EXI[s]T

"The darkest place you can live is within the depths of your own past."

  • Gina Marie Foxhoven
    Director
  • Brad Hill
    Director of Photography
  • Gina Marie Foxhoven
    Choreographer
  • Brad Hill
    Editor
  • Gina Marie Foxhoven
    Producer
  • Audrey Johnston
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    21:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Gina Marie Foxhoven

Choreographer and owner of a commercial property management company. Gina Marie Foxhoven lives in the balance of art and business, stripes and patterns. Starting at the age of two years old, Gina was enrolled in dance and eager to make an entrance. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Dance Performance and a Minor in Business Administration. Gina has a tendency to seek the odd adventures, and makes every job a challenge to excel and learn new skills. Whether it was being POM captain while also working at Hot Topic, taking a church janitor position while working at a marketing agency, working for the NBA and babysitting OKC Thunder basketball player’s children while traveling for choreography - Gina has always taken her own path and found balance in the contrast. She now owns a commercial real estate company, Livingston Properties in Oklahoma, dances with R.A.C.E. Dance Collective and teaches ballet.

Gina’s choreography has won on National platforms such as American Dance Festival and National Dance Alliance. She has choreographed for members of the Pussycat Dolls, interned with a top dance company in New York City, received several scholarships to travel for dance and was named “FOX’s Dancer of the Year.”

In 2017, Gina created her first short film with dance, and it felt so right. Her aesthetic is dark, architectural, complex and thought-provoking. Gina’s current work, “EXI[s]T,” is an abstract memoir that manifests an emergence from the past. Gina feels pulled towards capturing metaphors by fusing dance with film - and letting the human body tell a story through movement. She plans to continue producing films that activate a visceral attachment to the story, envelop the viewer and summon internal reflection.

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Director Statement

“EXI[s]T” is an abstract memoir that manifests an emergence from the past. This film was inspired by the events and people that I was captivated by for so long - these forces clouded my judgement, my ability to grow, ability to love and my views on life. Facing the past meant facing the pain; I chose to embark on that journey through this film. The process was taxing, thought-provoking, messy (and prompted me to seek therapy...) - but the emergence is what I longed for. This film is what I longed for. I no longer exist in the EXI[s]T.

We faced many challenges during filming. The grave scene was a plumbing trench at one of my properties that was set to be filled the next morning with concrete. One of the young actresses had to leave the state for a few months mid-completion. The group dance scene was filmed in a warehouse that was *supposed* to have everything removed (including nails on the ground) and clean flooring to dance on. The sun set abnormally early during the final scene in the water - so we were literally racing against the clock and trying to get footage without yachts passing by.
All of these challenges still generated a film that exceeded our expectations. We are so incredibly proud of it and hope the world will enjoy our take on redemption. Thank you for your consideration, I hope you enjoy EXI[s]T.