welcome!
Crew hard at work!
Setting up the shot!
In deep discussion
Working on the tracks!
On location
ABOUT THE MOVIE
"The Present" is about drama about a suicidal young woman's journey to self-discovery of her own strength with the help of a mysterious stranger with a connection to her through her recently deceased mother.
Time Frame
As one of the fastest changing cities in China, Shanghai is thought of as anempire that leads the rest of China in the ever-changing days of new technology and life. Traditional values and the roots of the Chinese people begin to slip away from the first glances, replaced by the high rises and westernized shops along the crowded streets. However, away from the changing city life, the deeply rooted Chinese people who still live according to traditional cultures and tides of time carry on, ignored and distanced, taking days slowly, one day at a time.
Location:
Known for the growing art scene and fast-paced lifestyle, Shanghai is the largest city in China. With hundreds of thousands of people doing what they can to get by on a day-to-day basis, Shanghai is often overlooked. But the popular phrase, "people mountain, people sea" is no lie when it comes to Shanghai. With an impressive skyline and many great views, Shanghai is known for the breathtaking atmosphere that the rest of China hopes to recreate. Which is why this will be a very beautiful city to shoot in
The Shoot
March 24th – March 30th, 2012
Themes
Major themes covered is the struggle against death and reconciliation. For Xin, especially after SARS has taken her grandparents and the sudden death of her mother, she is alone and very vulnerable. Because she had never known her father, she feels like she has nothing left to live for, thus choosing to end her own existence. Her battle is an internal struggle against the depression of being alone and trying to find a reason to continue living. For James, having long since abandoned his pregnant girlfriend and unborn child, he has felt guilt for the past 17 years. Though he had gotten married, he had never had children with his wife. When he returns to Taipei to make amends with Xin, his journey to reconciliation is difficult, but he works hard. In many ways, this idea is very much a fantasy because of the supernatural way it happens.
Director's Note
For a long time, I couldn't figure out why my mother insisted on my keeping up with the traditions of the Chinese culture. For an ABC (American born Chinese), like me, I longed for the commercialized family I saw in TV shows. I thought it pompous for Chinese people to have their own holidays and couldn't see why they insisted on following the lunar calendar. I struggled with the two cultures battling within me for so long and knew that if I chose one or the other, I would be even more miserable. I felt stuck and depressed, unable to figure out who I was and prohibited of doing what I wanted to do. I lived in such an environment for the first 21 years of my life. ... And then I grew up. Now, despite being an American, I am proud of my Chinese heritage and way of life. I've continually improved my oral Chinese skills and always take the chance to improve my illiteracy. I can drink tea like it's water and eat things that most Americans would never take a second look at. And this is all because I finally came to the understanding that I didn't have to choose between the two cultures because, in fact, they worked quite well together to make me the happy filmmaker I am today.