In a world where dance shapes reality, aging virtuoso Sensei celebrates his protégé Juno’s debut. As Sensei’s ego flares, Juno’s uncanny mirroring ignites a surreal showdown. Both dancers manipulate their surroundings – Sensei’s massive marble monuments clashing with Juno’s fluid, avant-garde experiments. Trapped by past glories, Sensei struggles with fading stardom while Juno’s innovative talent blooms. Their relationship evolves from mentorship to dangerous power play, peaking in a breathtaking aerial duel. Sensei puppeteers Juno, unaware their connection works both ways. In attempting to control Juno, Sensei unknowingly orchestrates his own downfall.
WHY IT WAS MADE
Through making the film, Tom Gera processed toxic mentorship experiences – people who controlled everything from his work to personal life, constantly pressing that he needed them. Gera hopes that creatives can relate to finding balance between carving your own path and following experience.
Rather than another coming-of-age story, Gera chose the mentor’s perspective – exploring what happens when your protégé surpasses you and ego becomes enemy. “Yes, I’m getting older too!”
MOTION AS STORYTELLING
Dance became their dialogue. But Gera pushed further: what if dancers could reshape environment through movement? Space manipulation mirrors relationship manipulation.
THE TECHNIQUES
Working with The Movers Amsterdam, they translated psychology into choreography in one long rehearsal day. Once dancers understood power dynamics, they ditched written dialogue for pure movement.
VISUALS
3D scanning for statue gardens representing distorted self-perception, AI with ComfyUI/Midjourney, Unreal Engine for aerials, Gaussian splatting for reality-warping.
On 5K budget, Gera handled all 92 VFX shots using “one shot a day” approach.
HEADS Written & Directed by: Tom Gera Director of Photography: Stef Kwinten Produced by: Hannah Padding @ Bandit Amsterdam, Tom Gera Editor: Sam Massenberg Music Composition: Bertus Pelser Choreographer: Lo Walther Boer Casting & Movement Direction: Nicola Hepp @ The Movers Amsterdam Casting Extras: Sandra Houthuijs @ 4 de Gelegenheid
SHOOT Steadicam operator: Max Franken 1st AC & Focus Puller: Marjoke Haagsma Gaffer: Blaine Bradley Electrician: Rikke van der Heul, Frits Schreefel Electrician Assistant: Abira Wirawan, Jeroen van Ringen Sound Technician: Casper Corba @ SPOOK Stills Photography: Ioana Enescu Extras: Aldo Zuddas, Dyami Haveman, Joop Hart, Mike Meijnhard
POST Visual Effects: Tom Gera Additional Visual Effects: Joeri Teijma, Joren van Suijlekom Grading: Ruben Labree Sound Design: Bertus Pelser Viola: Yanna Pelser Sound Studio Facilities:Amp.Amsterdam Assistent 3D Scanning: Ana-Maria Cojocaru VFX supervisor on Set: Wilbert van Veldhuizen Calligraphy: Sabina Kipara
SPECIAL THANKS Camera Rentals & Lightunit: Lites Film
Remco Groenhuijzen, Stichting Ruigoord, KRAGTgroep, Café Modern, Tobias Corba, Erwin van den IJssel, Emmanuel Adjei, Sara Woods, Marlyn van Erp, Bertus Pelser Amp.Studio
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THE FILM
In a world where dance shapes reality, aging virtuoso Sensei celebrates his protégé Juno’s debut. As Sensei’s ego flares, Juno’s uncanny mirroring ignites a surreal showdown. Both dancers manipulate their surroundings – Sensei’s massive marble monuments clashing with Juno’s fluid, avant-garde experiments. Trapped by past glories, Sensei struggles with fading stardom while Juno’s innovative talent blooms. Their relationship evolves from mentorship to dangerous power play, peaking in a breathtaking aerial duel. Sensei puppeteers Juno, unaware their connection works both ways. In attempting to control Juno, Sensei unknowingly orchestrates his own downfall.
WHY IT WAS MADE
Through making the film, Tom Gera processed toxic mentorship experiences – people who controlled everything from his work to personal life, constantly pressing that he needed them. Gera hopes that creatives can relate to finding balance between carving your own path and following experience.
Rather than another coming-of-age story, Gera chose the mentor’s perspective – exploring what happens when your protégé surpasses you and ego becomes enemy. “Yes, I’m getting older too!”
MOTION AS STORYTELLING
Dance became their dialogue. But Gera pushed further: what if dancers could reshape environment through movement? Space manipulation mirrors relationship manipulation.
THE TECHNIQUES
Working with The Movers Amsterdam, they translated psychology into choreography in one long rehearsal day. Once dancers understood power dynamics, they ditched written dialogue for pure movement.
VISUALS
3D scanning for statue gardens representing distorted self-perception, AI with ComfyUI/Midjourney, Unreal Engine for aerials, Gaussian splatting for reality-warping.
On 5K budget, Gera handled all 92 VFX shots using “one shot a day” approach.
Check out the process reel here:
_______________________________________________________________________________
Credits:
CAST
Sensei: Jorge Nozal
Juno: Masao Dae Parris
HEADS
Written & Directed by: Tom Gera
Director of Photography: Stef Kwinten
Produced by: Hannah Padding @ Bandit Amsterdam, Tom Gera
Editor: Sam Massenberg
Music Composition: Bertus Pelser
Choreographer: Lo Walther Boer
Casting & Movement Direction: Nicola Hepp @ The Movers Amsterdam
Casting Extras: Sandra Houthuijs @ 4 de Gelegenheid
SHOOT
Steadicam operator: Max Franken
1st AC & Focus Puller: Marjoke Haagsma
Gaffer: Blaine Bradley
Electrician: Rikke van der Heul, Frits Schreefel
Electrician Assistant: Abira Wirawan, Jeroen van Ringen
Sound Technician: Casper Corba @ SPOOK
Stills Photography: Ioana Enescu
Extras: Aldo Zuddas, Dyami Haveman, Joop Hart, Mike Meijnhard
POST
Visual Effects: Tom Gera
Additional Visual Effects: Joeri Teijma, Joren van Suijlekom
Grading: Ruben Labree
Sound Design: Bertus Pelser
Viola: Yanna Pelser
Sound Studio Facilities: Amp.Amsterdam
Assistent 3D Scanning: Ana-Maria Cojocaru
VFX supervisor on Set: Wilbert van Veldhuizen
Calligraphy: Sabina Kipara
SPECIAL THANKS
Camera Rentals & Lightunit: Lites Film
Remco Groenhuijzen, Stichting Ruigoord, KRAGTgroep, Café Modern, Tobias Corba, Erwin van den IJssel, Emmanuel Adjei, Sara Woods, Marlyn van Erp, Bertus Pelser
Amp.Studio
Instagram: @tom.gera