The Cannes Film Festival, where the phenomenon of international co-production arose in the late 1940s, is an international film festival whose 76th edition will be held May 16-27.
And, award-winning filmmaker WenChun “Catherine” Cheng, who was privileged to work there last year, suggested it was an inspirational and great experience, explaining, “I got to meet and learn from BAFTA-winning director Kari Skogland, who has worked on The Handmaid’s Tale series, and directed all six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for Marvel. While becoming one of Hollywood’s most prolific female directors of one-hour dramas, she is also very generous and even introduced me to work on other projects. My job at the festival was to introduce VR films and be familiar with the awarded projects. This experience helped me see the future of the industry, and where it may be heading.”
“The first time Catherine and I talked, I could feel the creative energy inside her. Catherine is very keen on music, and she immediately proposed to narrate in the form of dance, expressing the concept of the vitality of these umbrellas through non-existent characters.—Hsu Jen Huang (creator of the Umbrella in the Beyond the River music video)"
Cheng’s own short films have earned acclaim and awards on the indie festival circuit, including the rousing Beyond the River music video, which earned Official Selections at the Experimental, Dance & Music Film Festival and SHORT TO THE POINT festival. She offers, “Beyond the River is a music video that showcases how music and dance can bring people of all ages and backgrounds together, inspired by my experience filming the documentary North Pipe. As for North Pipe, my goal was to introduce people to traditional BeiGuan music and to spark interest in listening to and playing it.”
Most importantly, she says film producers and commercial clients appreciate the qualities and assets she brings to the table. The Taiwan-born filmmaker enthuses, “I feel my strength lies in being optimistic. I always try to maintain a positive outlook and believe that things will work out in the end. In addition to my optimism, my experience of working in a Michelin-rated restaurant during my college days has taught me much PATIENCE, to remain calm and composed under pressure. This is a valuable skill that I bring to the table when it comes to managing the production process and making sure everything runs smoothly.”
Apart from her hands-on restaurant experience, Cheng says her BA studies in literature helped her develop skills in storytelling and understanding how to structure a narrative: “I also used the extra time to make short films and documentaries, which allowed me to gain experience in the film industry. However, I realized that I needed to learn practical aspects of filmmaking to succeed in the business. That's why I decided to pursue an MFA at Savannah College of Art and Design, where I learned more practical skills.”
Moreover, Cheng displays elements of human compassion in many of her narrative and documentary projects. For example, The Hare is a short film about a young girl's strained relationship with her demanding mother: “This film was inspired by my own experiences with my mother and the idea of expectations and pressures placed on children by their parents. The film explores themes of family, forgiveness, and self-discovery.”
Next, she continues on with Yao-Hua, which was an award winner for Best Foreign-Language Short at the Indie X Film Fest. In this poignant short, a son says to his forgetful aging mother, "It's okay, I'll remember you," and Cheng suggests, “This is a bittersweet reminder of the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with loved ones. The film explores themes of memory, loss, and the impact that even brief encounters can have on our lives.”
Additionally, on her award-winning crime short, Choice, she says she was inspired to give a voice to those who have experienced abuse—in this case, men. She describes her intention: “By sharing their stories, we hope to break down the stigma surrounding this issue and encourage men to speak out and seek help. Additionally, we wanted to challenge stereotypes and encourage viewers to think critically about the issue of domestic violence.”
From a visual aspect, Cheng was also inspired, explaining, “Regarding the film’s look, I had extensive discussions with the DP to achieve the desired visual style, drawing inspiration from various references such as director Bong Joon Ho's films—the use of different colors, lighting, and space in different settings was utilized to convey the emotions and themes of the story. Overall, the various elements of directing, writing, and producing all work together to create a cohesive and impactful movie.”
Moreover, when it comes to underlying messages in her films, she says, “As a filmmaker, I'm deeply interested in exploring the human experience and emotions through my projects, and I often use poignant and thought-provoking words and quotes to capture the essence of what I'm trying to convey.”
Cheng has more to say about Bong Joon Ho whose film Parasite won 4 Oscar awards and which showed how greed and class discrimination threaten a symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. Cheng says, “Growing up, I was inspired by the movie The Lion King and a bunch of pirate blockbusters, like Pirates of the Caribbean—real escapist fare where I wanted to go. As I grew older, I became interested in the films of director Bong Joon Ho. I admire him for his skillful use of space, shot design, and staging to convey his stories more effectively. Bong is also a master at misdirection, and he often uses ensemble staging to achieve this. I appreciate how he uses his films to communicate about social issues that he believes matter, such as capitalism and social inequality.”
“Creating impactful” films is what Cheng attempts to do with her projects, whether her storytelling is via documentary (like North Pipe, and now working to produce a documentary on a K-Pop group); or, narrative (The Hare, Yao Hua, Choice). But she’s also into creating impactful stories in commercial work she does like directing advertisements for CrossBond brand consultant.Co Ltd including two EVO Phancie makeup advertisements, and she’s now working on some gaming commercials. She adds, “Storytelling can come in many ways, so I'm always open to all forms, including big event commercials.”
Check out WenChun “Catherine” Cheng’s website. And, drop in on her films on Vimeo, and her pages on IMDb, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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