High Heels
15 min dance drama
directed by Tonya Kay
written by Robert Beaucage and Tonya Kay
Natalia, a young burlesque hotshot accustomed to headlining, is shocked and slighted when the headliner spot goes to Momma Money Button, an elderly showgirl. Adding insult to injury, Momma requests Natalia help strap on her high heels for her. Seething, Natalia kneels and fastens a worn set of ballroom shoes onto the old lady’s feet - and leaves one of the straps unbuckled in a plot to sabotage her unlikely nemesis. But Natalia soon learns that the old lady is an Old Legend and is not easily thwarted once she steps on stage.
CHARACTERS
Natalia - 23, female, open ethnicity. Glamorous, technically trained dancer performing burlesque (no nudity) who can hardly believe how talented she is herself and, as skilled in dance as she is, she lacks the heart and soul that comes from a greater depth of experience than she has yet ... LEADMomma Money Button - 70s, female, open ethnicity. A Vaudeville Legend, performing since the 1960s, who is wise in experience, generous of heart, aged in body but still more than capable of wowing an audience ... LEADStormy Grey - 30s, any gender, black. A drag queen and the artistic director of the show - over-the-top fabulous, perfectly coiffed, creatively demanding and a bit out of touch with those around her ... LEADFranky - 40s, female, nonbinary or transman, open ethnicity. A talented singer, Frank Sinatra impersonator and a loyal friend ... LEADHarry - 30s, male, open ethnicity. A would-be circus plate spinner, bumbling, awkward ... SUPPORTING
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
by Tonya Kay
This story actually happened to me.The previous decades of my life have been that of a professional dancer, performing on Broadway, in Las Vegas and on tour. I'd been the young hotshot who took for granted her headlining spot on every stage and one night in Hollywood, I entered the theatre, read the posted show flow and gasp - someone had taken my spot! I casually asked whom was headlining (if it wasn't me!) and was introduced to an elderly showgirl in the dressing room. This arthritic exotic dancer asked me to put her shoes on for her since she "couldn't reach her feet anymore"! Shocked and bewildered, I performed my very athletic signature act on stage and waited in the back of the house to see what was so special about this senior citizen strip-teaser and WOW, was I humbled. When she stepped on stage, she exuded pure joy and boundless confidence gained only from decades of experience. She didn't have to dance on those swollen feet at all - she just had to let us behold her having that much fun entertaining - the audience was hers! Later, I found out this was burlesque legend, Satan's Angel, originator of the "fire tits" act. An act I had been tributing for years.That was the day I discovered how much I, and society, are hurting for not having a space to honor our female elders. We write women out as soon as they show crow's feet. We cast 20-something girls opposite 60 year-old men. As women, we do horrible things to our bodies, faces and social media photos to attempt to combat this severe and unchallenged agism while participating in the dismissal of our female elders - if even subconsciously - ourselves. I'm of the age I no longer have grandparents to sit with. And I don't see society recognizing our senior women as a demographic in dire need of representation. I'm going to change that with "High Heels"."High Heels" brings honor to every wrinkle, surgery scar and stretch mark a woman earns on her life journey and achieves this through the vehicle of classic vaudeville - showcasing a mature woman who bares her flaws onstage and has more fun than anyone else in the theatre doing it!Before this, I directed "The Ascension of Ava Delaine", a flash film created and completed in just 10 days, which went on to win the AT&T SHAPE film festival at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles, CA. I produced "The Journey of Lucy", an official selection at Toronto International Women Film Festival and winner of Best Actress in an Indie Film at Cannes World Film Festival.As director of "High Heels", I choose to continue my passion for movement by choreographing the camera like an intimate dance between actor and technology. For example, our opening weaves us through a cast of cirque performers warming up on stage and will be filmed as a continuous shot.The colors of Natalia’s solos will be crisp, blue neons with hard shadows, highlighting her cold and calculating obsession with perfection. But Momma Money Button’s world will contrast with grainy, warm, retro tones that bring out the heartfelt beauty of experience.As writer, I'm setting "High Heels" at a historic Vancouver theatre to honor the role the arts have played in our city through centuries and to mirror our storyline: the old and well-used are of the greatest value to culture.I am writer-director of this short because I’ve lived every character. I have been the young hotshot who has headlined every stage. I have been the mature dancer revealing scars after radical breast cancer surgery (last year). And most importantly, I have been a member of a society that has deeply needed elder women role models to mentor and guide us in body positivity, sensual confidence and valuable life experience.
