put the phone down

Logline

Jorge is faced with the dilemma of returning a cat to its owner as he struggles with his fears.

Short Synopsis

Jorge, a talented queer dancer, grapples with the isolation brought on by his social anxiety. Seeking solace one evening, he discovers an unexpected visitor in the form of a collared cat perched on his windowsill. This feline presence presents Jorge with a poignant dilemma: does he dare to venture out of his comfort zone to meet a stranger, or does he embrace the companionship of this mysterious cat as a new pet?Intriguingly, Jorge decides to use his exceptional talent for movement as a tool for self-discovery and courage. Through dance, he conquers his fears, finding clarity and strength within the graceful cadence of his body's expression and he prepares himself for the pivotal phone call that will determine his choice.

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Director Statement

Jorge is an antihero, an everyday human being trying to overcome his social anxiety. His loneliness and confusion are expressed while he trips and worries about social interaction, during everyday activities. A snorricam rig was used to express his discomfort as we followed him in the city of Nicosia. It expresses his social anxiety and his fears in a visual way as someone is watching his every thought and action.

When Jorge enters his personal space, Jorge appears in a safe space. The act of dance eliminates his fears and takes off the weight of anxiety he carries in the outside world. He uses movement in order to be human again, feel comfortable in his body, to share affection and love.

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"PTPD - Put the Phone Down" is a Fictional narrative short film with Ethnographic characteristics obtained from the gaze of queerness and fluidity in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. The characters, stories, and locations maintain a form of an essay toward the culture that the film expresses.

Production‍

Dance House Lemesos within the frame of Dance Throughout the Year / Cyprus Choreography Platform Parallel Events 2023