The E-Press Kit For
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Welcome to the E-Press Kit for 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.