreographer Kitty Lunn

Second Unit Director/ Stunt Coordinator Bob Minor

Executive Producer Larry Farrow CREW Production Coordinator Susie Talebi Production Assistant Alex Smith Production Assistant David Zelman 1st Assistant Director Scott “Guido” Sudduth 2nd Assistant Director Charles Michael Edmonds 2nd Assistant Director Christian Labarta 2nd 2nd Assistant Director Dixiana Rubio 1st Assistant Camera/ B Camera Operator Peter Soto 2nd Assistant Camera/ Loader Debbie Formoso 2nd Assistant Camera/ Loader Lisa Wolfson 2nd Assistant Camera/ Loader Laura Oberbillig 2nd Assistant Camera/ Loader Jajaira Corria Gaffer Warren “Zubari” Washington Best Boy Electric Luke Fisher Additional Best Boy Electric Matt Knudsen Key Grip/ Dolly Grip Bryce Fortner Additional Key Grip Theo Lacey Swing Electric/ Grip Beau Foster Swing Electric/ Grip Jeff Larson Swing Electric/ Grip Adrian Pedraza Grip Kris Kolstad Grip Forrest Sandefer Grip Nathan Tape Grip Gerald A. Vitatoe, Jr. Grip Caleb Young Grip Sitha San Grip/Art Dept. Amaro Shake Sound Mixer Oliver Moss Boom Operator Woody Stubblefield Additional Sound Mixer Lionel Ball Additional Boom Operator Jay Golden Script Supervisor Dale “Colonel” Franz Storyboard Artist Cynthia Ignacio Set Dresser Jason Fischer Art Department PA Michael “Boedi” Boedigheimer Art Department PA Robert Keith Art Department PA Brandon Penarande Key Make Up Artist Joyce Luck Assistant Make Up/ Make Up Effects Michelle Borok Key Hair Stylist Sherry Aporongao Craft Service Kimberly Todd Assistant Craft Service Nubit Arevalo Studio Teacher Nancy McKinney Extras Casting Director Sharon Hogg Still Photographer Larry Farrow Logo Tim James ALSO STARRING Doctor Randall England Nurse # 1 Jeanine Black Andrews Nurse # 2 Sharon Hogg Lula Washington Herself FEATURING Young Monta AnnJeannette Walters Theater Manager Tom Albany Career Counselor Joanne DiVito Pianist Andre Delano Roberson Reporter Joel Washington Photographer Monica Mercedes Vega LULA WASHINGTON YOUTH DANCE ENSEMBLE Asya Washington Jefferey Page Chris Bordenave Maya Ludlow LaCeda Nelson Sara Zibowsky Frances Cudrill-Comas Kristi Williams Michele Z. Hall Gabriella Barboza Sabrina Johnson Erin A. Sherlock George Banks William Wesley WHEELCHAIR DANCERS Autianya Pasqua Michelle Simmons THEATER AUDIENCE MEMBERS LeRoy Marshall Noemi Torres Julia Ling Barbara Barnes Colleen Redlich Aaron Bankhead David Redic Melba Tolbert Carina Lauren Yukilynn McElvain LaTanya Louis Terry A. Archer Sal Salas Amanda Ward Hollie Tucker Karen Gaithers Melody Campbell Cheryl White Mason Diane Sorrentino Jennifer Lynn WAITING ROOM EXTRAS Joseph LeMieux Theo Lacey Gennie Hogg Elizabeth Victorian POST Sound Designer David Sonnenschein Sound Mixed at Todd-AO West Re-Recording Mixer Tom Perry Re-Recording Mixer Bill Jackson Recordist Brian Lucas Post Production Services Laser Pacific Media Corporation Telecine Operator Frank Roman Color Timer Ted Brady

SONGS “HE’S THE GREATEST OF ALL” Written by Larry Farrow Performed by Bradley P. Baker Courtesy of Play My Piano Music

“I’M NOT LETTING YOU GO” Written by Larry Farrow Performed by Bradley P. Baker Courtesy of Play My Piano Music

“I’M STARTING OVER” Written by Yvonne Farrow and Larry Farrow Performed by Debi Anderson Courtesy of Play My Piano Music

BALLET CLASS EXERCISE SELECTIONS Courtesy of Infinity Dance Theater Presents Ballet Technique Transposed for Students Using Wheelchairs

“ROCKIN’ “J”” Written by Larry Farrow Performed by Thomas Young And Timeline Courtesy of Play My Piano Music

This project was sponsored by the Organization of Black Screenwriters and funded in part by the ABC Entertainment Television Group Talent Development Programs, Twinbiz Productions and with generous donations from:

