Focus on AFI Conservatory - So Long
“So Long” is an attempt to discuss the in-between and what one chooses to display in public vs private. It is also ultimately a story about identity, grief, mourning, and rituals. How does one mourn or grieve the loss of someone, when that period is over, or when you’re at a distance?
Interview with Cinematographer / Director Jo Jo Lam
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I’ve been fascinated with exploring the notion of grief more in-depth for a while. Specifically - how to grieve a loved one from a distance? And how do we do that in a foreign land with foreign cultures? Grief naturally comes with lots of traditions and those rituals and traditions whilst performative also give the mourner a way to express their grief since it’s something hard to describe or share. I wanted to portray this experience visually as the grieving process itself is so loaded with symbolism and significance that a 3-minute film felt like a perfect way to explore it. ( though it could’ve been longer!)
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Grief is a universal subject and we all have had losses in some ways. Yet it remains to be a very taboo topic that we never talk about. I believe by confronting it and sharing these experiences will maybe help us feel a little less alone in the process and grieving is probably the loneliest experience I’ve ever personally experienced. I would say if you’d like to feel less alone then watch this film! Also if you’re a fan of films shot on 35mm celluloid!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
“So Long” is an attempt to discuss the in-between and what one chooses to display in public vs private. It is also ultimately a story about identity, traditions, mourning, and rituals.
Those themes work visually in the film and I attempted to explore that through the transient nature of the location by the sea at sunset, the car wash, and the props. All of these locations or objects are impermanent and fleeting which reflects the very experience itself.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script and shot list went through multiple iterations. As it is a film made by cinematographers - I really wanted to challenge myself in terms of how can we tell this universal story with the least amount of “setup” possible in such a short time. We relied heavily on natural light and by location scouting multiple times to be extremely precise with timing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Feedback thus far has been great and people shared really personal stories with me about either their losses or their own experiences and I feel extremely privileged to hear some of these stories.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Definitely! I am a pretty harsh critic of my own work and I wanted to hear from people who didn’t connect with the film in which case usually is because they felt confused. This definitely challenges me to rethink how can we better improve at visual storytelling and how can we transcend through cultures and traditions that are perhaps less universal and more specific.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are moving stories features such incredible projects that I hope people will discover our short by reading and watching other projects on the platform?
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d be so honored and proud if a select few feel less alone by watching this film. Honestly that would be the best impact I can ask for.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do we mourn or grieve the loss of someone, when that period is over, or when we’re at a distance? What kind of traditions do you choose to abandon or keep?
Would you like to add anything else?
I wanted to give a huge shout-out to my cast and crew who without this film wouldn’t have been made possible! And also to Carmela for featuring us!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently prepping my feature debut as a DOP and we are shooting in early September in Boston. I also have some short projects coming out after the summer and in general, looking forward to connecting with new directors on new narrative projects!
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
So Long
Length:
3:00
Writer/Director
Jo Jo Lam is an emerging cinematographer born and raised in Hong Kong who has since lived and worked in Australia, the UK, and France. She's based between Los Angeles and Paris and speaks Chinese, English, and French fluently. The projects she lensed have had numerous successes in festivals such as Newfest LGBT Film festival and Kustendorf Film Festival.
With her unique experience of living internationally and versatile storytelling sensibilities, Jo Jo hopes to use the language of images to tell bold and different stories internationally with others who strive for the same. Jo Jo holds a MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory and is also a recent recipient of the Kodak Vision Award for Excellence in Cinematography.
Producers
Guo Guo: Based in LA and holds an MFA in producing at the AFI Conservatory, Guo Guo’s producing credits include the Palme d’Or nominated AYKA, winner of Best Actress at 2018 Cannes; 12 CITIZENS, the first Chinese feature film to win best picture at the 2015 Rome International Film Festival; MEIDUO, a 2020 Shanghai International Film Festival Media Award nominee, filmed on location in Tibet, Beijing and Lebanon; as well as 44-episode Chinese TV Series BE WITH YOU that has enjoyed over 1 billion views. A current participant in 2020 BAFTA LA Newcomers program, Women In Film 2020 Mentoring Program, Guo Guo is able to communicate fluently in English and Mandarin.
Katherine D. May is a producer/writer based in Los Angeles and a recent graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory with an MFA in Producing.
She has a background in Marketing and Branded Content, and has worked at NBCUniversal, Hulu and Snap Inc. where she produced a wide range of projects, from marketing campaigns for studios and global brands, to augmented reality experiences. Most recently, Katherine has produced several award-winning shorts that have screened in multiple festivals around the globe. She is currently developing her first feature.
Key cast:
Nancy Ma
Looking for:
distributors, sales agents, journalists, film festival directors, buyers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jo.lam127/
Instagram:
Hashtags used:
#cinematography #womeninfilm #femaledp #panavision #kodakshootfilm #bts #panaflex #cinematography #directorofphotography #setlife #womenbehindthecamera #camerawoman #freethework #femalecinematographer #onset
More info:
https://www.jojo-lam.com/selectedwork/solong
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory