RARE BIRDS
Oslo. Broadcast 2015
Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. The making of Alexander Ekman's legendary version of Swan Lake, featuring every creative and technical department of the house, and 6000 liters of water.
PLAY SERIOUS
Paris. Broadcast 2018
Paris Opera. Making of Ekman's "PLAY," a piece with a nearly scientific commitment to the idea of fun, in the world's tightest house. The first crisis arises soon enough...
THE DIRECTOR NEVER RUNS
Berlin. Broadcast 2020
Staatsballett Berlin. Director Johannes Öhman confronts head-on a problem common to all great houses: staying relevant in a changing world. An examination of leadership and how contemporary sits within tradition.
Selected shorts
THIS FAR APART
A COVID-period commission for TV. Dancer/choreographer Ana Maria Lucaciu in a Central Park empty of people.
SLIGHTLY OFF STAGE
Another COVID TV short. Ana Maria Lucaciu and Nathan Griswold, Fly On A Wall, Atlanta.
10-MINUTE HISTORY: GERTRUDE EDERLE (Part 1)
A proof-of-concept: documentary through photos and memorabilia. Ederle was a phenom, the first woman to swim the English Channel. Voice, text and props: J.G. Rives. Photography: Lisa LaBracio. Music and cut: T.M. Rives.
OHAD NAHARIN: TABULA RASA
The groundbreaking choreographer in Havana with Malpaso Dance Company.
CENERENTOLA: STEFAN HERHEIM
Behind-the-scenes with the Norwegian National Opera, and Rossini.
MIKAEL KARLSSON: COW
Recording woodwinds in Dresden with the Bundesjugendorchester (German National Youth Orchestra). Karlsson organized elements of his composition around real cow vocalizations.
BARN DANCE: COW
Semperoper's Sangeun Lee and Christian Bauch performing a duo made for them. This is the only film gig where I got (accidentally) electrocuted by a fence.
IN SOME SENSE
Tilman O'Donnell harnesses Danish guitar wunderkind Mikkel Ploug for a curious piece of film. Shot in the celebrated Arne Jacobsen/Erik Møller city hall of Aarhus, Denmark.
IT'S QUIET
Staatsballett Berlin director Johannes Öhman weighs a heavy decision at his family lakehouse near Stockholm. For The Director Never Runs I leaned into repurposing ballet studio music to new effect: here you might recognize the Nutcracker "Arabian Dance."
HOFESH SCHECHTER, MARTHA GRAHAM COMPANY
Daniil Simkin brought these two worlds together, imagining a performance space that borrows its groove and energy from a rave.
WE ARE MESSENGERS
For Opera Europa. I have a soft spot for the Norwegian National. Can I film here? The answer always: YES. It's a big, happy house. How to sum it all up? Bizet doesn't hurt.
