Celebrated the premiere of my @americanfilminstitute directorial short BITE at @lashortsfest to a packed house. Thanks for joining and supporting: producer @movefilms EP @whysrl Actress @kirstenhoang Associate Producer and storyboard artist @jamesmbristow Sound Recording Artist @suyuting0802 Production @brielleloving Script supervisor @liang4150 🙏👏👊🏽 I could not do this alone. Building together. Not pictured Swing @ownamental Musician @chihsuanyang #filmpremiere #shortfilms #shortfilmfestival
Celebrated the premiere of my @americanfilminstitute directorial short BITE at @lashortsfest to a packed house. Thanks for joining and supporting: producer @movefilms EP @whysrl Actress @kirstenhoang Associate Producer and storyboard artist @jamesmbristow Sound Recording Artist @suyuting0802 Production @brielleloving Script supervisor @liang4150 🙏👏👊🏽 I could not do this alone. Building together. Not pictured Swing @ownamental Musician @chihsuanyang #filmpremiere #shortfilms #shortfilmfestival
Celebrated the premiere of my @americanfilminstitute directorial short BITE at @lashortsfest to a packed house. Thanks for joining and supporting: producer @movefilms EP @whysrl Actress @kirstenhoang Associate Producer and storyboard artist @jamesmbristow Sound Recording Artist @suyuting0802 Production @brielleloving Script supervisor @liang4150 🙏👏👊🏽 I could not do this alone. Building together. Not pictured Swing @ownamental Musician @chihsuanyang #filmpremiere #shortfilms #shortfilmfestival
Gregory Crewdson was one photographer DP @cristina_dunlap and I talked about for creating the look of BITE. Cristina did a beautiful job in this night look. Since we shot during the HEIGHT of the pandemic while I was in the @americanfilminstitute Directing Workshop for Women – suffice it to say – this was an ambitious as F project. The film climax took place at night and I was condensed to shooting this over the course of two half nights with one giant 10k light that I could only afford to rent for one night so we could only shoot in one direction for the most important scene of the film. We had stunts and a very complex and emotional scene and just writing about it is a little triggering. Since I just listened to the podcast @hiddenbrain about failures and how we never talk about failures only our successes, I didn’t succeed in getting the final scene I wanted in my head, but I shot to the very last second before my producer shut us down due to our pandemic curfew. I think about how I could have directed that last night better, but I learned so much in making BITE. Every frame was earned, every direction I gave or failed to give, made me a better director. BITE plays this Friday at @lashortsfest Link in bio. Tix standby at door. #filmfestival photos by @olugbenga_o @mellylee_
Gregory Crewdson was one photographer DP @cristina_dunlap and I talked about for creating the look of BITE. Cristina did a beautiful job in this night look. Since we shot during the HEIGHT of the pandemic while I was in the @americanfilminstitute Directing Workshop for Women – suffice it to say – this was an ambitious as F project. The film climax took place at night and I was condensed to shooting this over the course of two half nights with one giant 10k light that I could only afford to rent for one night so we could only shoot in one direction for the most important scene of the film. We had stunts and a very complex and emotional scene and just writing about it is a little triggering. Since I just listened to the podcast @hiddenbrain about failures and how we never talk about failures only our successes, I didn’t succeed in getting the final scene I wanted in my head, but I shot to the very last second before my producer shut us down due to our pandemic curfew. I think about how I could have directed that last night better, but I learned so much in making BITE. Every frame was earned, every direction I gave or failed to give, made me a better director. BITE plays this Friday at @lashortsfest Link in bio. Tix standby at door. #filmfestival photos by @olugbenga_o @mellylee_
