Twenty-five years to NOW

I worked in the film and television industry, and with a guitar design company before

I began this “labor of love” project, this visual and musical journey, this film expression

of my love of House Music. I am grateful to have been fully supported by some former

film colleagues and two new friends, during the process of filming my short film,

THE MUSIC GOT ME (TMGM)

Over a three-month period during the COVID pandemic I filmed a select group of House Music dancers in Brooklyn, NY and interviewed seven DJ/producers in New York City and New Jersey. My first interview was with two-time Grammy award winner, Sting International at his New York recording studio. My last interview was with the world renown producing duo, Masters At Work- Louie Vega and Kenny Dope Gonzalez. I am incredibly grateful that all three of these uber-talented artist's said YES to my request to be apart of this film.

I choreographed a dance sequence with a group of ten dancers from the New Jersey and New York City House Music community on the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY. I had a pretty good idea what I wanted the dancers to do so during the car ride to Brooklyn I made some minor revisions to my dance choreography sketch and reworked my interview questions for the dancers. We filmed the sequence in one day. The temperature was a

perfect seventy degrees with the sun peeking through the clouds. The dance sequence was filmed first and then I interviewed nine dancers in different areas on the boardwalk. We filmed with three-cameras and one production assistant. I met and hired our production assistant, Monique Medley one week before filming. Monique was a wonderful addition to my film crew. I was nervous but it was a great day in Brooklyn. It was a great day for the House Music culture and community. We did it. The music got all of us!

I am a native New Yorker and the soulful House Music community in my neighboring state of

New Jersey was part of my inspiration to tell this story. A story about a genre of music

that black and brown folks are the architects of!

In 2013 I re-introduced myself to the House Music communities in New York City and New Jersey. I found my "natural high" as I regularly began to attend events in New Jersey.

I shot many videos of highly energetic “dance circles” at these House events. It was during this time at these soulful gatherings that the momentum was building in me to tell a compelling story. A story about how House Music has changed and healed lives and injected a lot of love and camaraderie with people throughout the country. I wanted to film an exciting musical story about communities that come together to dance, dance, dance and listen to music that moves their bodies and touches their collective spirits and souls! I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless, to show how they've overcome their pains via House Music. I wanted to explore the symbiotic relationship between DJ's and dancers, emphasizing the importance of veteran DJ’s, producers, and dancers "passing the torch" and their love of House Music to the next generation. I want the world to know what House Music looks like and sounds like and feels like TODAY- throughout the states of North America, South Africa and Europe.

Life is poetry. Poetry is love.

Here’s my love poetry…

      Love,

      Change

                               By Kristen M.

Falling in love

Being in love

Love

Love with you at a time

And maybe again

Love will engage my mind

Love was at an intersection

Between the sun and the sand

In the beauty of August

As we held hands

Sun beaming in its glory

Illuminated with trust

Two souls melded into one

In front of some

As a rainbow formed above

The journey began

On the beach and in the sand

Vows read at sunrise  

As gathered hearts and minds

Witness “I do's” with no surprise

Then the road split

Remembering that the heart doesn’t have to

Reminded that being in love

And, being loving

Allows the love to live in me

Through me

For me

And that love is me

Love is you

Love is all around

We shift gears in life

Love is

Living through the seasons of change

Love still is

We change

We love

One thing always remains

Love is always there

For you and for me

Regardless of the pains

Love,

Change

T H E M U S I C

G O T M E

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