A young aspiring Chinese pianist and a Mexican house painter, unaware of them being neighbors, go through a day of disillusionment in symphony.

Interview with Writer/Director Peier "Tracy" Shen

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

It's my AFI thesis film. Well, I was so scared that it was gonna be the last film I could make, I made two in one. (hahaha That's a joke.) It's a dual-narrative. I was wondering how to tell a love story between two people who've never met and what it would look like.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

I think the film, though flawed, has some truth in it. And it's not because it's about the immigrant experience or such. It's that we all think we have a painful day alone, but in reality, you never know that somebody else is going through the same thing. I find that tension romantic, that you're going through a collective experience alone. And I think it's the same for anybody going to a movie, that we want to be comforted by something that is really very far from us. I think we watch films to be less lonely.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think the more personal it is, the more universal it becomes. So the film is very small. It's just a difficult day in these two people's lives that somehow collided.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

It changed more in the editing. A dual narrative is difficult. The first cut was thirty-seven minutes. Over time, you realize you don't need a certain emotional beat in one story because you have it in the other one. It took me some time to adjust. I'm still learning.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Mainly positive but I'm surrounded by friends. hahaha Things that are not working I have to figure them out on my own.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I think the fact that people prefer one narrative over the other surprised and challenged me. If it's overwhelmingly one-sided, I would've had a clearer idea on what is working and what is not. But it's split in the middle so it's interesting.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Now our film has finished its festival run. I'm interested to see if this film can find a home out there. A film should be seen.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Distributors.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I think if the audience can suddenly think about the film one day after they watched it, I'd be happy.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

The short I did right after, called LIKE FLYING, is in the festival circuit and is currently participating in a virtual and in-person theatrical release across the U.S. and Canada, streaming on Kino Now, and a limited edition DVD distribution by Kino Lorber. I'm also developing a feature of the same name, a coming-of-age dramedy about a young Chinese girl confronting her first heartbreak at an English language camp in the U.S.

Interview: July 2021

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

Out of Place

Length:

19:39

Writer/Director

PEIER “TRACY” SHEN is a Chinese writer-director currently based in Los Angeles. Her shorts were selected to GSA BAFTA Student Shortlist and Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Cleveland, Palm Springs, LA Shorts, St. Louis, Nashville, Cinequest, and Bronzelens. Her short, LIKE FLYING, is part of DEDZA FILMS’ inaugural selection for shorts distribution. It is currently participating in a theatrical release at Kino Marquee, streaming on Kino Now, and a limited edition DVD distribution by Kino Lorber.

Producer

MENGYING “IRENE” YANG is a multicultural film producer with roots in China. She holds an M.F.A. diploma in Film Producing from the AFI Conservatory, and a B.F.A. degree in Film Directing from Beijing Film Academy. Being a creative mind herself, Irene has developed a deep interest in creating spaces where compelling stories and unique voices can be told. Through 2019-2020, Irene worked as a Creative Executive at Starlight Media Inc., where she oversaw the development of more than 70 film and TV projects and evaluated production packages for financing decisions.

Key cast:

Sarah Lynn Furman (Hui), Victor Boneva (Chamo), Jamila Hache (Ariel), Tobi Rodriguez (Daniel), Brian Gomez (Felipe)

Looking for:

distributors

Social media

https://www.instagram.com/peiertracyshen/
https://www.facebook.com/outofplacethefilm

More info:

peiertracyshen.com

Made in association with:

AFI Conservatory