CHELSEA BAKEN

I never felt totally welcome in phys-ed class. The gym was a brightly-lit box, meant to constrain and highlight my shortcomings as an athlete and thus as a male. Yet when night would come, and the basketball court darkened for a middle-school dance, I let my freak flag fly. In my rhinestone-studded AC/DC shirt and tie-dye flare jeans, I was me (me then) to the max. Even though I flirted with girls, grinding on Lisa and toying with her thong to "Bills, Bills, Bills", the gym could also be my sanctuary of mixed-feelings. Ever since I can remember, I've relied on music and dance to express myself and communicate something about who/where I am at that time, how I feel, etc. Thomas is professionally trained and a master of both song and movement, but I get by with what I have. Sometimes singing and dancing is the only thing I know how to do. This film we made was about people... and sharing. Sharing a space, sharing a moment, sharing a piece of the American flag cake. It took years of new friends, old friends, lost friends and a changing America to be able to tell this story, but it's here and I thank everyone who let us dance them to the bone for hours. Director: Michael Scanlon + Thomas Gibbons Producer: Serie Yoon Director of Photography: Matt Clegg Choreographor: Thomas Gibbons Editor: Michael Scanlon Casting: Tasha Tongpreecha Makeup: Erin Greene Styling: Kat Typaldos Graphics: Zan Goodman Color: Alex Bickel Props: Chelsea Baken