Private Project

Becoming

Becoming tells a story of how we can emerge from a difficult time: better, stronger, and fully realized. Much like the phoenix, this story begins in darkness and ends in a fiery flight of sonorous bliss.

Created with support from the Saint Petersburg Arts Alliance, this project sought to bring together different forms of local Saint Pete based art with a focus on the performing arts. The film was shot in an abandoned bus depot that was adorned with artwork that celebrated the queer community during a time when state leaders were actively passing legislation to oppress such groups. Under the direction of Domenico Pontoriero, the production crew consisted of Caleb Baker as dancer and choreographer, Zach Moore of Coastal Creative as cinematographer, and Candice Stokes of LittleBull4You as stylist.

  • Domenico Pontoriero
    Director
  • Caleb Baker
    Key Cast
    "choreographer & dancer/performer"
  • Zach Moore
    Cinematographer
  • Candice Stokes
    Stylist
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Genres:
    Dance, Music, LGBT
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 7, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital/RAW
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Domenico Pontoriero

Domenico is an accomplished composer and pianist with many of his works released under the moniker "Boy in the Rain." Becoming is his first film project.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This is a very personal project for me because it was born from the feelings I had as I emerged from a deep depression. At that point in my life, I felt like I was becoming something greater - falling into my true form. The song I wrote for this film and the film in its entirety expresses these feelings.

But as the project evolved and collaborators joined, it became much larger. While it does tell a personal story of overcoming darkness, there's a lot of context in the setting and visuals we used. The film was shot in an abandoned bus depot in the rapidly growing city of Saint Petersburg Florida where groups like the LGBT community have been under attack from state politics. The scene, adorned with artwork by the queer community, questions the blind optimism of urban development. What do we become as a city - as a community? What place do we have in this rapidly changing landscape? What place does the queer community have, and how will we all emerge from the construction site that our humble little city has become?

While that context is important in understanding some of the nuanced layers in the making of this film, I pride myself in keeping the details of my work ambiguous and the emotion raw. I invite viewers to experience the emotion of this project and bring their own experiences into their interpretation of the film.