CrabDance
In the delicate dance of life, time flits away, leaving a girl unprepared for the swift cadence of growth, while the world around her undergoes a poignant transformation.
Interview with Director Zilong Wang and Cinematographer Yuchan Deng
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
ZILONG: This story originally stems from the personal experiences of DP Yuchan. She shared her story with me, and it resonated deeply with me. The themes of loneliness and the struggles faced by women as they grow, both mentally and physically, are beautifully intertwined with reflections on urban development and the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships. The entire narrative captivated me, and as we continued to communicate frequently, I felt compelled to start writing the script. We both embraced the project with great enthusiasm and ultimately, we made the decision to bring it to life through filming.
YUCHAN: As Zilong mentioned, the story draws inspiration from one of my childhood memories. I come from Shenzhen, a coastal city in China, that underwent rapid development, leading the sea to gradually drift farther away. This change left me with a profound sense of loss and confusion. Fortunately, we had the privilege of capturing this nostalgic sentiment on 35mm film, allowing us to preserve the essence of those memories.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
ZILONG: I was truly drawn in by the innate temperament and emotions of this story, and I believe the audience will also undergo a unique emotional journey through it. The intricate shifts in female emotions and the glimpses into their multifaceted lives can be beautifully depicted in a short film. To me, it feels incredibly captivating and poetic.
YUCHAN: I think each viewer will interpret the story in their own way, and that's the beauty of it. The film speaks solely through visual language, allowing people from various backgrounds and perspectives to connect with it on a personal level. This unrestricted interpretation is what makes the film so compelling and enchanting.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
ZILONG: The story indeed originates from a highly personal and specific experience, as I mentioned earlier. It is deeply intertwined with Yuchan's journey of personal growth and the unique context of Shenzhen, a Chinese city. However, during the creative process, we intentionally distilled the narrative to infuse it with a sense of vagueness and magic. This deliberate abstraction allowed us to emphasize the emotional essence and overall experience, surpassing the boundaries of a rigid plot. It's all about striking the perfect balance to create a compelling and emotionally evocative story.
YUCHAN: The story began with delicate and intimate emotions, and as we delved deeper into its development, we realized it's fundamentally about how swiftly time can transform us, often without us even noticing. This theme of time's impact on our lives became increasingly apparent as the narrative unfolded.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
ZILONG: Right from the beginning, we had a distinct tone and strong elements in place, which set the foundation for the rest of the story to unfold seamlessly. Crucially, we ensured there was ample room for the narrative to evolve naturally. As a matter of fact, during the collaborative process with the actors on set, we discovered numerous fresh plots and character details that breathed life and vibrancy into the story. This organic approach made the narrative come alive in a truly vivid and captivating manner.
YUCHAN: At first, the story primarily centered around the girl's relationship with the other kids. However, as Zilong and I delved deeper into the narrative, we felt compelled to introduce the mother-daughter relationship as a crucial element. As we explored this dynamic further, it organically evolved into the central theme of the story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
ZILONG: We received numerous heartfelt responses from viewers who expressed how deeply moved they were by the film. It seemed to act as a hook, effortlessly tapping into the hidden corners of the audience's hearts and resonating with their emotions in a profound way.
YUCHAN: Exactly, and each person reads the story differently—some may perceive a profound sense of loneliness, while others find it heart-warming through the relationships depicted. It's incredible how the film's narrative can evoke such diverse and powerful emotions in its audience.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
ZILONG: As filmmakers, we often concern ourselves with technical issues and imperfections during production. However, what we've come to realize is that the audience is truly captivated and moved by the emotions and storytelling, not merely by the technical prowess or production values. We now understand that creativity and technique are simply means of expression, not the ultimate goal.
YUCHAN: When the film was first screened, I was genuinely amazed at how deeply the audience could sense the emotions. The feedback we received actually helped to further enrich the depth of the film. It was incredible to witness how the viewers' responses and interpretations added new layers of meaning and emotional resonance to the story.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are eager to connect with a broader audience through representatives of the film. Our hope is to share this meaningful story with as many people as possible and spark conversations that resonate with diverse viewers.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are thrilled to have the chance to meet with potential distributors and film festival directors. We look forward to sharing our passion and vision with these key stakeholders and collaborating to bring our story to a global platform.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Our primary aspiration is to evoke empathy within the audience, encouraging them to connect deeply with the characters' experiences. We offer a distinctive and immersive experience, enabling viewers to effortlessly step into the narrative and sense the relationships and emotions of the characters from a subtle perspective, even without a complete understanding of the plot. Our aim is to create a truly resonant and engaging journey that allows people to relate and empathize with the universal themes explored in the film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
ZILONG: What are your thoughts or feelings about the mother-daughter relationship?
YUCHAN: What do you see in the inner world of the little girl?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We’ve recently completed post-production for another short film and are now gearing up for our next feature film. These two projects share numerous common elements and themes with the current film we are discussing. Through our exploration of this genre, we have amassed valuable experience, and we are confident that the upcoming two films will showcase different levels of temperament and emotions. We are excited about the creative journey ahead and the unique stories we will bring to life.
Interview: August 2023
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
CrabDance
In the delicate dance of life, time flits away, leaving a girl unprepared for the swift cadence of growth, while the world around her undergoes a poignant transformation.
Length: 3:22
Director: Zilong Wang
Producer: Melody Sui
Writer: Zilong Wang
About the writer, director and producer:
ZILONG WANG is a writer-director currently based in Los Angeles. Originally hailing from a small northwestern town in China, he grew up surrounded by desert and a large population of Hui Chinese Muslims. Through his experiences, he has realized that anyone can become a minority under certain conditions, and advocates for empathy to bridge divides between people. Zilong pursued his passion for filmmaking at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing and CSU Northridge in Los Angeles, and has worked as a camera operator, editor, and script developer for TV stations and web movies in both countries. His short film Lost and Found has received nominations and awards at various film festivals. He holds an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute, and his screenplay Clues was selected for the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program.
The original story is by YUCHAN DENG who is also the cinematographer. Yuchan and Zilong connected over our mutual admiration for each other's work. Zilong listened to Yuchan's childhood story, and they felt an immediate bond. Zilong was inspired by the depth of the tale and took charge, crafting the script for CrabDance. It beautifully captured their shared emotions and memories.
MELODY SUI is a producer, born and raised in Shanghai, China. Her extensive experience in film, TV and commercial productions began at ArtCenter in Pasadena. Her debut jet commercial, titled S211, was nominated at the Young Ones ADC. She has also won "Best Short" at CIF in 2019 for her short The Execution, a tense confession from a bounty hunter in his final moments. In 2021, she line produced a multi-nation narrative feature, Jacob the Baker that was presented by the Academy award-winning production company Indian Paintbrush. Recently, she is an associate producer on a Disney family-funded feature documentary, Brainwashed, which highlights how the visual grammar of cinema contributes to conditions that create inequity in the film industry, and it is premiering at Sundance 2022. Another feature documentary, Baima Boy has won various awards including CNEX, Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, and Westlake International Film Festival.
Key cast: Liesl Kesuma, Clover Hong, Hannah Kwon
Looking for: distributors, journalists
Facebook: Zilong Wang, Yuchan Deng
Instagram: @ycc_cine, @zi_long_wang
Hashtags used: #drama #magical realism #asian #kids
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
It's still in the festival run so we are waiting for more good news.