CREATIVE TEAM
Tonya Kay, producer / director / story byTonya Kay's career started as a professional dancer on Broadway and in blockbusters. Expect to see dynamic physicality, choreographed camera movements and a fascination with bodies glorified in all their gross, hilarious and sensual shapes in Tonya Kay-created and directed works. Mentored by Birds of Prey director, Cathy Yan, Tonya Kay's film directing debut, The Ascension of Ava Delaine (Amazon Prime), was called a "ridiculously difficult" single-take shot entirely on drone and won the AT&T SHAPE Film Awards with notable funding at Warner Bros Studios. Her tv directorial debut premiered on The CW in Ripley's Believe It Or Not! "Curious Christmas" segment, which she also wrote. With an established film/tv acting career, Tonya Kay works quickly and powerfully with actors' unique psychology as seen in her latest directing efforts; thriller Every Digital Ghost, comedy Band, the Admit One series and a library of artistic music videos with contortionist / songwriter, Lyra Star.
Robert Beaucage, writer / co-producerRobert Beaucage is an award-winning writer and producer. Their first narrative feature film, Closer to Death, won awards on the festival circuit and Robert’s second feature, dark fantasy, Spike, premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was chosen as part of their Best of the Fest, won Best Fantasy Feature Film at Shriekfest in Los Angeles and has aired continuously by distributors such as Showtime, NBCUniversal, Starz, Amazon and Vudu. Their third feature, Raze, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by IFC Films. With the support of Bob Gale and NBCUniversal, Robert wrote and directed short film, Back to the 2015 Future, shot at Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios Backlot with cameos from several of the original Back to the Future cast members. It premiered at Universal CityWalk as part of the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary celebration and has millions of views on YouTube.
Robert Beaucage, writer / co-producerRobert Beaucage is an award-winning writer and producer. Their first narrative feature film, Closer to Death, won awards on the festival circuit and Robert’s second feature, dark fantasy, Spike, premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was chosen as part of their Best of the Fest, won Best Fantasy Feature Film at Shriekfest in Los Angeles and has aired continuously by distributors such as Showtime, NBCUniversal, Starz, Amazon and Vudu. Their third feature, Raze, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by IFC Films. With the support of Bob Gale and NBCUniversal, Robert wrote and directed short film, Back to the 2015 Future, shot at Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios Backlot with cameos from several of the original Back to the Future cast members. It premiered at Universal CityWalk as part of the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary celebration and has millions of views on YouTube.
Teddy Yonenaka, producerTeddy Yonenaka is an IATSE Department Head helping productions from studios like Marvel, Lucas Films, Netflix and Disney go smoothly for the past 31 years. High Heels marks his sixth film project with director, Tonya Kay.
Teddy Yonenaka, executive producerTeddy Yonenaka is an IATSE Department Head helping productions from studios like Marvel, Lucas Films, Netflix and Disney go smoothly for the past 31 years. High Heels marks his sixth film project with director, Tonya Kay.
Rogan Lovse, cinematographerRogan Lovse is an aspiring cinematographer with over 8 years of experience on a plethora of IATSE projects in both the lighting and camera departments. Rogan has had the opportunity to learn from a multitude of established cinematographers that have helped to hone his craft. That combined with significant technical knowledge of camera systems, from working as a 1st AC, has led to a budding indie porolio of projects. This year Rogan was accepted into the ASC’s Vision Mentorship Program. Rogan has shot many short films, music videos and other independent projects. Recently, he was awarded Best Cinematography at Vancouver’s 48 hour film competition, Run N Gun.
Believing in the mantra that cinematography is about making informed and intentional choices to support a story with images; Rogan is always looking for a new project to exercise and expand his creative skillset.
CONNECT
For project updates, follow production company, Kalopsia, on social media.For direct inquiries, contact breakaleg @ highheelsmovie.com.
