Flying Revolution
Flying Steps
the story of a lifetime battle
Flying Revolution tells the extraordinary and inspiring success story of the Berlin-based breakdance group Flying Steps. The documentary follows their 20-year struggle for survival, driven by their desire to overcome adversity and provide a better future for their families. Through passion, dedication, and perseverance, the Flying Steps transformed their love for breakdancing into a global phenomenon, overcoming countless obstacles along the way. This powerful and moving film captures their journey, showcasing the resilience and determination behind their success.
The movie was shown in German Cinemas, iTune, AppleTV and on international film festivals.
Client | Flying Steps |
Agency | KAIZEN STUDIO |
Director | Steve Won |
Services | concept creationscriptproductionpost production |
from visionto impact
01
clients brief
Flying Steps approached us to tell their incredible, inspirational success story in a short-format film. Their goal was to share their journey over the past 20 years from their perspective, emphasizing the dedication, passion, and hard work that has driven their success. The group wanted the film to offer insight into the challenges they’ve overcome and the immense commitment required to reach the heights they’ve achieved, all while inspiring others through their story of perseverance.
02
challanges
Limited funding and over 20 years of lost VHS records made accessing essential footage a daunting task. The challenge wasn’t just retrieving these hidden treasures—it was also about crafting a narrative that resonated with a broader audience beyond just dancers. Additionally, addressing sensitive conflicts within Flying Steps and tensions with the global dance community required a careful, respectful approach. Flying Steps are a legendary dance crew, known world wide. There was only one shot to tell their story the right way.
03
our approach
We built the narrative around Vartan Bassil’s personal journey, limiting other protagonists to core Flying Steps members. Focusing on universal struggles—family pressure, financial strains, societal acceptance, and fear of failure—made the story relatable beyond dance culture. We also included external critics’ voices to enhance authenticity, surprising many who didn’t expect Flying Steps to address such criticism. Lastly, we restored hundreds of old VHS tapes showcasing their early days, ensuring the depth and conflict suited a feature-length documentary.
the result
With support from Flying Steps and Red Bull, the 90-minute feature documentary premiered at Berlin’s prestigious Zoo Palast, filling over 800 seats and marking a milestone in sharing the crew’s history. The film received positive media and audience reviews, leading to invitations from international festivals, including its official world premiere at the Montreal Film Festival. A subsequent cinema tour in Germany followed, and upon streaming release, Flying Revolution topped the #1 spot on iTunes Germany’s documentary charts for several months. Today, it continues to inspire viewers worldwide, standing as a testament to the power of perseverance and hope.