COUPLES SKATE
by KALIYA WARREN
A night at the roller rink reveals the cracks in a relationship.
A hybrid dance film and rom-com, with a nu-disco soundtrack and candy colored visuals.
Get the vibe going while you read. A taste of the music we‘re going for.
“Stay Another Season“ by the Avalanches
OVERVIEW
Couples Skate examines one night in the world of a couple at a crossroads.
Sadie is always hungry for the next adventure, or hobby - and wants her boyfriend Ryan to share in that fervor. In this case, by joining her on the skate floor. Ryan is content with life as it is, and is happy to cheerlead Sadie from the sidelines; or, from the arcade. When they are in sync, the world sings. When they’re not, they’re forced to confront whether their love is enough.
The story combines two of my favorite things as a filmmaker: visual spectacle, and character study. We all have moments when we question our compatibility with a romantic partner - and we wonder how that affects the life that we want.
Roller dance seems like a perfect visual manifestation of this: when Sadie convinces Ryan to skate, they need to put in physical work as a couple to reach synchronicity. When Sadie pulls too far and too fast, they lose it.
Kaliya Warren
STORY + VISUALS
Sadie skates along to upbeat pop-disco, as she tries to master a new roller dance move. She’s not a pro, but she’s a quick learner.
As she gets the hang of it, and loses herself in the music - we transition into Sadie’s POV [point-of-view]: the lights dim, the music rises, and the world slows.
But just as she hits her stride, the song ends. We snap back to reality. It’s Couples’ Skate. She scans the rink with her eyes, envious of the couples pairing up.
Tentative, she approaches her boyfriend, Ryan. He’s holed up at the arcade, on a winning streak. “Wanna try again?"
Ryan is reluctant. Clearly, the previous attempt didn’t go well. But he wants to make her happy. He laces up, and they gingerly ease onto the skate floor.
They have a few hiccups to start. Ryan grips the wall for support. He worries,“I don’t wanna slow you down.” Sadie reassures him that she just wants to share the experience with him.
He braces himself, and follows Sadie’s coaching. Gradually, she guides them to a slow and steady glide.
For a beautiful moment, they’re connected. Hand in hand. And we’re back in Sadie’s POV. The lights dim, the music rises, and the world slows.
Lost in the moment - Sadie pulls further, and faster.
Attempts the move she was perfecting earlier.
It’s too much.
Ryan escapes her hand, and careens into the other skaters. Roadkill on the skate floor.
Back on the bench, this triggers a tough conversation.
Ryan wonders - why is it so important that they do all these things together? This isn’t him. Can’t he just support Sadie from afar?
He asks her, pleadingly: will that work for her?
Sadie contemplates. Is that enough?
It isn’t.
That’s not the the kind of relationship she wants.
They sit in silence in the realization together.
Clasp hands. Tender.
We cut to later on. Months have passed.
Sadie is back in the rink alone.
The upbeat disco comes to a stop. It‘s Couples‘ Skate again. She stays on the floor.
Self-conscious, she tries to force herself back into the zone. Tries a new move, but stumbles and loses her nerve.
A pro swings by her: “Keep going, you almost had it!”
Sadie braces herself, and tries again.
Pulls her self back into the zone.
Take She takes inpiration from the skaters around her.
The lights dim, the music rises, and the world slows.
The music has transformed into something more melodic, and classical.
The camera pulls out wider - to reveal a skater on each side of her, moving in synch.
We pull back further. Layers upon layers of skaters are performing in unison.
Sadie’s choreography is growing more expressive and raw. As her emotions crescendo with the music, we cut to black.
Skating + Dance
Stylistically, the skating will be a mix of realistic, unpolished moves - and slightly more surreal, “shuffle skate” choreography at the end, when Sadie is joined by the other skaters.
See the sizzle reel below for a bit of what we’re going for.
Potential indie artists we‘ll be approaching for the soundtrack:
THE DIRECTOR
Kaliya Warren is an award-winning writer and director. Most recently, Warren served as the Series BTS Director for Disney's OBI-WAN KENOBI, and as the cinematographer on HBO and Issa Rae’s feature doc, INSECURE: THE END.
She specializes in dance film, and her short REVELATION premiered as part of IFC’s Short Attention Span Cinema Series. Previously, she co-directed THE ROAD TO JUSTICE, which was commissioned for The Nation Magazine and premiered at HBO's Urbanworld Film Festival. Narratively, she was a Top-Five Finalist for Tribeca and AT&T’s Untold Stories competition, and her pitch for her feature EXPATRIATES received the $50k Fan Favorite Award. Her commercial clients have included Hulu, Vanity Fair, Delta Air Lines, and Facebook.
Warren is represented as a narrative director by Good Fear Content, and is also member of IATSE Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild.
PAST WORK
Directing Reel
Dance Film Reel
THANK YOU