Self Worship

When I was asked to direct Self Worship and saw Che’s vision for the project, I knew in my gut I needed to say yes. I was aware I would come up against some fears and insecurities of not only my own, there would be even more from the outside world. All the more reason to jump on board.

I was drawn to Self Worship because of it's ability to tell a story through dance and movement alone. What Che offers in her work goes far beyond her talent as a dancer -- it's a symbiotic relationship between the movements and choreography that she creates, and the message it reflects back to the viewers. Che was able to create a beautiful, compelling visual story arch in Self Worship that challenges viewers to their core and makes them feel powerful in ways they didn’t even know were possible.

In our first meeting, Che told me, “I don’t see myself in films. I don’t see myself and the work I do anywhere. I want to give women, POC, and the queer community, imagery and messaging that is real, unapologetic and vulnerable.” I kept this incredibly important statement as our North Star for every decision we made for this film. It was especially important in helping me work with Che and the other dancers in very tender, vulnerable moments of filming. We had to really dig deep into some past traumas to make Che’s story come across as authentic as she wanted. Asking people to be that vulnerable can be very scary. There was a very careful balance of pushing the boundaries we needed to, while holding space for people to go through big emotions. I knew it was necessary to guide them there, but also be able to pull them back out if it wasn’t safe anymore. It took a lot of sensitivity and trust on everyone's part to work together in that way. What came from all of that work was what you see in Self Worship. It's real. It's vulnerable. And it's fiercely unapologetic.

I can say with no hesitation, Che Che is a force. She raised the bar of what's possible, and showed me the type of person I hope to always work with in my career as a Director and Cinematographer. I have witnessed her drive and dedication, her integrity, and her absolute sincerity in everything she does. This project is a true reflection of a person dedicated to changing the game and telling stories that are refreshingly honest.

I am beyond grateful that I worked past my initial fears and chose to collaborate with such an amazing team. The end result is something I'm so very proud to share with people. Sometimes we have to push boundaries within ourselves to then help others know they can do the same thing. Our world needs that. It’s time.