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An AI-generated artist will make his recording debut on the soundtrack of an independent film exploring themes of family and identity through dance.
Luca Ferrano, a digital entertainer developed by Hong Kong-based producer Stonedog (Evan Steer), will have his track “Hope Stays High” featured in Quentin Lee’s “The Way You Dance.” Vancouver’s 604 Records — the indie label launched by Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and attorney Jonathan Simkin two decades ago — has secured exclusive publishing rights for the film’s music.
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The dance drama-comedy follows a dancer returning home to care for his estranged father, finding healing and purpose through mentoring a diverse community dance class that includes a transgender teen learning to live authentically. Kyle Toy makes his feature debut alongside Tzi Ma, with the cast also featuring Josette Jorge, Roshan Gopalasamy and Harrison Xu.
Stonedog has produced five songs for the soundtrack, including tracks with drag artist Cleo Moans and other AI-generated performers from his digital collective. Lee is also releasing his first single as a recording artist, “Can’t Stop My Dream,” as part of the project.
Canadian Screen Award winners Cindy Au Yeung and Lee are producing through BC-based Margin Films Ltd., alongside Producers Guild of America colleagues Alan Chu and Kevin Huie. Jennifer Price and Colette Johnson-Vosberg executive produce. The film is shooting in British Columbia.
“When Quentin Lee, founder of Margin Films, approached me about releasing the soundtrack for ‘The Way You Dance,’ I was thrilled for 604 to be part of it,” said Jonathan Simkin, CEO of 604 Records. “Quentin and Margin have a long track record of bold, boundary-pushing films that champion both the 2SLGBTQAI+ and BIPOC community. We’re excited to work closely with them to ensure the film’s incredible music reaches the widest possible audience — while continuing to support the community it represents.”
“As a partner of BC-based company Margin Films Ltd., I am thrilled to be working with another top BC entertainment company to release the soundtrack for ‘The Way You Dance,’ my debut BC-born feature film,” Lee said. “DJ Stonedog, aka Evan Steer, an Australia-to-China transplant, and I came of age at the early 2000s queer club scene in Hong Kong and have been collaborating together since 2015 when I produced Ring Le’s ‘Big Gay Love.’”
604 Records has built its roster around artists like Carly Rae Jepsen and Marianas Trench and operates sub-labels for indie-pop, comedy and digital collectibles. Margin Films Ltd. won the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for comedy series “Comedy Invasion” and produced all-Indigenous comedy documentary “Rez Comedy.” Its sister company Margin Films, established by Lee in Los Angeles in 1996, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, with its first feature “Shopping for Fangs” having premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 1997.
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