IMPROVEMENT CLUB
May 13th, 2010
A feature film by Dayna Hanson, currently in development.
Improvement Club is part of an integrated suite of new work by Dayna Hanson that includes her live, dance-driven rock musical inspired by the American Revolution, Gloria’s Cause. Improvement Club is a feature film tracing the fictional creation of the actual musical.
ABOUT IMPROVEMENT CLUB
An experimental musical scored by Hanson’s band, Today!, Improvement Club takes an approach to narrative that borrows freely from dance theater—musical interludes punctuate the story; dialogue gives way to songs, dance breaks and dreamy visual ideas. The film swoops from profoundly human, everyday situations to soaring flights of the imagination and back again in a kaleidoscopic story of love, loss and freedom.
A musical comedy itself, with generous doses of dance film and a documentary texture, Improvement Club focuses on the fictional creators of Gloria’s Cause. The film will draw from the live piece and delve beneath the surface of its creation, taking significant liberties along the way. While the script will be written as the live show is being created—and will be influenced by the real-life creative process—several fictional notions will guide the film’s plot.
Improvement Club is being supported in part by an Artist Trust Media Fellowship and will go into production following the premiere of Gloria’s Cause in December 2010.
IMPROVEMENT CLUB (short version)
Dayna Hanson: excerpt from “Improvement Club” from Dayna Hanson on Vimeo.
A short film distilled from elements of the feature, with performances by Dayna Hanson, Dave Proscia, Ellie Sandstrom and Trevor Stadtmiller.
2009
HD
Running time 5:30
Written and directed by Dayna Hanson
Choreography by Dayna Hanson
Featuring Dayna Hanson, Dave Proscia, Ellie Sandstrom and Trevor Stadtmiller
With Linus Mumford and Adam Powers
Camera by Benjamin Kasulke
Sound by Adam Powers and Ollie Glatzer
Edited by Sean Donavan
Post production by Trevor Stadtmiller
Created with support from 4Culture and Northwest Film Forum
