Dancer Wayne Fantastic zooms in on other talents

"I don't try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself and do my best all the time."

This quote by Wayne Richards speaks to both his drive and tenacity in the entertainment industry. Richards, better known as Wayne Fantastic of Fantastic Steppaz, has taken his artistic abilities to new heights by adding photography and videography to his areas of expertise.

Before COVID-19, Richards was looking forward to making moves on a European tour. But when the virus took over the island, forcing the country into lockdown mode, he had to hit pause, change his plans and host virtual classes to reach the masses. That's where his videography skills came in handy.

"Things have been shortened due to the pandemic, but I have several interests. Even if I'm not making money from it at the time, I still try to do something that makes an income. And videography is one of those skills," he said.

Richards began paying attention to dancing on a different level in 2014 or 2015, as far as video presentation was concerned. While he admits that they were clean in quality, what caught his eye was the simplicity also presented on screen.

"People respect professionalism; clean and clear videos of dancers who put themselves together fashion-wise," he revealed. So he started on his creative journey with a Samsung S3 phone and Viva video app. He experimented with editing and angles, which gave videos an international feel. He has since upgraded his equipment and started Fantastic Creationz, which offers videography and photography services.

"I take my videos seriously. They are planned in advance. I take out my good clothes, find a good location and get to work. Over the years, every time they're showing a video from Jamaica, we always look like we're the worst. Some dancers always feel like they should always shoot beside a zinc fence. It doesn't mean that they shouldn't show where you're coming from, but at the same time, take it from a business aspect," he shared.

Videography, he says, has helped his dancing career because it gives others insight into his creative process from choreography and performing to filming and editing. And people are noticing his talents. Because of his choice in locations for photos and videos, persons who acknowledge that he is in fact from Jamaica, question if he still resides here, based on his work.

"I've done a lot of videos where artistes use pieces of my clips and we work out a payment. And they place sections in the videos because they are clean," he added. Hi handiwork goes beyond the movement and screen, as he joins his father on construction sites, doing masonry work as well.

At the heart of it all, it is dancing that brings him the most joy. One of his biggest projects to date is working on the set of The Intent 2: The Come Up, a London movie filmed in Jamaica. The party scene was recorded at Uptown Mondays and featured local recording artiste, Popcaan, who debuts as an actor. Other projects of note include working with telecommunication companies, Digicel and FLOW, as well as the Youth View Awards. His team, Fantastic Steppaz, is working behind the scenes on projects to be filmed and released in 2021. He would also love to one day do a short film in Jamaica to highlight the real beauty of the island.