Tessa and Scott ~ cold / mess

I’d like to add a little disclaimer to the start of this description.
This video does not in anyway intend to comment of the past, present or future status of their relationship. I’m not expressing any definitive POV here.
Instead, the concept I was going for with this is to portray the mess of emotions experienced with any relationship.

For this video I took a lot of inspiration from the offical music video. Rather than telling a linear story, expose the fragility, turmoil and rollercoaster of emotions of a close, loving relationship. By intercutting joyful and happy moments with intense fury and passion, sometimes with more frequency than would be expected- the hope is this film produces tension and conflicting emotions for the audience, just as the subjects themselves are experiencing.

The simplicity of the lyrics and the repetition of the chorus, coupled with the growing intensity and desperation, acts as complement to repetitive structure of a partnership somewhat defined by 4 year cycles. And while the story of this film is not told linearly or literally as a timeline of their athletic journey, the repetitiveness instead gives way to the idea of coming full circle, and sometimes coming full circle over and over again. Running into the same head butting conflicts or experiencing both new struggles, and moments of euphoria.

As with the offical music video for this song, I incorporated the motif of light glistening on the surface of water. That idea of drowning, of not being able to breath, of wanting to express what’s in your heart but not having the words. For T&S, they have always said how much communication played a role in the growth and longevity of their partnership.. but where in most relationships, verbal communication is the only way the hear the other, T&S had dance. So where words did fail them, they could always take comfort in knowing their bodies would speak for them. The physicality of trying to reach the surface.

Where as my previous films have often spotlighted a component of/a concept used to describe their partnership, this film aims to (without commenting on their behalf- as I don’t know them it would be wrong to do so) get inside the heads of a relationship full of immense love, yet battling with all the fear and frustration of not living up to what the other deserves.
(Again- not stating that as a definitive position they hold) but rather the inevitable turmoil and battle with ones own emotions and the effects that has on your other half.

I wrestled with the idea of even making a film this deep and dark, with the fear it could be seen as commenting or taking a position on their relationship (which for the record- that is no one’s position to determine but T&S’s) but - as I always am; I was again inspired by their own desire not to shy away from exploring the darker, more tumultuous times of their partnership through their programs, like as portrayed so honestly in ‘Stay’ and ‘Latch’ and as they grappled with the end of their competitive careers, the intense raw emotion that went into every performance of ‘Long Time Running’.

The content in this film is purposely designed to be provocative. It is meant to occasionally catch the audience off guard. As I was making this film and putting a storyline together, I found myself, as visual moments attached themselves the emotional beats in the music, feeling like I having even the tiniest glimpse inside the heads of the people living this insanely unique and complicated relationship, and feeling for these two incredible, inspiring artists who fought their whole lives for each other. To protect each other. To be with each other (in what ever capacity that meant to them).

In a way, this film has roots in a quote T&S used to describe their exhibition program ‘Stay’: two very emotionally disturbed people.. longing to be together.. but can’t quite get it to work. Where as that program was the live, physical expression of that sentiment, this film hopefully expands on that idea as to chronicle moments throughout their partnership to expose the ocean of emotions experienced not just over 4 year cycles, but everyday as they worked through creating their artistic visions and striving to be not only the best in their field, but them best selves for each other- as friends, partners, humans.

I hope you all enjoy this film

~

I’d like to give a shout out to on of my followers on tumblr: @raraaaaa20 for suggesting this song. I have now been listening to it non stop for a month!

🎶: cold/mess - Prateek Kuhad
🎥: virtuemoir_forever
⛸: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
I do not own rights to the music or any of this footage. No copyright infringement intended.

Fan video content scorced from:
Virtuemoir dailynews, kim,

Thumbnail photo: source unknown

Видео Tessa and Scott ~ cold / mess канала vm_forever