Gregory Crewdson was one photographer DP @cristina_dunlap and I talked about for creating the look of BITE. Cristina did a beautiful job in this night look. Since we shot during the HEIGHT of the pandemic while I was in the @americanfilminstitute Directing Workshop for Women – suffice it to say – this was an ambitious as F project. The film climax took place at night and I was condensed to shooting this over the course of two half nights with one giant 10k light that I could only afford to rent for one night so we could only shoot in one direction for the most important scene of the film. We had stunts and a very complex and emotional scene and just writing about it is a little triggering. Since I just listened to the podcast @hiddenbrain about failures and how we never talk about failures only our successes, I didn’t succeed in getting the final scene I wanted in my head, but I shot to the very last second before my producer shut us down due to our pandemic curfew. I think about how I could have directed that last night better, but I learned so much in making BITE. Every frame was earned, every direction I gave or failed to give, made me a better director. BITE plays this Friday at @lashortsfest Link in bio. Tix standby at door. #filmfestival photos by @olugbenga_o @mellylee_
Gregory Crewdson was one photographer DP @cristina_dunlap and I talked about for creating the look of BITE. Cristina did a beautiful job in this night look. Since we shot during the HEIGHT of the pandemic while I was in the @americanfilminstitute Directing Workshop for Women – suffice it to say – this was an ambitious as F project. The film climax took place at night and I was condensed to shooting this over the course of two half nights with one giant 10k light that I could only afford to rent for one night so we could only shoot in one direction for the most important scene of the film. We had stunts and a very complex and emotional scene and just writing about it is a little triggering. Since I just listened to the podcast @hiddenbrain about failures and how we never talk about failures only our successes, I didn’t succeed in getting the final scene I wanted in my head, but I shot to the very last second before my producer shut us down due to our pandemic curfew. I think about how I could have directed that last night better, but I learned so much in making BITE. Every frame was earned, every direction I gave or failed to give, made me a better director. BITE plays this Friday at @lashortsfest Link in bio. Tix standby at door. #filmfestival photos by @olugbenga_o @mellylee_
Gregory Crewdson was one photographer DP @cristina_dunlap and I talked about for creating the look of BITE. Cristina did a beautiful job in this night look. Since we shot during the HEIGHT of the pandemic while I was in the @americanfilminstitute Directing Workshop for Women – suffice it to say – this was an ambitious as F project. The film climax took place at night and I was condensed to shooting this over the course of two half nights with one giant 10k light that I could only afford to rent for one night so we could only shoot in one direction for the most important scene of the film. We had stunts and a very complex and emotional scene and just writing about it is a little triggering. Since I just listened to the podcast @hiddenbrain about failures and how we never talk about failures only our successes, I didn’t succeed in getting the final scene I wanted in my head, but I shot to the very last second before my producer shut us down due to our pandemic curfew. I think about how I could have directed that last night better, but I learned so much in making BITE. Every frame was earned, every direction I gave or failed to give, made me a better director. BITE plays this Friday at @lashortsfest Link in bio. Tix standby at door. #filmfestival photos by @olugbenga_o @mellylee_
Thank you @ciffcalgary programmers Adam Keresztes, Brian Owens, Brenda Lieberman, Guy Lavallee, Eman Safadi and team for including Nian into their 2023 lineup. I love Calgary and we are so honored to be back in Canada. Hello, Alberta! Screening info should be posted shortly and link can be found in the bio. 🙏 #ciff2023 #filmfestival #shortfilm #nianiscoming Photo by @mellylee_
In NIAN, Gertie played by @lauren.m3i stands up to her racist bully. I cast Lauren with the help of John Walcutt head of @ocsa.acting. Lauren had been on my radar for my previous short BITE but she was too young at the time. John brought more of his students to play background students. Everyone was paid and we were able to give a couple actors their union eligibility. I started acting when I was 11 years old and I started my career in small projects like these. Just being on set was so thrilling. So proud to be directing and employing actors now. Nian plays at the wonderful @femaleeye film festival this Friday 7/28. Tickets in bio. #filmfestival #shortfilms 📸 @mellylee_ Production design by @angranli
