Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
HJ: I can’t remember the why exactly as it’s been over a decade since I decided to do this, but I keep doing it because I like the feeling of being on set. It has a family kind of vibe to it and it makes it a little bit less exhausting. It’s also the only thing I’m kind of good at so I am kind of stuck in this horrible job field.
Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
HJ: “Artery & Vain” is my freshman film at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. It hasn’t screened anywhere majorly, just small and private screenings in New York. I submitted it to a couple different film festivals but don’t have high hopes for the outcome. Most likely it will be accepted no where and eventually be put online where if I’m lucky 50 people will watch it.
Q: What else are you working on?
HJ: My next film that I’m directing is called “Fabrication”. It’s a film about schizophrenia and paranoia, because its essentially a requirement for millennial filmmakers to do something with these subject matters. But the film is starring only Muppets. So that’s cool. That film will hopefully be done around December.
Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
HJ: Artery & Vain was shot over the course of five hours. We rented a hotel room in Chelsea and that pretty much drained all of our budget. So we only had the one night and had to get all of it without the need of reshoots. It was very stressful. We had to use a skeleton crew so that we had room for everyone. The sound department essentially made the shower their room of operation. Also, most of the crew speaks English as their second language. The DP, AD, and AC are all from China originally and they all did an amazing job, and the film wouldn’t be the same without them. Proving that the Chinese are ten times more talented than American filmmakers.
Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
HJ: Creative Hell Entertainment is my production company. I don’t have a website, but my Vimeo and Youtube have all my films. Beyond that, Dark_Americana is my Instagram and you can see most of my updates as well as other films I work on there.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
HJ: It’s a fun time. It’s a good place to screen your films and see an audience reaction beyond likes on Facebook. And that’s always nice.
Artery & Vain will screen at The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, August 17th at The Bug Theatre.