JR.
Dancer/choreographer Paul Becker recently wrapped production on his directorial debut Breaking Brooklyn shot on location in New York City. Paul co-wrote the feature film with his writing partner Rory Owen Delaney. Paul also choreographed the feature that stars Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman, Roots) alongside Madeleine Mantock (Into the Badlands,Edge of Tomorrow), Nathan Kress (iCarly), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Rosewood, Daredevil), Colin Critchley (Good Friday, Nowhere Ever After), Jack Noseworthy (The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe) and Catherine Curtin (Orange is The New Black). Donald Kushner, Elie Samaha, Missy Valdez, and Ged Dickersin produced Breaking Brooklyn.
This drama is centered in Brooklyn NY during the Christmas holiday, following a wide eyed aspiring tap dancer (Colin Critchley) and his rebellious older brother (Nathan Kress) as they find shelter in an old theatre with two forgotten Broadway legends (Louis Gossett Jr. and Vondie Curtis Hall), but when the credit union forecloses on their home, the two families help each other reconcile their past with the present as they band together to save a Brooklyn landmark. The film includes a collection of tap dance style of music blended with a mix of soulful Broadway and contemporary hip-hop.
Expanding his resume as a filmmaker, Paul is currently in production with the new documentary Last of the Showmen, which examines the life and legacy of Broadway showman Ben Vereen. Featuring interviews with Usher, Liza Minnelli, David Copperfeld, Shirley Maclaine, and others, the film explores Ben’s checkered history while documenting his efforts to return to Broadway one last time.
A protégé of famed director/choreographer Kenny Ortega – long time friend and choreographer to Michael Jackson and some of the biggest music icons of the world such as Madonna, Cher, and Elton John, Becker choreographed the Disney’s Adventures in Babysitting, which will be released this year and is joining Ortega to choreograph Disney’s Descendants 2 this summer. Paul has also worked alongside Ortega to choreograph the Ortega directed Jonas Brothers’ concert World Tour.
Born in Victoria, BC, Canada, Becker has quickly become one of the worlds’ top choreographers and creative directors, having worked on over 100 film and TV projects including Twilight, Mirror Mirror, and The Diary of a Wimpy Kid 1,2,& 3. Paul is currently the series choreographer for ABC’s hit show Once Upon a Time, as well as Syfy’s new series The Magicians which airs on Jan 25/16. He has worked closely with everyone from Kanye West, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, The Muppets, Michael Buble, Ciara and Latin superstar Pitbull. Paul was a judge and choreographer on Canada’s #1 hit television series So You Think You Can Dance and produced Canada’s Got Talent.
Further adding to his impressive repertoire, Paul is creating two brand new Ringling Brothers Circuses, directed the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto, and will be choreographing the Victoria Secret Super Bowl 2016 Commercial.