AUGUST - Yaz León

Director’s Note

After hearing the story behind August, I imagined a movement-based MV to capture the dynamic between Yaz & her partner. Faithful representation of an LGBTQ+ relationship was a key question: how do we balance the sensitive, the sexual, & the playful, without my cishet perspective clouding (or worse, fetishizing) those dynamics? To address that, I worked with queer performer Pam to identify potential actors, & after an electrifying chemistry test, we cast Shalini & Erica. We then spoke with Yaz, where the actors shared how they might interpret the piece. To that, I’m endlessly grateful for their empathy and diligence.

On our scout, our DP Spencer & I found a secluded beach near a military base accessible only via boat. Upon testing the waters (literally), we felt that it reflected the song's mood perfectly (the context of an LGBTQ+ MV filmed near a UAE military base was also too poignant to miss out on.) The mostly improvised choreography was made possible by my friend/talented choreographer Marika, who taught me how to work with the actors to create shapes for certain story moments, & improvise in/out of those shapes. Throughout rehearsals, I’d also check in regularly with Yaz to discuss these moments & make sure they aligned with how she interpreted August. Right before the shoot, we made sure to rehearse on a nearby beach to acquaint everybody to the sand.

We filmed this MV one day before I left the UAE for good, so I’m unbelievably thankful to everyone who helped bring this to life. The outcome is what I hope is an honest portrayal of August: the fear of letting go of a space, & of each other.