“SKALAE” by Marie Zechiel

Movement Director Marie Zechiel partners with director I AM JOHANNES for this visual narration, which examines the resilience of humanity's enduring connections, that can transcend the boundaries of time and emotions. This short film pictures the ethereal world of SKALAE, which transforms the circumferences of our inner selves and the external world - illustrating the timeless and sacred bonds that thread through the very fabric of our identities.

The story of SKALAE follows an otherworldly character on their quest to embrace their innermost and ancient ties, that define their existence. Physical and emotional tensions rise in a delicate balance that leaves the viewer with the question:

“What is real and what is not?"

Marie Zechiel's visionary fiction creates a dreamscape where the synergy of movement, fashion and cinematography becomes a visual manifesto, a declaration that within the algorithmic pulse of the future, the heartbeat of genuine human connection must endure. Through unique visuals and evocative dance and movement sequences, SKALAE becomes a timeless capsule preserving the beauty of unspoken bonds.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

“SKALAE is a little universe I created in the shape of a futuristic fashion-dance-film and brought to life in collaboration with talented creatives from Berlin. It stands as my tribute to the profound beauty within the journey towards genuine self-connection and harmonious engagement with the world around us.

SKALAE (latin for „scale“) acts as a metaphor for the delicate emotional and physical balance we are all trying to achieve throughout our existence. Over time, I've come to realize that this perpetual quest for balance is a general theme in my art and this topic is present in all my works to varying degrees.

This film generally revolves around the question of "What is real and what is not?", a question that became rather prominent in our everyday lives due to digital advances. I absolutely do love creating (physical) illusions and technology continuously opens up new universes in doing so. But I really think one should never loose touch to ones true mental and physical self. “Real or authentic“ already did become a designation for a specific kind of quality: Something that soothes us and brings us back to our roots. Realness is needed to calibrate ourselves and to re-gain perspective which helps us to avoid loosing ourselves in (digital) imagination. For me as a performance artist, my core goal in my work is authenticity which also became my principle of faith in life.”

-Marie Zechiel

Credits

Concept and Creative Direction by Marie Zechiel

Starring Azza Bashir & Azama Bashir

Director// I AM JOHANNES

Producer// Irem Avci

Movement Director// Marie Zechiel

DOP// Maxim Westermann

Production// Yalla She Said

1st AC// Finnegan Wagner

Gaffer// Abhishek Kolge

Light Assistant// Luca Huether

Hairstyling// Béanne Da Costa

MUA & Nails// Fabienne Hoppe

Styling// Johanna Rill

Styling Assistant// Johanna Keuper

Music Composer// Andre Moghimi

Editor & Colorist// Metawaste

Catering// Dina Randriaminahy

Driver// Dilek "Chili" Sahin

BTS Photographer// Philomena Wolflingseder

Best Girl// Ufuoma Essi

Special Thanks to Konnekt Berlin, KAT KOAN, Jen Gilpin, Avia Shoshani, Joran Ost and Camelot Broadcast Services GmbH


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