Focus on AFI Conservatory - Cat's Eye
A young girl struggles with her appearance growing up in a white space.
Interview with Cinematographer/Director Haley Min Young Kreofsky
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made Cat's Eye because I wanted to share how I felt growing up, being adopted and growing up in a white space. I used to wish I was white and all I wanted was to fit in. I used to get teased for being different and it took me a long time to realize that was racism. My mom never quite knew what to say or do when issues like this used to arise, this isn't a criticism of her parenting but how could she understand?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
A reason to watch Cat's Eye is to understand how damaging it can be to grow up different, no matter the color of your skin.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This film is a specific to growing up Asian American but I strongly believe that everyone can understand wanting to fit in. Having the desire to blend in isn't a unique experience to being adopted. However, being adopted isn't a topic that isn't spoken about often. Or if it is, its often times with a white lens and not from the adoptee themselves.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The idea started out as images and lines from one of my favorite novels. I sat down with the screenwriter VICTOR GABRIEL and we created the story together based on my experience.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
There are two types of feedback I've received. Many people have told me how they have been touched by this film because they experienced a similar feeling growing up. They felt how they so badly wished they were white and didn't like what they saw in the mirror. I've been told by many caucasian people how they were moved because they never knew that feeling existed.
The other feedback I have received has that Cat's Eye hasn't done well in the festival circuit. Honestly, I'm okay with that because when people do write to me about Cat's Eye it always comes from a genuine place. We aren't making films for the accolades but to touch people and expand their repertoire of emotions.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To be frank, I don't consider myself a director. I would love for Cat's Eye to be made into a feature and for me to be able to collaborate on this film with another director. I would of course, want to be the director of photography on this film.
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 need a producer, film festival director and funding to make this film into a feature.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The impact I hope for this film to have is to help people put words / images to how they may have felt growing up. Its to help people heal those childhood wounds, maybe it will help them feel not so alone with those feelings.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I'm not sure if I have a key question for people but more of a statement of how hard growing up can be when you aren't "normal".
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm shooting a couple short films in the up coming months. I'm always looking for more creatives to collaborate with.
Interview: August 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
Cat's Eye
Length:
3:26
Writer
Growing up in poverty, VICTOR GABRIEL realized that water in cornflakes doesn't taste as bad as you think it would. He wandered without a home before eventually ending up in Compton CA. Now as a black male writer/director and recent MFA graduate of AFI Conservatory, he has turned to filmmaking as way for him to wrestle with his own suffering as well as the suffering of others. He holds an MA in Clinical Psychology and has been working as a Marriage and Family Therapist with survivors of trauma in Compton/Watts/South Central for the past several years. His short film Black Boys Can’t Cry, is currently being shown in festivals. His favorite movie is Richard Donner’s Superman. He likes Red Vines and thinks Twizzlers are trash. Big years.
Cinematographer/Director
HALEY MIN YOUNG KREOFSKY is a Korean American director of photography. She recently graduated from American Film Institute with an MFA in Cinematography. She began her film career in the grip and electric departments, she has since enjoyed stirring up the boy's club while wearing her floral boots. Kreofsky has an extensive background in film photography and has shot on motion picture film (super 8, 16mm and 35mm).
Recently, a short film she shot A BUTTERFLY VANISHES won best short film at San Diego International Film festival. Kreofsky values collaboration and staying true to the director's vision while using her skills to amplify the story being told.
Producer
CATALINA LORET, is a Mexican-American born Filmmaker. In 2014 she started her film directing studies in New York and then continued her journey to Los Angeles.
In 2019, she was selected as one of the fellow's for HBO's "Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today" by HMFF. That same year she merged her passion for scuba diving with her filmmaking career and got her certification in Underwater Cinematography under the guidance of Vance Burberry.
Most recently, her short film Flores Dentro, received the Jury Award for Best Experimental Film from the National Film Festival for Talented Youth.
Catalina’s work usually takes place on the production team and currently she’s working on her ongoing documentary film Lu’um, which takes place in her hometown of Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Key cast:
Jenny Oh
Looking for:
sales agents, film festival directors, producers, distributors, buyers
Hashtags used:
#asianamerican #kodakshootfilm #cinematographer #identity
More info:
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory