Wow! How amazing is it to be featured as part of the NSI's Online Film Fest? I even get a "Director's Bio". Fancy! Check out the feature here with a director's bio and my artist statement.

Check out "Installing..."here:

So, when my mom asks me what I did in film school, this is what I'll have to show.



Assignment: 2 minute process documentary using different shots and edited together


How to Roll a Joint feat. Coco ✌ from Janet Lee Rose on Vimeo.

Last night I had the pleasure of catching Steven Knight's newest, Locke, featuring Tom Hardy. The premise of the film is a man's journey as he drives and speaks to various characters via Bluetooth, with the titular character of Ivan Locke at the wheel.


Locke is an interesting study in film for its efficiency, fantastic acting, and excellent writing. It took five days to film it, with one setting (a BMW) and one character. I won't be reviewing plot details as the film's writing is so well done that it's worth seeing for Knight's skillful reveals.

Ivan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his careful cultivated existence.

With one location/one actor films, the script and direction must be very strong. Prior films like this are Phone Booth (2002) and Buried (2007), both with strong male leads in dire situations. Locke, takes the whole one character film to a new level, the plot much more a modern life study on human error and the important things in life.

Knight has done something many filmmakers strive to do: create a character in a situation who are riveted by, even if the circumstances are mundane. The plot is slowly revealed, like peeling away layers of an onion. When Locke is introduced you don't know what to expect, is there a bomb in the car? Is he part of a large drug conspiracy?

Everything is revealed through conversations with other characters, and when the plot is fully "in your face", you are pleasantly surprised and captivated by the humanness of it all. Knight should be very proud of what he's accomplished as Locke is a wonderful character study, it touches on all aspects of right and wrong, family, love and responsibility. There is never a question of why Locke is doing what he's doing, the character is so well written that motivations and ethics are crystal clear.

Of course, to pull this off you need a powerhouse actor, none other than the transformative Tom Hardy. His genuine and fully realised character is mesmerizing on screen. Actors, watch this to see what great acting is. Hardy's face and voice take you into the tumultuous and intimate word of Locke, I found myself so drawn to this man confronting his mistake. It was all very real and personal. After all, acting is all about private moments made public.

Put together great direction, acting and writing and you have an intimate portrait of a man's life turning upside down. The sound and music are perfect, cinematography is great for what few shots were available.

Indie Filmmakers - this is a great study in ways to be an efficient filmmaker while telling a great story, no special effects, dozens of locations or big budgets needed. 

To be an artist is part of my deeper self, it is a calling that I have had since I was a child. I could not imagine a life not dedicated to creating. I know many others feel the same way. We have this deep hidden connection where we want to share our stories and feel affect and connected. It is the power of storytelling that drives us towards books, movies and music.

So it is painful when those you love and who love you do not understand this calling. It is a long and hard path to go for something abstract and not concrete, so all an artist can ask for is not success or fame or fortune. It is to ask for the SUPPORT of those who love them, to just have them say, "Ok, go for it, I believe in you. I believe in what you're doing." Because deep down, no matter what I do or will do, it is always painful when your closest friend or mother tells you to 'consider other options' or 'get a real job'.

Public Service Announcement: Have an artist in your life? Tell them you believe in them, let them know they have talent or purpose! Cultivate their creativity.

The last time I did a film school post was two weeks ago! I apologize for the big break in posts but it's called an intensive for a reason. I've had some requests to write about my program at Ryerson (Summer Film School) and will be breaking it down to the classes I've attended.

Ryerson's Sound Stage

Motion Picture Production:

The last two weeks consisted of filming our first assignment, a 30 second documentary style film with a still camera. The equipment? A Bell & Howell 16mm. This thing has got a parallax lens, what does that mean? It means when you look through the lens you don't see what's going to be on the film!

Crazy, I know. As a digital age millenial, I had a lot of trouble wrapping my mind around this. We actually had to use a tape measure to check the distance from the lens to the subject, adjusting it manually. Then we had to use a light metre to manually measure the aperture and f-stop.

This was definitely a learning experience, once we developed the film we saw our mistakes, our out of focus shots or over/underexposed shots. Now this may be an archaic way to produce films but the images were beautiful! I would say I have a love-hate relationship with film but I am excited to create more projects using the medium.

