Nelson George profiles black ballerina Misty Copeland in his latest documentary entitled A Ballerina's Tale. George and director of photography Cliff Charles have launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the film - described as the "less frantic and more realistic" version of Hollywood's Black Swan - to life. Misty Copeland narrates the documentary which provides an intimate look at her career, beginning at the age of 13 at a Boys & Girls Club in San Pedro, California and moving to the American Ballet Theatre in New York City as a member of one of the leading dance companies by the age of 17. Misty Copeland is an anomalous standard breaker whose very presence challenges the traditional conventions of ballet; her cultural identity and body type stand in direct contrast to commonly held stereotypes dictating what a dancer must be in order to be successful. The film will examine the values of European cultural expression and the arguably irrelevant views upheld by an aging establishment against Copeland's steady rise. Along with the social critique, Nelson George offers rehearsal and performance footage shot with a multiple camera setup that brings the grace and captivating beauty of movement to the screen in vivid detail. Check the footage below to watch the campaign video for A Ballerina's Tale. Donate to the production via Kickstarter. Stay tuned for more.
