5 Questions with Christina Yoon ("Mirror")
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?
I’m a Korean American filmmaker from New York and Atlanta. I’ve always been interested in and obsessed with movies since I was a child. I ended up attending NYU Tisch for undergrad, where I first started filmmaking. Then I spent time freelance directing and assistant directing in South Korea before enrolling in grad school for film at Columbia.
2) What was the initial idea for this project and how did it evolve from there?
It started when an image came to mind of an Asian woman with a scarred face walking the streets of Flushing. From there, I became interested in the often painful disparity between one’s inner self and outer appearance, specifically the alienation of wanting to reject the image you see in the mirror.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And the easiest part?
The biggest challenge was shooting in several different locations all over Queens in just three days. We had quite an intense schedule, and it was also my first time working with SFX makeup. The easiest part was working with our fantastic actors and getting genuine performances.
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
I recently saw Loveless (2017) by Andrey Zvyaginstev. The control and precise direction in this film immediately lets you know you’re in good hands. I was able to dive into the story and performances without being distracted by any expository writing or over-shooting. Powerful and devastating with shots that remind me of a Russian landscape painting.
5) What’s next for you?
I’m very excited to be shooting my thesis film in Korea this June - about a Korean adoptee who is searching for her birth mother. I’m also finishing up grad school and writing/developing my feature on the same topic.
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www.christina-yoon.com | IG: @ctinayoon | Twitter: @ctinayoon