So, here is some recommended readings/viewings from our MOPRO class:

No electricity needed, just wind and go!

1.  "Toward True Cinema" - Vorkapich Theory - we are currently learning about film history and now examining experimental film and using the medium not just as a way to reproduce theatre or photography but as a way to play with motion and emotion. Salvko Vorkapich is who we are studying and modelling our assignment #2 after.
   *unfortunately I cannot find the article online but look it up for one of the founding articles of avant garde cinema
   
2. "Meshes in the Afternoon" (Vimeo) - Maya Deren is one of the founders of experimental/personal film. We watched this in class yesterday and were all stunned by the in-camera effects, Freudian themes and eerie storytelling.
   
   
3. "Stages of Production & Personnel" (PDF) - Some film school information about the basics on a production. 

Richard Sheppard, director of "Girls" and "The Matador", wrote and directed this hilarious homage to dirty London dark comedies - Guy Ritchie would be proud. Not only does Dom Hemingway load up the audience with commentary on life after prison but the excellent writing allows us to see what everyone experiences: getting old, being irrelevant.

The chemistry between these two is amazing.

This is my first week as a student in Ryerson University's Summer Film School. The course is a 12 week intensive program giving students a chance to write, produce, edit and direct their own films. I will be chronicling my experience for all who are interested in reading!

First day and I get on the dolly for a scene run-through!

I'm sure everyone has seen the Princeton's student's complaints about 'White Privilege' and his pedantic blog post about his grandparent's struggles and how his hard work should not be discredited just because of his external appearance.

And I know, I am one of many who read it and saw his disastrous news appearance and discredited him for his views. I also know, this is not much to do with filmmaking, as my blog is focused on... yet I am compelled to write about it as I had an experience tonight that truly opened my eyes to what it means to be privileged.



Privilege is not about what you know you have or are awarded, it is about what you don't realize you are awarded because of who you are.

This has nothing to do with race, gender, or religion. It all boils down to - what you don't appreciate.

Tonight my girlfriend and I decided to play Tinder Roulette. For the new and naive, Tinder is a dating app - or game as I like to think of it - where singles (or non-singles) connect their Facebooks and swipe left (no thanks) or right (mmm, date?) and are matched from there.

We played a game where whoever I was matched with we messaged to meet us at the restaurant we were having pitchers of beer at. It was a fun, harmless little thing that I thought would result in... well, nothing.

What I really learned was what privilege is.

See, two men showed up. One, was a tall blonde, a little drunk from having fun with his roommates, college educated etc. He had a stick up his ass. He seemed quite uptight to find not only my girlfriend there but another Tinder gentleman. He had his beer and left.

The other - well he was attractive, French, no accent and quite intelligent, sociable and well spoken - a lot of fun, and he bought us two pitchers of beer! A winner? Yes, I'd say so. It wasn't until after we left the bar and headed out for falafel that I saw his hand... He was disabled, his right hand was... not useable.

And this is where the idea of privilege hit me in the face.

You see, privilege is not about knowing what struggles you've faced or what battles you've had to fight to get where you are. No, privilege is about the struggles you've never had to face - whether it is being a caucasian male/ethnic male/caucasian female/ethnic female.

I realized then, that: Wow. This guy has a way harder time finding a mate than any of us can fathom. Because in the grand scheme of pay scale or college education, finding your significant other really takes the cake.

I, as an Asian Female, who has many struggles of her own (being taken seriously, being seen as many tropes or stereotypes etc.) will never have to face what this gentleman had to face. His whole life he has had a visible handicap that separates him from the rest. And as charming, as funny, as down to Earth as he was... you could not unsee his lack of privilege.

So, for the Princeton undergrad, no one is saying you've never had to struggle or face problems... but what everyone is saying, is that you cannot realize what privilege you have in being healthy, male and caucasian.

We are all gifted with the power of life and freedom to view my blog post right now. There are so many other possibilities we could have been born into: civil wars, North Korea, a child in war torn Afghanistan... and yet, we are gifted with the privilege to be debating privilege.

It is not until you walk or understand another's life that you can see what privilege is. And what this random Tinder encounter made me realize, is that privilege is subjective. It doesn't matter what sex or race you are, he was educated, male, caucasian, charming... and yet, his hand will prevent him from enjoying many aspects of life that we take for granted.

