IRISH FILM PREVIEW 2018
CinÉireann / January 2018 87
Described as “Boyhood meets Billy Elliot” the film, Step By Step, is an inspiring and powerfully positive story of London’s black and ethnic community living in the heart of the Portobello Road in North Kensington.
For the past fourteen years, award-winning filmmaker Ciarin Scott has been developing an in-depth feature length documentary focussing on the work of unsung hero Mark Elie and his dance school, Portobello Dance, in Notting Hill and the ever changing face of the neighbourhood.
Mark has devoted his life to black British dance, inspiring generation after generation to become role models. The film chronicles the work of Mark with his students, notably three unforgettable students, all of whom have gone on to have professional dance careers notably with Ballet Rambert and West End musical Dream Girls.
Step by Step is produced by Catherine Lyons for Atlantic Film Alliance, which Paul Duane as executive producer.
The film launched a crowdfunding campaign last year to raise its profile and some financing. It has also been partly funded by the Irish Film Board .
"The kind of film that we are trying to make - non-exploitative, positive and humane - is not generally in favour in mainstream television at the moment, and we don't want to water down the story or to create fake ‘conflict’ in the cheap pursuit of ratings."
Ciarin Scott
DIR: CIARIN SCOTT
PRO: ATLANTIC FILM ALLIANCE
STEP BY STEP
TBC