Nevada Women's Film Festival 2020 – Found in Korea
A Korean adoptee travels back to Korea for the first time in 35 years in search of her birth parents and the world she lost as a baby. While retracing the steps of her own adoption, she discovers her culture, identity and questions why Koreans are not adopting their own.
Interview with Director Nam Holtz
Watch Found in Korea on Vimeo on demand
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Three main reasons:
(1) to open up conversations about adoption
(2) representation. I never saw an Asian-American female adoptee as a lead in anything, and I wanted to produce something where that is the case; and
(3) by raising awareness of adoption issues and emotions, pro-active support and awareness can be attained.
Adoptees are an unrecognized marginalized community with specific needs and currently, their needs are not being met.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Do you ever question your own identity? Then this film is a film that can help you discover more about what you do and don't know about yourself.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I hope that they are both personal and universal. The film is intended for adoptees and their families to watch, but I think anyone can gain richness for self through themes found in this film.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This film took nine years to make. I wanted to make a film that was suitable for kids and adults alike, so that took some wiggling.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People have told me that they wish they brought tissues.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has made me really proud of pushing through and finishing the film. It has made me aware of how much education and discussion is still needed surrounding the issue of adoption. My own families feedback was some of the most surprising. My sister, whom I am extremely close to, said that the film showed her aspects of my life that she was unaware of. That made me happy. I didn't realize how intimate the film was on so many levels for both strangers and those really close to me.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Just making it more visible and raising awareness.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I'm not sure.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd like the film to take into account the adoptee perspective, and recognize the loss that adoption entails as well as the positive aspects.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why do some adoptees do birth searches and some chose not to search?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm attaining my MSW so I can keep doing socially relevant work with and for the adoption community.
Interview: May 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
Found in Korea
A Korean adoptee travels back to Korea for the first time in 35 years in search of her birth parents and the world she lost as a baby. While retracing the steps of her own adoption, she discovers her culture, identity and questions why Koreans are not adopting their own.
Length: 1:14
Director: Meggin Nam Holtz, Allison Lane and Kevyn Settle
Producer: Nam Holtz and Allison Lane
Writer: Allison Lane and Nam Holtz
About the writer, director and producer:
MEGGIN NAM HOLTZ (Executive Producer/Director/Writer) was born somewhere in S. Korea, found on the streets as an unidentified infant, and adopted to America at six months of age. Nam is an award-winning filmmaker via Found in Korea. She was raised in the north suburbs of Chicago, IL where she was intensely involved with dance, theater and the trumpet. Nam graduated cum laude with a BFA from SUNY Purchase and began her professional career on stage in Broadway’s The King & I as a 14-track singing and dancing swing. After performing in musical theater productions in London’s West End, Las Vegas and in US National Tours, Nam began studying acting in her now home for 20 years, NYC. At age 35, Nam traveled back to Korea for the first time with a small film crew to document the discovery of her culture, and her search for answers to an unknown past. Nam is currently obtaining a MSW (class of 2020) and will continue working with and advocating for children and families in the adoption and foster care constellation.
ALLISON LANE (Director/Editor/ Producer/Writer) is an award-winning filmmaker and a graduate of the University of Michigan. As a director/writer/producer/editor, Allison was won multiple awards including Best Comedy (International Television Festival, Los Angeles), Best TV Pilot (Hoboken International Film Festival), Best Comedy Short (Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago), and Best Ensemble Cast (Houston Comedy Film Festival). In addition to awards, her work has received critical praise. Rogue Cinema raved “Allison has turned me into an instant superfan. I want to see everything she makes or is involved with now”. She directed/wrote/produced/edited the critically praised multi-award winning TV pilot WTFU and three seasons of the hit comedy web series TMB. She has also written for Your Tango Media, as well as produced, written and edited numerous commercials, corporate spots, shorts, and web series for a variety of clients. Allison is currently Unit Production Managing the narrative feature film thriller Kiss Me, Kill Me. Allison is also directing, executive producing, and editing the 30-minute documentary Memories of Pearl Harbor: The Jeanne Smith Story. Allison is the President of Reel Spiel Productions, LLC.
Facebook: Found In Korea 한국에서 발견된
Twitter: @foundinkorea
Instagram: @foundinkoreafilm
Hashtags used: #foundinkorea
Website: www.foundinkorea.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Reel Spiel Productions LLC
Funders: Self-funded, Indiegogo, Kickstarter
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Film Festival/Nevada Women's Film Festival - June 25-28, 2020