Cheap Tuesdays are a great time to enjoy the cinema. Tonight, I caught acclaimed indie director Jim Jarmusch's newest: The Only Lovers Left Alive. With a wonderful cast and hypnotizing soundtrack, this vampire tale is a prime example of a film that has all the right ingredients.



The following are my Top 3 reasons this film was so special:

1. Soundtrack & Cinematography & Art Direction
OK, I know that #1 is really three things but I want to make the list short!

That first opening shot with the two lovers, each revelling in their existence and the power of music was hypnotizing. The blend of the needle hitting the record, melting into their ethereal faces set the tone for a visual odyssey.

Match this with the selected soundtrack of classical, neo-rock/grunge, Eastern lilts and the lighter moments of the oldies really made the film a stunning montage of two lovers' very long lives.

And don't get me started on the art direction! The night is its own character as the story unfolds in a bustling and isolated Morocco, and of all places, Detroit. Two places that can be believably haunted by vampires. Then the costuming: the play of light and dark on Adam and Eve, the tattered fur of Ava really brings out the 'LA' in her. Also, don't forget the sunglasses. Since when were vampires such rockstars?

2. Cast
I cannot think of a better cast for this film. Tilda Swinton is a magnificent actress who embodies every role, once she becomes a character there is no one else better fit for it. She is both angelic and alien, dangerous and lovely, mother and sinner.

Then there is Tom Hiddleston, one of the finest theatre actors of our time. Usually when an actor has a big caliber film like Thor under his belt you cannot forget their superhero/villain persona - not the case with this actor! Hiddleston brings out eternal angst with such grace, he is sexy, endearing and laughable. The two leads were meant for these roles. Their chemistry is perfect and they are definitely my favourite vampire couple (ahem, Twilight).

Special note to the supporting cast because they were all perfect, I cannot praise a cast more than I have for this film: Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt and Jeffrey Wright.

3. Never takes itself too seriously
When you hear 'indie vampire' film, you usually think of something way too self-indulgent or don't even bother because you've seen it all before.

Let The Only Lovers Left Alive rid you of those notions! With enough smart humour and witty, well deserved laughs, this film will surprise you. Literary fans will enjoy this immensely as there are tons of easter eggs with nods/jabs to various literary heroes. There are moments where the seriousness and angst of these vampires are played upon; the nuclear family they attempt, the packing of their belongings and the hiding of a dead body. Also, enjoy seeing Detroit in its current state,  a filmmaker has never made better use of a city.

Great writing and direction as this film is not a comedy but it's not a drama either, though it's not without its emotional moments. This is definitely something special, an instant cult classic!

Well, those are my three takeaways from Jarmusch's latest. If you're into independent films and are looking for something with wit, style and substance, you've found it.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 is back and bigger than ever. The sequel really takes things to a whole new level visually and comic book fans will be pleased to see how try they stay true to many of the weaving plotlines.

We are immersed into Peter Parker's world: his relationship with Gwen Stacy is haunted by the danger that follows his masked adventures; questions about his past are answered,  and Harry Osborn is reintroduced as the menacing and unhinged rich boy. Also, Jamie Foxx creates laughs as Max Dillon whose character experiences a freak accident making him a visually impressive Electro.

I'm very impressed with the visuals, watching this on IMAX was the best choice - those fight scenes are unforgettable and really make use of 3D tech. Garfield and Stone are extremely charming and nauseatingly cute as Peter and Gwen, both lighting up the screen. What can you say, they were meant to be movie stars and on screen lovers.

This sequel surprised me with how much I actually enjoyed it. Still, the Spiderman films have always lacked some key ingredient, nothing was fresh or original, I was not once surprised and I felt like I had seen it before (well I have with Tobey McGuire).

The writers and directors need to bring Spidey deeper and not keep everything so on the surface. Even when there seems to be emotional or powerful moments they are downplayed and feel inauthentic. With the powerhouse VFX and strong actors the films could be so much more! This sequel came close but still felt a little thin, it was a lot more style than substance.

Hopefully, with the third instalment we can see a darker and more passionate side to Spidey.