Panavision New Filmmaker Program Eastman Kodak Company Todd-AO West Laser Pacific Media Corporation Westside Production Services TM Motion Picture Rentals Wilcox Sound SMS Generators Custom Darkroom Service Loyola Marymount University, School of Film and Television Danskin, Inc. Scrubs Lula Washington Dance Theater Infinity Dance Theater Career Transition for Dancers Barnsdall Gallery Theater Crenshaw Professional Dental Center Yvette Heyliger

SPECIAL THANKS Organization of Black Screenwriters Media Access Office/ EDD IFP/ Los Angeles City of Angles Church of Religious Science Sam Christensen Studios Hill Edit

VERY SPECIAL THANKS Carmen J. Smith Frank B. Gonzalez Liz Newman Jim Gaston April Webster Gloria Castaneda Candace Chatman Howard Levine Dawn Biro Tom Perry Sheryl Goodhead Jesse Kobayashi Rick Halpern Dale Olson Dean Terri Swartz Gay Iris Parker Jennifer Lavorante Erwin Washington Anisa Hamden Tom Albany Ann Geddes Steve Duncan Sam Christensen Rev. Dr. Robbie Smith Michael Ajakwe, Jr. Sonya Steele Marc Alexander Sylvia Franklin Oliver Moss Alison Taylor-Fletcher Brenda Bos Bobbi Mardis Kitty Lunn Andrew Macmillian Andre Tyson Christopher Huggins Caroline Ducroq Howard Hessman Abdoulaye Camara Cynthia Ignacio Stephan Wenta Antonio Lopez Michelle Rasheeda Thomas Carlton Jackson Revelynn Gold Kevin Brandon Joanne DiVito Siri Satnam Andrea Erwin Juewett Bostick Johnny Jones Tina Hill Mrs. Ammie Farrow and the late Mrs. Marian Barksdale The Barnsdall Gallery Theater is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department

Filmed with Cameras & Lenses provided by Panavision New Filmmaker Program

I’d Rather Be Dancing Is dedicated to my grandmother, Mrs. Julia Leonta Evans

I’d Rather Be Dancing Festival & Screening History (To Date)

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (Los Angeles, CA) ‘I’d Rather Be Dancing’, nominated “Best Short”

American Theater of Harlem Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY) Yvonne Farrow winner “Best Actress” for her role as Monta Cummings

FESPACO - Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou ‘I’d Rather Be Dancing’ was one of the top five dramatic shorts chosen to compete for the FESPACO Paul Robeson Initiative Award “Best of the Best in the African Diaspora” Special Prize for “Special Interest”, Short Drama. A heavy favorite, it is now a part of FESPACO’s permanent film archives. (Bukina Faso, West Africa)

African American Film Marketplace, S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase (Hollywood, CA) Black Diaspora Film Festival (Durham, NC) Independent Black Film Festival (Atlanta, GA) Sistas Are Doin’ It For Themselves (Hollywood, CA) Career Transition for Dancers, Special Alumnus Screening (Los Angeles, CA) First African American Film and Video Film Festival (Louisville, KY) Film Festival at Sea (Caribbean Cruise) Juneteenth Film Festival (Dallas, TX) Harlemwood Film Festival (Harlem, NY) National Black Arts Festival (PAFF in Atlanta, GA) Reel Venus Film Festival (New York, NY) National Black Theater Festival (Winston-Salem, NC) Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (Oak Bluff & Vineyard Haven, MV) Roxbury Film Festival (Boston, MA) Los Angeles International Short Film Festival (Hollywood) Oscar Qualifying Festival Metaphysical Movie Mornings – City of Angels Church of Religious Science (LA) Reel Backwoods Film Festival (Yanceyville, NC) The Black Man Film Festival (Atlanta, GA) Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY) Community Works New York City: Building Community through Art and Education Constellation Change Screen Dance Festival (London, UK) Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival (Decatur, GA) 7 Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival (Denver, CO) Hollywood Black Film Festival (Los Angeles, CA) Boston International Film Festival (Boston, MA) San Francisco Black Film Festival, (San Francisco, CA) BET – J Short Film Showcase, The Best Shorts (Cable Network Television) WGHB Public Television (Boston) Movies With A Mission (Atlanta, Chicago) International Family Film Festival (Hollywood) Organization Of Black Screenwriters (Los Angeles)

Sam Scarber, Yvonne Farrow, Stogie Kenyatta Sam Scarber, Stogie Kenyatta

Yvonne Farrow Page McGee

Yvonne Farrow Some Members of The Cast & Crew