Freeing the Hold
Freeing the Hold is a short film that meditates on what we sacrifice to touch freedom. The film itself is comprised of dances done without oxygen or gravity, completely submerged where the normal dynamics of movement are abandoned. The interviewers are Gary McGrath (2021 AIDA Top 20 Freedivers CWT Men) and Louisa Collyns (freediving instructor and senior member of many safety teams at freediving competitions). In the film, they discuss their relationship with the practice of freediving and movement underwater.
Filmed in Ibiza, Spain.
Director/Editor: Gabriel Forestieri Sound: Loren Kiyoshi Dempster Underwater Cinematographer: Valerio Perini Freedivers/Dancers: Gary McGrath, Smile Gonzalez, Gabriel Forestieri, Louisa Collyns
“Forgiveness”
Before Annie Goodchild, there used to be Sam. This realization marks the starting point for the release of the artist's most personal and impressive work to date. I Used To Be Sam steps into a complex journey of transracial adoption and self-discovery on their new EP - an explorative new collection of deeply personal, cinematic, left-field pop, all wrapped up in the singer's distinctively illustrious voice. To read more about this EP, please visit the artist’s webpage here.
Cinematographer, editor, dancer: Gabriel Forestieri
Music by: I Used to Be Sam
Music Producer: Novaa
Mix & Mastering: Dennis Keil
Video Editor (Lyrics): Rowanne Chang
Record Label: LAVICHI Records
Strings: Lisa Bause
“Golden Trees”
This music video began as a chance collaboration between Gabriel Forestieri and Underwater Photographer Tom St. George at the Aktun Ha Cenote in Tulum. Simultaneously, Gabriel and singer, Annie Goodchild, began to discuss making a video together using underwater dance. Sequences from the Aktun Ha shoot were chosen and a final edit was sent to editor Kyri Pasanen for some extra effects and coloring. The result is a beautiful short expression of light, color, movement, and sound.
“Golden Trees” by Annie Goodchild Edited & Performer: Gabriel Forestieri Underwater Cinematographer: Tom St. George Additional Editing: Kyri Pasanen
“Ocean”
Roy Shakked’s music has been featured on dozens of television shows over the years, including Sex and The City, Nip/Tick, Beyblade, Teen Titans Go!, Independent Lens, CSI Miami, and Greenhouse Academy. He has written and produced music for multiple advertisements and trailers and has composed scores and contributed songs to a host of films.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music and active in the LA singer-songwriter scene for nearly two decades Roy has also released multiple original albums, often under different pen names including Holmes , The Bright Wild and The Tao of Groove through his boutique music house, Groove Gravy Records, which opened its doors in 2001 and operates out of Los Angeles and Tel Aviv.
Underwater Cinematography, Choreography and Performance: Gabriel Forestieri & Meredith Sallee
Recording: Roy Shakked - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards: Blair Sinta Drums: Tim Lefebvre Bass Produced by Roy Shakked www.royshakked.com
“Somebody Break My Heart”
Seth Glier writes about the creation of this song: "I was doing some long-form memoir writings at a little picnic table about 20 feet from the shoreline of Fort Zackery Taylor State Park. When I'd feel something like grief or shame wash over me in my writing, I'd take a break by jumping into the ocean. Over the 2 weeks of rinsing and repeating this process, it became more difficult to separate the water from my tears and also myself from the water. I think the water supported me through the journey of my pain and I tried to write this song from that place. This is numbness pleading for feeling.”
“Somebody Break My Heart” by Seth Glier Video Performer and Editor: Gabriel Forestieri
Black + White screen capture of Gabriel + Louisa in Freeing the Hold