Lately, we have now seen a number of brief movies making waves due to their revolutionary storytelling. One such movie is Wendi Tang’s ‘FISHTANK,’ which tells the story of a younger girl named Jules (Tiffany Chu) who can’t cease vomiting GOLDFISH for some purpose. Because the story strikes ahead, followers get to know what’s the purpose behind it and the way Jules is making an attempt to navigate her life by way of sure conditions. Though the narratives round loneliness and sobriety have been tackled in a number of tasks, it hasn’t been informed on this manner earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and revolutionary storytelling at its perfect and doesn’t shrink back from taking a tough route. Tang, who has attended NYU Tisch College of Arts, has made certain that followers bear in mind the movie for a really very long time after the top credit roll in. The film had its premiere at this yr’s HollyShorts Movie Pageant, which is an Oscar-qualifying pageant, and earned constructive evaluations. I obtained the prospect to speak to filmmaker Wendi Tang about her brief movie and the way she managed to create such a singular story surrounding isolation.
Fishtank Film Poster (@Instagram/fishtan.mov)
Aayush Sharma: Congratulations on the film ‘Fishtank,’ however earlier than we speak concerning the movie. I might like to find out about your journey within the leisure trade.
Wendi Tang: I used to be born and raised in China and went to New York for school. I went to NYU Tisch College of Arts, it’s the varsity the place Ang Lee, and Chloe Zhao, a variety of very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and every little thing. And, yeah, in the course of the journey, I used to be within the twin diploma program, so I attended the Tisch College of the Arts, however I additionally attended the Stern College of Enterprise. So I maintain a enterprise diploma, simply so everybody is aware of. (laughs) Not that it issues, however, yeah, in order that program was actually intense, nevertheless it made me assured and decided that I wish to turn into a writer-director. Earlier than I began writing my stuff, I attempted totally different sections of the leisure trade, particularly the movie and TV trade. I attempted publicity, I attempted growth and simply by way of these processes, I noticed I wished to get myself as shut as potential to the precise manufacturing course of. So I made a decision to start out writing my very own tales, and after writing these tales, I’m like, I ought to simply make these as a result of they’re my tales, and I do know the small print and all of the deep secrets and techniques concerning the story, so I must be the one to direct it. Directing has additionally been one other ardour for me, as a result of after I was a child, I used to be a type of children that might, like, I would be the chief within the group and be like, let’s act out the scene from yesterday’s TV present. So, I didn’t benefit from the firsthand appearing expertise, however I loved directing different folks to complete the scene. So I really feel like that type of planted a very deep root inside six-year-old me making an attempt to determine what I wish to do sooner or later. However for filmmaking, it’s at all times arduous, particularly in the event you come from an Asian background. So it took me a very long time to actually show to my dad and mom that that is what I wish to do for my life. I’m glad I continued. As a result of there have been a variety of setbacks in the course of the course of. Stress from them (household), from the atmosphere, monetary strain, and different stuff. I feel for now, I’m fairly assured to say that I could make a dwelling by being a filmmaker, and I wish to maintain doing it. I wish to maintain writing and directing.
Aayush Sharma: What was the primary occasion if you determined that you simply wished to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I stated, as a toddler, I type of wish to. I type of wished to be the chief, the conductor of the whole group, however I didn’t fairly perceive the method of directing but. So I feel it was actually after I began my schooling at NYU, it taught me what it’s, being a director, that you need to perceive each facet of the movie, from pre-production to post-production, from growth to advertising and marketing. So I type of attempt to expose myself as a lot as potential to that info, to that data. So it took me a very long time to get assured in the truth that I might be a director as a result of I at all times had a variety of self-doubt in myself, and, like, I at all times doubted it. Oh, am I good at writing? Am I good at speaking to folks? Am I good at explaining issues on set in a really environment friendly method? However I feel it was the schooling at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot a variety of movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, greater scale ones. By the method, I by some means obtained to know that I’m proficient in these areas, that I can do just a bit higher than I anticipated and I ought to maintain doing it. I might say it’s like a by way of line by way of my childhood, nevertheless it landed on the concept I wished to turn into a director after I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far probably the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this yr. It’s a type of titles, you already know, that require you to concentrate on a number of little issues. So, how did you give you an concept that’s so distinctive and has by no means been tackled earlier than in typical cinema?
Wendi: I’m so glad you picked up these little concepts. I attempted so arduous to plant them. So speaking concerning the origin, like, the unique story of the movie, I might say they arrive from two elements. Like, twofold. One is likely one of the wildest desires that I had. Like, the very bizarre, unusual desires that I had. So the direct inspiration got here from one of many desires the place I dreamt of myself strolling in a abandoned place, like, unexpectedly, I wished to throw up. I type of know that I used to be within the dream at the moment, however I wasn’t fairly certain. However the feeling of desirous to throw up didn’t cease and earlier than I may understand what was occurring, I already noticed a dwelling goldfish touchdown on my palm and I awoke. That picture woke me up. I used to be like, what does that imply? What does that imply to me? So I broke down the concept, and it took me some time to dive into the method of self-introspection and see how this picture may connect with my previous, my emotions, and what it means for me sooner or later. I at all times believed desires, they’ve some meanings. They’re a mirrored image of your unconscious. So, at any time when I obtained woken up by these bizarre desires, I attempted to determine one thing. In order that’s one a part of the story. The opposite a part of the story was I used to be not allowed to have pets as a child as a result of my dad and mom didn’t like furry animals.