In NIAN, Gertie played by @lauren.m3i stands up to her racist bully. I cast Lauren with the help of John Walcutt head of @ocsa.acting. Lauren had been on my radar for my previous short BITE but she was too young at the time. John brought more of his students to play background students. Everyone was paid and we were able to give a couple actors their union eligibility. I started acting when I was 11 years old and I started my career in small projects like these. Just being on set was so thrilling. So proud to be directing and employing actors now. Nian plays at the wonderful @femaleeye film festival this Friday 7/28. Tickets in bio. #filmfestival #shortfilms 📸 @mellylee_ Production design by @angranli
@mkdirects NIAN travels to #riiff2023 Festival Aug 7-13, 2023! Hello east coast. My home coast. #filmfestival #filmlife🎬 #riiff
#mkdirects I designed the role of Ah-Ma around legendary Butoh actress, dancer and performer Dawn Saito. I was so grateful when she said yes and she told me she had so much fun in our film which made me tickled. Her lines get the best laughs. Nian plays @fantasiafestival july 30 4:00pm in Montreal, Canada. Ticket link in bio. 🙏👺#filmfestival #shortfilms #genrefilmfestival #genre #nian photo by @mellylee_
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Congratulations to the team for the very long awaited LA premiere of BITE at @lashortsfest. This film was my pandemic baby. (Tix in bio) Tremendous thanks to the folks who helped make it happen! Featured here @kirstenhoang photographed by @mellylee_ ✨✨✨ @guoguocricket @movefilms @whysrl @duonguyen1212 @adhdallison @optimistak888 @joyceliucountryman @jamesmbristow @celinerosenthal @erwin.rome @cristina_dunlap @mboni_mau @ashleymonti @eldadguetta @jojosiucostumes @angelayoung__ @kristenyunjingyun @kirstenhoang @mark.spears.acting.tips @jcestunts @juliepheng Mikhail Saburov, Sina Basir, Rachel Fox, @dp.tanishamoreno @arianahoshino LT Chang, @mellylee_ @olugbenga_o @justingarciafilms @kaleacway @egillcole @lukosevicius @haley_minyoung_kreofsky @robertlhunter AJ Starzak, Connor Bjornson, @angranli @cloversingsilento @edwarddelacruz_ May May, Natnaree R, @liang4150 @producercg @christineandthescreens Anthony Gonzalez, @reellooksbybrittany @jenichua @pavyartist @rikachuuable @brielleloving @mel0dy_s Ken Chang, @ownamental Amanda Lamb, Trevor Larson, @alsoharry @xiaojiewu3 @suyuting0802 Dennis DC Cheng, @joshkessler @chihsuanyang @tunnelpost_sm @midnightkidsstudios Michael Tuller, Penelope Orpe, Chris Tenore Special thanks names cut off: @christinadiamantas @chopsfilms @feeling__tone @subwayalice @ronyuan Cindy Cheung, Karishma Dube, Tony Tony, Grace Evangelista Park, Dreamers #filmfestival #shortfilmfestival @americanfilminstitute
Announced today! Our UK premiere is @celluloidscreams! We are so thrilled to be at this incredibly programmed genre fest. I already know this is one energetic, fun filled, audience lead experience. Thank you Robert Nevitt and team, we can’t wait. Also featured in the image is our leading actress @lauren.m3i who is Harvard bound! Go Lauren!!!#nianiscoming #sheffield #unitedkingdom #filmfestival #horrorfest photo by @mellylee_
@fantasiafestival is a big festival but still retains a laid back atmosphere where filmmakers can meet and support one another. I met some fabulous directors in my Born Of Woman block (Sophie Bierand’s The Taster was a fave of mine) and I was blown away by the Small Gauge short block as well. Check out french short Alex’s Machine. Love the themes in Birth/Rebirth direction by @mxlauramoss co-writer @brendanboom508 Friends I made: Sweet Juices @suen_will @louser.lts Shoulder @go_well_kimj @michaelgabrieledirector we both played same block in LA Shorts) His entire family showed up for his film! What a fuzzy feeling to have your family show up like that. Wish I could attend all the festivals Nian has played and will continue to play 🍾🍾🍾 but since my industry is on pause to fight corporate greed, I may have to do it virtually from here on out. Another film that really 🤯 was Skin Deep by Alex Schaad (triple threat y’all) Catch it if you can. Thank you Fantasia, Mitch Davis and team @kingwei2001 @stevenshunlee for some fond memories. #filmfestival #nianiscoming #sagaftrastrong #mkdirects
Don’t f—- with Grandma! #Nian is headed to @ravenheartfilmfest! We are back in EU in Oslo’s only genre festival! I loved filming in Norway on Far North. Excited a piece of my soul shall return. Thank you for having us Adam and Team #riffoslo #filmfestival #nianiscoming #shortfilm
Thank you @femaleeye for our Honorable Mention! Feeling so very seen with this film Nian. 🙏🙏🙏 #mkdirects #filmfestival #honorablemention #shortfilmawards
Visited #sagradafamilia over 20 years ago co-hosting Travelers. I was such a noob. Nice to see this beauty again. Here I am re-aligning. ✨✨✨Writing from a different place. #sagaftrastrong #standinginsolidarity #barcelonacity
