NewFilmmakers LA / Sherman Oaks Film Festival 2019 – Prom Time!
Upon overhearing her teen daughters recount their dating experiences while getting ready on prom night, Judy accidentally drugs herself with Chinese herbal medicine spiraling into a gaudy, sexual fantasy with the class hunk.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jessica J Liu
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I created, Prom Time! to explore cross-generational traits, what gets passed down from parent to child and how this affects who we seek in our romantic relationships, especially from a female perspective. I wanted to showcase women's desire which isn't seen very often and to normalize it in an entertaining way playing with elements of ancient Chinese mythicism and juxtaposing that with modern-day American teen dating life.
I also thought it would be interesting to flip the script by telling the story from the mother's point of view and showcasing the daughters as some kind of beastly creatures. Another thing I was questioning and exploring at the time was what does it mean to be Asian American, namely Chinese American? What is the actual culture of being Chinese American? Is it just boba drinking strange smelling herbs and cutesy stuffed animals? Often people equate folks directly from Asia with Asian Americans but personally, I can definitely speak to the disconnect. So there are elements of this wonderfully weird melding of not quite fitting into either side and mutating into a new identity that I think anyone can relate to.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film to dive inside the mind of a first generational immigrant mother. We don't often see portrayals that flesh out immigrant Asian women in mainstream American media - especially as people with intimate desires.
If not for that then watch it for an unexpected turn and the tongue-in-cheek humor along the way.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I definitely believe in the saying that all writing and artistic expression is personal no matter how much you try to detach yourself from it. This film specifically is highly close to me as it's basically my take on my experience and life as an Asian American woman. Of course, I took many liberties and molded many elements of the story through drafts and inspiration. I also think that any human story with heart is universal. While specific elements of culture can enhance stories, we can all relate to the emotions, laugh and cry together.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script definitely changed a lot throughout my writing process! I started the story intending for it to be a completely contained film that would focus more on Judy, the mother conjuring up visions of the various dates that her daughters were discussing as notches in their belt. While this was an entirely indie production, we definitely had to scale it down.
Through many nights of writing after work and weekends in coffee shops with a writing buddy, I realized the boyfriends weren't really that important. The idea of melding all of them into one ubiquitous entity was comical and symbolic. The focus was on the relationship between mother and daughters. Another aspect that changed was adding magical realism into the film. I knew I wanted to incorporate Chinese Medicine into the mix but wanted to always keep it fun and felt that using it as a vehicle of connection between parent and child was the perfect way.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
At my works in progress screening where I screened it for the first time in front of an audience in theater, my viewers were all women directors. The feedback was amazing! People loved it, gasped, burst into laughter all at the right moments.
Since then the film has screened at various festivals. I'm glad to know that there are always laughs at the right points. The film definitely has some PG-13 elements which I was a bit cautious of but I am really happy that people of all backgrounds have been able to enjoy it so far.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has actually made me feel more encouraged! To be honest, I was a bit weary when creating the film as it definitely is something different from my past projects. It's the first film that I explored desire in a head-on way and the first film I've directed so far with a large chunk of Chinese dialogue so I was unsure how American audiences would take to it.
The positive feedback has been amazing. I have had people of all backgrounds come up to me after screenings. Recently a woman thanked me for making the film as she felt it was something that reflected her relationship with her daughter. I also had the film open for a male-led raunchy buddy comedy and it received good audience feedback. So it's great to know that the film can connect with both ends of the spectrum.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to connect with producers, managers, writers, etc. I would like to work on directing feature films and potentially partner with a seasoned writer to create projects.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to have the film play in more festivals and be distributed on a streaming platform so that more people can view it. Additionally, working with a producer experienced producing independent features would be great for future projects.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I am open to hearing feedback from my audience and believe in creating films are enjoyable to watch with a message that gets people talking!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you think your upbringing affects what you look for in a romantic partner?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am working on developing a new script for a short that will be expanded to a feature film. I have a few scripts currently such as one about an ancient deity trapped in a teenagers body, a woman who falls in love with a desert spirit, and a horror-comedy about a group of young adults with behavioral problems lost at a music festival.
Interview: November 2019
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
Prom Time!
Upon overhearing her teen daughters recount their dating experiences while getting ready on prom night, Judy accidentally drugs herself with Chinese herbal medicine spiraling into a gaudy, sexual fantasy with the class hunk.
Length: 9:29
Director: Jessica Liu
Producer: Jessica Liu, Joshua Beltazar
Writer: Jessica Liu
About the writer, director and producer:
From creating a short film, Memory Blocks involving the lives of three vastly different characters shot in Singapore, the tongue-in-cheek middle school moments that we can all relate to in her early 2000s short film, oRaNgEdReAmS, Jessica Liu takes her lens to the heart of coming of age stories far and wide.
Since graduating from UCSC with double degrees in Feminist Studies and Film & Digital Media, Jessica Liu has strived to create a unique narrative vision and continues to expand on new projects. Her work has screened at festivals such as National Geographic All Roads, Cinequest, Dances with Films, San Diego Asian Film Festival, etc. She has also worked with brands such as Red Bull Music Academy, ABC Channel 7′s Beyond the Headlines.
Jessica Liu's goal is to move into a feature and scripted series. Her current project Prom Time! is set to release in 2019 with themes of magical realism and generational family ties. It has screened at several festivals such as Newfilmmakers LA and the winner of the "Best Women's Empowerment" award at Anaheim Film Festival. She was a 2019 finalist director at Studiofest, to direct a fully-funded feature film. A native of San Francisco, she currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Key cast: Leann Lei (Judy), Alice Tsui (Amy), Megan Zhang (May), X (Everett Tucker)
Looking for: film festival directors, distributors, buyers, journalists
Facebook: The Visual Culture
Instagram: @jessicajliu
Website: thevisualculture.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Sherman Oaks Film Festival - November 23, 2019 at 6:30pm