Q: Do you believe in a higher power? (Love, God, Universe, Grace, Spirit, whatever) Why? Why not?
A: I do. I believe in energies and forces that work in ways we can’t comprehend. It’s a general feeling, but there have also been events and relationships that have forced me to consider the multitude of layers to this life that’s beyond the our immediate grasp.
Q: Why must you make films? (I mean, let's be honest, only a crazy person would choose to do it)
A: I’ve always been a storyteller, I’ve always written. My mother is a writer, my father was a diplomat when he was young. I also studied classical piano growing up. When I found my way to film, it felt like a natural convergence of all my interests and skills. To me, filmmaking is like life - with every project there’s a different process, and that process is dependent on so many things: the environment, the timing, your personal life at the moment, luck, etc. To go through it each and every time requires a tricky balance of force and yield that I’m still trying to figure out, and I’m sure it’s something I’ll always struggle with. When to fight, when to be patient, when to let go and when to have faith in the ‘higher powers’. Of course, I believe in the stories I have to share, but I make films because I love it and like with any great love, the act and process of loving makes me a better person.
Q: If you were at a dinner party and had to pick one of these topics for the group to discuss (sex, politics, money, religion, death, food, reincarnation) -- what would it be and why?
A: I would talk about all of those things! Sex is always fun, because it immediately forces a certain intimacy, but I think right now, I’d have to choose food. There are a few obvious reasons: food is a huge part of my cultural upbringing, food has a significant impact on the environment so topics of discussion can range from pleasure to responsibility. Food (like sex and film) is life! Right now I’m really fascinated with the idea of appetite - the food culture has really blown up in America - leave it to America to turn something so basic to every other culture into pop culture. Having an appetite for food can be the sign of an appetite for life…but what happens when appetite gets distorted? Where does it get distorted, and how? China has a beautiful history of an appetite for life that’s deeply rooted in its food, but when I go there now, that beauty has been distorted into an excess that’s grotesque. There are examples of that in this country too of course, and I’m fascinated by the psychology and sociology behind such extremes and disparity in our world today.
Q: Make up a question for me to ask the next director I photograph. You can ask ANYTHING — just please be respectful.
A: What job could you see yourself doing if you weren't a director?
Q from Christina Choe: Which sense would you rather lose if you had to? Sight, Sound, Taste, Sound, Touch.
Q: I would say sound, even though music is a huge part of my life. Maybe the quiet would allow me to sharpen my other senses, experience "sounds" through vibrations and less noise pollution would allow me to listen more closely to my inner voice? Maybe? I don't know, I'm reaching here...honestly, losing any sense seems pretty awful, but I like to think I'd make the best of it.
Q: The last time you had deja vu? What does deja vu mean to you?
A: I can’t remember. It comes and then it just goes…I think it has something to do with time. The fact that time isn’t linear, even though we experience it that way, and sometimes we experience a moment that happened in the future, in another life or another dimension. Even though it’s perplexing, I enjoy the feeling - it’s a slight reminder that what we see isn’t all that’s here.
Q: What made you laugh last? When was the last time you cried? Why?
A: My mother makes me laugh. And she makes me cry. We’re working on a script together right now so there are a lot of emotions. I cried yesterday because it felt cathartic - it’s the end of the year, which brings up a lot of reflection, and sometimes it feels like so much has happened and yet nothing has happened. You are still you, and well, everything is a process. It’s a bittersweet medley of gratitude and desire.
Q: Lastly, tell the people about your next project and where they can see your work. Thank you for your time and sharing your thoughts!
My next project is a crime drama from the perspective of a translator. It’s a story about being in between. My first feature film, “Posthumous” will be released Stateside in 2016. My short film “Touch” is now available on Hulu through NBCU http://www.hulu.com/watch/876701
You can follow me on most social media @thumbelulu and my website is www.thumbelulu.com