Artist Spotlight - Matthieu Belin

Throughout the years we’ve met incredible people within the dance film community. We have decided to do an interview series to spotlight these individuals!

Matthieu Belin is a Director based out of Shanghai, China. Matthieu’s film “ANIMA” was an award-winning film at our 2019 Film Fest.

How did you get into dance filmmaking?

Several times I attended sessions of the 5Rhythms Dance, created by Gabrielle Roth. I really like the philosophy behind it, and practicing it. Let the body lead and switch off the mind. Being able to listen to the inner vibrations and let them out, without regard to their aesthetical appearances. Living in China I was unable to find such activity for a while, but finally, a dancer from overseas came to Shanghai to try to develop activities around "Contact-Dance". The first time I followed her teachings I decided at the end to do some slow-motion videos of the other attendees with my iPhone. There! it was right in front of me, it clicked. As a visual artist, my main interest is to explore human nature and as much as possible try to unravel some of its faces.

What inspires you as an artist?

The work of other Artists of course, in any kind of field. I'm also fascinated by the light and how it reveals and gives shapes to what we see. I believe there is much more to discover than what we believe we are, so forms of meditations, introspection, and contemplation are also a channel of my inspiration.

What draws you to dance filmmaking?

The fact that there are no words, no logical story. That the body is the holistic element, that it embodies the message, the emotions. It becomes an art form in itself.

How does architecture or location play a role in your films?

Humans and cities are closely bound. Cities are made by humans, and our life is strongly shaped by the city we live in. For me, the architecture or the environment is like the psychological background of the video. It gives us a frame and some information about the actual state of being. I'm always paying attention to this aspect when I shoot. It is a crucial element in the composition of the image. *In the video you showcased you can see at the back the city of Shanghai, it has a huge impact on the imagery and the emotional aura of the video.

Choreography vs. improvisation? Which do you prefer and why?

A bit of both I would say, it is good to have a frame and gives certain constraints or direction to the dancers. When I worked on the storyboard of the video, it was clear that the dancers will improvise, though I had some strict ideas about what will happen. I kind of set the pieces and the rules on a board together and then let it happen.

List 3 adjectives that describe you as a filmmaker/artist

ambiguous, humanist, abstract

What is your favorite quote?

we are life itself

What do you want the world to know about your art?

that it is in process and that finally, I will be able to deliver my masterpiece.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

After a few years, I managed to find the time to do another personal artist video with dancers. I'm now in post-production and hopefully, you guys will get to see it. I find it interesting, it is a visual interpretation of the covid and the isolation it creates. More to be shared.

You can learn more about Matthieu at matthieubelin.com

Instagram @matthieubelin FaceBook @matthieu.belin.5

*ANIMA screened during our 2019 film festival.

Images provided by Matthieu Belin