In order a child, the one pet I obtained to have was a Goldfish. It was like a bit fish ball with two or three goldfish in it. Like, I used to be the one child within the household, like, I didn’t have siblings, and I didn’t have cousins of my age, so I spent a variety of time simply with my goldfish as a child. However as an alternative of, like, after I regarded into them, as an alternative of these emotions the place, you already know, in Asian cultures, they normally affiliate goldfish with actually good meanings, like luck, prosperity. However as an alternative of that, after I regarded on the fish, I immediately felt like after I regarded into their eyes, I felt unhappy. Once I was trying into them, I used to be like, why? I imply, the fish, solely have 7 seconds of reminiscences or one thing. They don’t bear in mind something. However after I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when folks feed them the fish meals, like, they gained’t bear in mind they’ve had it earlier than. They’ve had it like, 2 seconds in the past, I threw it to them. That they had one, after which they swam round for a bit, and I threw one other to them. They don’t bear in mind that they had it, and they’d do it once more. And ultimately, like, if I do know that if I maintain throwing meals to them, they’ll maintain consuming until they die, I feel that’s the unhappy a part of it. There have been moments after I thought again to these moments after I regarded into the fish, I by some means felt like I relate to them. I do know what they’re feeling at the moment. In order that’s one other a part of the story that made me wish to visualize the story, to let folks hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Photograph Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m improper. Whereas watching the film, I noticed that, Jules vomiting goldfish is a reminder that one thing isn’t proper in her world. We see her first time vomiting whereas assembly a pervert man. Then we see her doing the identical when she goes to the AA assembly, which she doesn’t look considering. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly important. So, was that additionally an concept behind displaying Jules and her struggles?
Wendi: The visualization of her inside struggles and the time when she will get uncomfortable or will get triggered by the skin world, not simply males. I wished to make it clear as a result of I at all times consider {that a} girl’s life isn’t at all times about males. We now have our personal lives. We now have issues that we care about. We now have issues that we would like, we need. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively together with her inside struggles, together with her need for connections, for real connections together with her personal. She desires to maintain her life in management. Yeah, it’s like all these issues that type of make her vomit the fish. When she will get triggered, you already know.
Aayush: You have proven very totally different visible kinds for showcasing Jules’ world. After we meet her for the primary time, it’s very darkish and, makes us understand about her world. However issues immediately change when the fish fanatic enters her life, the lighting turns into extra vibrant Why did you select such contrasting colours and lighting to indicate Jules’s world?
Wendi: Yeah, that was fully intentional with me and my cinematographer, Jay, and we mentioned the visible language some time earlier than the manufacturing, that we don’t need the viewers to really feel too snug strolling away from the movie. I need them to recollect, or not less than among the photos and the sentiments that these photos give them. So Jules herself within the outdoors world, like, I at all times wished to provide a sense of isolation. Like, though she’s standing very near different folks, standing in a really small area with a full home of individuals dancing, the sensation that she will get herself is lonely, that she’s remoted from the world. She’s not connecting with the remainder of the world. In order that’s why I selected a darker palette for the skin world. However as soon as she will get dwelling, though it’s a very small condominium for herself, it’s stuffed together with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into a bit paradise for her on this very chaotic outdoors world to create. So I wished to create a distinction so folks really feel what Jules feels when she enters her world. That’s her world.
Aayush: You’re working with such an exceptional actor, Tiffany Chu. So, what was the casting course of like for the movie? Additionally, was Tiffany Chu at all times the primary selection for taking part in the function of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really fascinating story as a result of after I was searching for the appropriate actress for this function, I wished somebody who not solely understands Jules, however has a really wealthy understanding of girls’s place within the trade. They’ve their very own opinion about it and Tiffany matches completely for the function. I obtained launched to Tiffany by way of my casting director, and instantly after we obtained linked, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a couple of script for a bit bit, however for the remainder of the time, we had been principally speaking about our personal experiences, about our emotions, about what we really feel like, and what we predict. I feel it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the appropriate one. She’s the right selection for this function. Additionally, I watched Tiffany’s earlier work, and I really feel like I at all times consider she has a very highly effective core in her efficiency, and that didn’t get explored totally in among the earlier work. So I wish to see her use that core to a higher extent. So, that grew to become our collaboration. I’m very glad to have her.
Aayush: The story of ‘Fishtank’ may be divided into two elements. Primary is the surreal half, which is just like the vomiting of the goldfish, AND we haven’t seen something like this earlier than. then the second half talks about real-life points, whether or not it’s associated to loneliness or sobriety. SO, how do you draw the road between that you simply don’t overdo each of those parts and also you keep on the trail that you simply wished to indicate?
