Norwich Film Festival - Jianjie
A stream of consciousness composed of poetic and slow-pace pictures of a foreign girl and the world through her eyes.
Interview with Writer/Director Nicole Chen
Watch Jianjie here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film was made as our diploma graduation project. I often talk to myself, with about just everything, and I respond and debate and argue and get angry with myself. I always wonder why I want to do filmmaking and how it can help expressing myself with my thousands of weird thoughts and millions of emotions. This is the very first short film I made, and I want it to be mine, a film dedicated to myself.
So I grabbed many notes I wrote when I thought about something, I have a collection of them. Notes on Takeaway papers, waste papers, on the phone, emails, word documents, blogs and even toilet papers... I soaked myself in my old thoughts again and again and finally decided to just let it be as it. A film that follows a steam of thoughts/consciousness in my mind.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This isn't an entertaining film, but a film that talks to you. Regardless where you are from, what you do, who you are, as long as you have a taste of loneliness, lost, distance to others, losing oneself... This is the film for you. It may make no sense as a story, but every word in this film connects to you, it's very personal.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I guess this film is "me", and I am an individual who was born in one place, grew up in another and then shifted to another country for a decade...so I carry an ideology which comes from the world and an individual one which comes from my own.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
It's madness.
The basic concept is "identity crisis" of a foreign girl and the mix of emotions through her thoughts over the time.
However, through the process of filming, I just directed it following the stream of consciousness of my own in real life.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Much of the feedback I received talked about how connected and emotional this film is to them, it brought them thoughts. One or two very young viewers said they didn't quite understand but they still felt like crying. And I liked it, as it somehow tells me how a happy and loving life and an enjoyable childhood they had, by not connecting to the film, but still moved by the story. And there's someone who watched it no less than 20 times and cried each time with it, she said the film is her, and it talks to her, she felt like crying but feeling released afterwards. I love how different the feedback is.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I created this film just to let people interpret however they feel like doing so. As I said earlier it is very personal and can be vary depending on the viewers. However I received some comments about the death in this story - as I personally didn't create a death scene they may be referring to the abstract scene at the end of the film that gives an obscure meaning.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To expand my network in the film industry worldwide.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would be great to have all of them. 😉
But I'd love to have a producer since I am really bad at producing.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I just want to talk to people through images, since I can't be there listening to everyone's own story. Therefore, as long as the viewers are feeling close and connected to the film, and feeling not alone in the world, it would be the greatest impact I could think of.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"Feeling lost?"
What are you developing or working on now?
I'm planning on writing a feature which will be filmed next year. A comedy hopefully 😉 since the "dark" part is done in this film, and as a "natural comedian" ( once an actor coach said to me), I must bring some joy in my future films too :))
Interview: August 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Jianjie
A stream of consciousness composed of poetic and slow-pace pictures of a foreign girl and the world through her eyes.
Length: 19:14
Director: Nicole Chen
Writer: Nicole Chen
About the writer, director and producer:
Nicole studied TV, Film and Media at the University of Auckland for two years before becoming a procurement professional for 5 years. Later in her career, she discovered that her passion for film has never reduced. She chose to further her directing skills in filmmaking by doing a Bachelor of Film Arts at SAE Auckland and furthering her performing skills with screen acting training courses. 'Jianjie' is the very first short film that is written, directed and acted by her.
Key cast: Nicole Chen
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists 😉
Where can I watch it in the next month?
Premier at Norwich Film Festival 5pm, on August 26th at Hollywood Cinema or there is a private link which I can provide through email too.