0082

What an honest response! I initially project myself onto her, a Kuleshov effect of the self, but with every loop I lose more of myself and wonder: maybe she is lying, hiding, condescending. I get lost in the repetition, hoping the next shot will anchor me.

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0081

Every new encounter begins with assumptions, but we rarely get the chance to test them. There isn’t much space for actors to explore while sitting down, and Berkley here uses the full depth. If someone did that to me, I would be intimidated.

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0080

A job? So you mean indefinitely?
Only at the lowest of the low will an artist pursue a job. They would rather comment on one looped shot per day from an iconic 90s film than get a job. For purpose. Unless, maybe, their mum asks them nicely?

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0079

It took us almost three weeks and finally we have her full attention. The small head tilt and steady gaze, designed acting work, work great in the edit but in this loop they lose to the rib-eating lady in the background. Vicious performance.

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0078

Cutting on every line, this is not real Hollywood cinema, this is television. But somehow Verhoeven is adopting pulp tropes, assimilating a visual language that allows for the B-movie acting. sprinkled with moments of awesome. But I’m not sure yet.

#ShowgirlsAShotADay #Showgirls

0077

And what if you are angry? The lights of Vegas will still flicker behind you, and the extras in the background will keep sharing food. You are possibly an extra in their story. Big gulps of sugary soda don’t help in this state. But what does?

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0076

“Look” is a fair request. She gives the recognisable parental sigh of “I’ve had enough of you, but you’re still my child.” Looking is the one thing we can ask of children: point to the world, observe and understand. Urging the audience to do the same. In loops.

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0075

The idea of the drifter, but this time drenched in the American dream of soda and fries. She tries to shake it off but cannot resist a sip from the bucket of a drink, admitting to being an outsider. And suddenly her tantrum has a cause.

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0074

For a moment she had her, she could almost open up, but now the camera pulls back. She missed her chance. I mean, what kind of question is that? of course she comes from the East, from where the sun rises. Get it? Nomi, the rising star?

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0073

Upset because the information doesn’t matter, the question is unimportant, or because the camera has veered too close, looking for answers in her eyes. But we are not listening. She stated it clearly: she wants to dance. Stop wasting her time.

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0072

In contrast, we get normal film eating: tiny mouthfuls that allow the performer to act. We still do not know her name. Like us in the audience, she is a simple peasant under the glowing radiance of Nomi.

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0071

Shot by shot, the camera is getting closer to Nomi. This is not just the aim of every character in the story, but of the film itself. The balance is delicate, and any wrong move could blow our chances. Nomi is eating like there is no tomorrow.

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0070

The repetition of shots of the same size creates equality between characters, but is it really equality we seek in relationships? Is Nomi looking for a friend, a mother or an opportunity? The distance between what we want and what we deserve can be vast.

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0069

The glowing red light is bright on her face and seems to be between them now, the warmth of a new connection as Nomi’s defences break. She denies us her eyes, proof she is vulnerable. Hoping for an extreme closeup soon to compensate us.

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0068

A friendly face is always beaming, and the brave ones will approach you in the playground and ask for true friendship. Despite her face obscured by her hair and hands holding the straw, the lack of blinking shows honesty in her gaze.

#ShowgirlsAShotADay #Showgirls

0067

Nomi has the look of a child realising what it means to be an adult, but remains determined to hold on to the innocence of dreams. “But.. but.. what about dancing?” The red light acts like a distress siren, her colourful pattern lost beneath it

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0066

First static close-up of the adult in the room. We do not know her name yet, but we are desperate for her wisdom and calmness in the chaos of colour. You haven't truly been to a place until it disappoints you. Welcome to Vegas indeed.

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