We had the good fortune of connecting with Nadav Heyman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nadav, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve been a dance filmmaker for the past 8ish years and had the opportunity to screen in festivals around the world, get reviews, win awards, etc., which is all awesome. But… after the euphoria of the festival circuit wears off, most dance films (mine included) are relegated to a slow death on Youtube or Vimeo. There’s no online home for dance films.

Until now.

Earlier this year I founded dancefilmmaking.com, a global, curated, online platform for dance films. It’s pretty damn cool, if I may say so myself, and quickly becoming a hub for inspiration and research. Basically, we’re the Netflix of dance films.

I also have to note that there’s an incredible team behind me that took my vision to the next level. Genna, Cheryl, Lorraine, Radia, Sinclair, Celine, Andrea… some badasses who are dreaming as big as I am.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a writer and director who does a lot of narrative work but also loves the world of dance. I have no formal training in film, or dance, or writing, so I think I’m most proud of my naivete that I can do these things anyway.

Nothing is easy, especially when you choose an untraditional route to your craft, and particularly when you have an introverted personality. I’m a networking sloth. It took years of persistence and careful social filtering to find “my people”. My collaborators and the people I want to grow with.

In the past couple of years, I feel like all the hard work has started to pay off. My feature screenplay, “Jackie & The Rats” (co-written by Erez Heiman) was voted a Top 50 script by the Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship, the Oscars-run competition. My dance film, “Old Man at the Corner Store” (in collaboration with Vacation Theory & LikeMinds) has screened all over the world and won the Audience Award at Dances With Films, Dance Film Festival Prague, Portland Dance Film Festival, among others. I founded a global platform for dance films @ dancefilmmaking.com, and continue to serve as a judge and board member of the LA Dance Film Festival. And, last but not least, I started getting allergy shots so I can finally be around cats again.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, I’m the worst person to ask about doing stuff. Let’s just get tacos, drink wine and talk about philosophy. Or play Catan. I’ll leave it up to you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to shoutout my team at dancefilmmaking.com. I had an idea and a vision to create a home for dance films, but it’s only with the support and talent of my team that we’ve come this far:

Genna Moroni – Creative Producer
Cheryl Mann – Curator
Sinclair O’gaga – Curator
Lorraine Evanoff – Director of Finance
Andrea Bracamonte – Content Manager
Radia Hennessey – Public Relations
Celine Kiner – Editorial Director

Like the old proverb says… if you want to go fast, go alone, if you wan to go far, go together.

Website: dancefilmmaking.com, nadavheyman.com

Instagram: @dancefilmmaking, @nadavheyman

Youtube: @dancefilmmaking

Image Credits
Cheryl Mann Photography

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