Dark Matter

Dark Matter is a film that presents riddles that we as humans need to go through for it to be fully realized. If there were no wrong ,how would you recognize the right ? Without recognizing the sin, how would you know if it’s a virtue? Without the existence of evil deeds, how would you recognize goodness?

In the depths of UNBOUNDED POTENTIAL (Moses Alcid) a spark of curiosity gave birth to PRESENCE (Desmond Richardson). On his (PRESENCE) journey he moves through “Dark Matter” , one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. Opposing this is FEAR (Brit Hay) that manifests herself (FEAR) relentlessly scratching at the surface of his (PRESENCE) mind. PRESENCE must face this force, become one with it and transcend towards his highest self.

Dark Matter tells a story of a soul going through the pathways of darkness in order for it to progress towards a higher plane of existence. Light can only be seen upon attainment of the highest level of our evolution. Light can only be fully appreciated because of its co-existence with darkness. Hence, DARK MATTER...

  • Brian Thomas
    Director
    Check https://www.brianthomasfilms.com/
  • Brian Rubiano
    Producer
    Brian Thomas (Producer); Brian Rubiano (Post-Producer);
  • Desmond Richardson (Main Character)
    Key Cast
    "PRESENCE"
    An iconic American Dance Professional who has mastered a wide range of dance forms and continues to give back as a Master Teacher worldwide. Richardson is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and has graced the covers of various publications he was the first African American Principal dancer of American Ballet Theater a principal dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance theater , Frankfurt Ballet and a featured guest performer with world renown companies Teatro al la Scala, Bolshoi Ballet and Mariinsky theater. He is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed Complexions Contemporary Ballet, a Tony Award nominee as a Broadway performer and has received the Capezio, Bessie ,Dance Magazine and is a recent honorary Doctorate Recipient from the University of the Arts in North Carolina.
  • Moses Alcid (Supporting)
    Key Cast
    "UNBOUNDED POTENTIAL"
  • Brit Hay (Supporting)
    Key Cast
    "FEAR"
  • Brian Thomas
    Editor
  • Johnny Tsang
    Director of Photography
  • Edward Martin
    Original Music
  • Matthew Griffin
    Costume Masks
  • Charles Zambrano
    Make-Up
  • Chris Newsome
    Other Creative Crew
  • Kyle Thomas
    Other Creative Crew
  • Kristina Martinez
    Other Creative Crew
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media, Other
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 57 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    12,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (Sony FS7 422HQ)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2020 Concepcion Independent Film Awards
    Concepción, Bío Bío
    Chile
    WINNER - Best Experimental Short Category
  • 2020 La Dolce Vita Cine Roma
    Rome
    Italy
    Outstanding Achievement Award - Best Short Film Category
  • 2020 La Dolce Vita Cine Roma
    Rome
    Italy
    Outstanding Achievement Award- Best Director Category
  • 9th Season of World Film Carnival

    Singapore
    OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Short Films Category
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    Award of Excellence- Special Mention
  • The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
    Cleveland, Ohio
    United States
    2nd place Experimental Short Film Category
  • Madras Independent Film Festival
    Chennai
    India
    Best Editing
  • 2020 Frostbite International Indie Fest
    Colorado Springs, Colorado
    United States
    WINNER- Best Art Direction (July 2020)
  • 2020 Moving Images videodance festival
    Nicosia
    Cyprus
    Official Selection
  • 2020 Top Indie Film Awards
    Tokyo
    Jersey
    WINNER- Best Original Idea
  • 2020 Top Indie Film Awards
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Nominee- Best Experimental Short
  • 2020 Top Indie Film Awards
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Nominee-Best Director
  • 2020 Top Indie Film Awards
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Nominee - Best Cinematography
  • Dumbo Film Festival
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • 2020 Anatolia International Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    Official Selection
  • 2020 San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2020 InShadow ScreenDance Film Festival
    Lisbon
    Portugal
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Brian Thomas

Brian was nominated for an Emmy Award for his choreography for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special and received outstanding recognition from the national academy of television arts and sciences (Emmy Award) for his 10 years working as lead choreographer for PBS series, Sesame Street in 2010-2011. He was the Creative and Associate Director for Cirque Times Square for Cirque du Soleil. Brian is also the Producer/Director/Editor of the documentary Amy’s Victory Dance by SpinKick Pictures a company he owns and operates and was recently selected on Reel Abilities Film Fest New York and had its premiere virtual screening in April of 2020. He is also currently working on another documentary film project entitled FollowLeadLOVE under Transend'Daens Production

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Everything in life is a movement towards our wholeness” -Tao Te Ching

I created the short film “Dark Matter”, after a series of events that completely turned my life upside down. I severely injured my back during a dance rehearsal and was left jobless. The dance studio I taught for over 15 years gave my class away and my choreography agency was undergoing restructuring of owners/management.

I approached my long time friend at that time who was starting a new agency about me becoming one of her agents. All the while I was thinking that becoming an agent will be a good transition for me from working as a professional dancer. That friend and I agreed for me to learn the ins and outs of being an agent without compensation for a year. However, after all the hardwork and dedication I put in to her agency (without pay), she decided that hiring an intern will be better and she will not be needing me anymore.

I consider that as one of my darkest hour knowing not only I felt betrayed by a person that I fully trusted. I went and experienced that dark place from within which I now call DARK MATTER. After a lot of patient introspections, looking from within me, glimmer of HOPE started to manifests. At that moment, I finally realized that darkest moment in my life is actually a GIFT.

At my core I am an artist and I have always wanted my own creative. I took the leap of faith, got a loan and started my own company...SpinKick Pictures in year 2017 and I couldn't be much happier for I know this is the path I am meant to be on.

This short film Dark Matter represents that moment of my life. It is a realization of if there is no dark, how would you know what is light?