L.A. Dreamers

February 8, 2016 7:13 PM

Five Japanese girls meet in Los Angeles. They are far from home but they have same goal, chase the dream of becoming hip hop dancers. [SLVimeo]
posted by MoonOrb (4 comments total)

I liked this, but I would have liked it even more with a little more context, and with a lot more dancing.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 7:31 PM on February 8, 2016 [3 favorites]

Agreed. Sadly, I was hoping for a lot more dancing and a lot less editing. The close-up intercuts were especially irritating - adding little by way of context and robbing the film of a sense of flow and movement.

I realise this may tip my comment over into nerdery but I'd love some colour grading with less aggressive blues, as well. At times it felt like it was filmed in a petrol station toilet.

That said, I do generally abhor jump cuts in all their forms, especially close up like that, so perhaps just didn't ring my bell.

By way of compensation, I offer this thorough introduction to the Japanese hip hop scene, worth noting that the author calls out that hip hop arr vied in Japan through breaking and dance.
posted by smoke at 7:43 PM on February 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm afraid there isn't more dancing because that's all they could show without making it obvious that these are not very good dancers... But cheers to them for trying.
posted by nicwolff at 9:37 PM on February 8, 2016 [3 favorites]

It hurts how L.A. this is.
posted by boghead at 4:09 PM on February 9, 2016