Caswell Coggins’s second dance film for the Channel 4 arts strand Random Acts is The Estate, a mesmerising piece choreographed and featuring contemporary dance group the BalletBoyz which skilfully brings the laws of nature smoothly into a brutally urban setting. It’s shot by Deane Thrussell, with music scored by the director’s regular collaborator MEANRED.

“I wanted to film on a generic housing estate that could be anywhere in the country, and we ended up shooting in East London,” says Caswell. “I created the film with the BalletBoyz – William Trevitt and Michael Nunn – and with only one shooting day available, Billy and Michael worked closely with their dancers to adapt and improvise the choreography into the actual landscape of that estate.

“I asked the BalletBoyz to base their choreography loosely on the idea of vultures circling a dying animal, feeling their excitement and anticipation as they gather to feed, waiting for the moment to strike. I was particularly interested in the distinctive head movements the birds make. I thought they would instil a real sense of visual menace.

“The central figure of the dying man is inconsequential; expendable. The ESTATE just goes about its business.”

The Estate
Director: Caswell Coggins
1st AD: Sascha Marden
Producer: Mike Carr
Prod co: Crossfire Productions
Choreography: The BalletBoyz
Music: MEANRED
BalletBoyz performers: Matt Rees, Leon Poulton, Edward Pearce, Anthony Middleton, Miguel Esteves, Adam Kirkham, Luke Divall
DoP: Deane Thrussell
Focus puller: Ran Geffen
Steadicam: Billy Trevitt
Art director: Bobbie Cousins
Wardrobe stylist: Richard Simpson
Make up artist: Bianca Pereira
Editor: Toby Conway Hughes
Colourist: Simone Grattarola
Watch: Random Acts website