Wendi: I like the query as a result of that was considered one of my issues in my writing course of. I at all times knew I wished to increase on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. Nevertheless it’s additionally crucial to land the idea on precise plots, to interact with folks as a result of it’s not a purely experimental movie. It’s a story movie. It’s an experimental narrative that I need folks to nonetheless get issues out of it after they watch the movie. I feel a variety of the method was to dive deeper into my emotions and the incidents I’ve personally skilled earlier than. Like, I throw myself right into a world the place I consider if I get uncomfortable, I’ll throw up a goldfish. I feel it takes a variety of religion and perception on the earth that you simply’re constructing so you may seamlessly sew collectively the idea and the story. Yeah, that was my course of. I feel as soon as I figured that out, writing them collectively wasn’t as arduous as I assumed. It grew to become a really pure, natural course of to consider in what I’m writing and to. I consider I’ve to consider in myself. I’ve to consider within the story to make different folks consider.
Aayush: Now that the film goes to HollyShorts. How do you assume that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s an awesome query, as a result of after we had our world premiere on the deadCenter Movie Pageant, which can be an Oscar-qualifying pageant in Oklahoma. I attended the pageant as a result of I wished to listen to and really feel what the viewers felt concerning the movie. I used to be actually glad that the majority of them knew what I used to be making an attempt to say. Even when they don’t decide up all the small print fully, they’re capable of decide up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually fearful that individuals might be like, what is that this? That is so bizarre. I don’t get it. I imply, I’m certain some folks don’t get it, however I’m actually glad to, join with these audiences who perceive what I’m making an attempt to say. Yeah, and I hope I’ll have higher reactions from the viewers and HollyShorts as effectively.
Lately, we have now seen a number of brief movies making waves due to their revolutionary storytelling. One such movie is Wendi Tang’s ‘FISHTANK,’ which tells the story of a younger girl named Jules (Tiffany Chu) who can’t cease vomiting GOLDFISH for some purpose. Because the story strikes ahead, followers get to know what’s the purpose behind it and the way Jules is making an attempt to navigate her life by way of sure conditions. Though the narratives round loneliness and sobriety have been tackled in a number of tasks, it hasn’t been informed on this manner earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and revolutionary storytelling at its perfect and doesn’t shrink back from taking a tough route. Tang, who has attended NYU Tisch College of Arts, has made certain that followers bear in mind the movie for a really very long time after the top credit roll in. The film had its premiere at this yr’s HollyShorts Movie Pageant, which is an Oscar-qualifying pageant, and earned constructive evaluations. I obtained the prospect to speak to filmmaker Wendi Tang about her brief movie and the way she managed to create such a singular story surrounding isolation.
Fishtank Film Poster (@Instagram/fishtan.mov)
Aayush Sharma: Congratulations on the film ‘Fishtank,’ however earlier than we speak concerning the movie. I might like to find out about your journey within the leisure trade.
Wendi Tang: I used to be born and raised in China and went to New York for school. I went to NYU Tisch College of Arts, it’s the varsity the place Ang Lee, and Chloe Zhao, a variety of very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and every little thing. And, yeah, in the course of the journey, I used to be within the twin diploma program, so I attended the Tisch College of the Arts, however I additionally attended the Stern College of Enterprise. So I maintain a enterprise diploma, simply so everybody is aware of. (laughs) Not that it issues, however, yeah, in order that program was actually intense, nevertheless it made me assured and decided that I wish to turn into a writer-director. Earlier than I began writing my stuff, I attempted totally different sections of the leisure trade, particularly the movie and TV trade. I attempted publicity, I attempted growth and simply by way of these processes, I noticed I wished to get myself as shut as potential to the precise manufacturing course of. So I made a decision to start out writing my very own tales, and after writing these tales, I’m like, I ought to simply make these as a result of they’re my tales, and I do know the small print and all of the deep secrets and techniques concerning the story, so I must be the one to direct it. Directing has additionally been one other ardour for me, as a result of after I was a child, I used to be a type of children that might, like, I would be the chief within the group and be like, let’s act out the scene from yesterday’s TV present. So, I didn’t benefit from the firsthand appearing expertise, however I loved directing different folks to complete the scene. So I really feel like that type of planted a very deep root inside six-year-old me making an attempt to determine what I wish to do sooner or later. However for filmmaking, it’s at all times arduous, particularly in the event you come from an Asian background. So it took me a very long time to actually show to my dad and mom that that is what I wish to do for my life. I’m glad I continued. As a result of there have been a variety of setbacks in the course of the course of. Stress from them (household), from the atmosphere, monetary strain, and different stuff. I feel for now, I’m fairly assured to say that I could make a dwelling by being a filmmaker, and I wish to maintain doing it. I wish to maintain writing and directing.
Aayush Sharma: What was the primary occasion if you determined that you simply wished to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I stated, as a toddler, I type of wish to. I type of wished to be the chief, the conductor of the whole group, however I didn’t fairly perceive the method of directing but. So I feel it was actually after I began my schooling at NYU, it taught me what it’s, being a director, that you need to perceive each facet of the movie, from pre-production to post-production, from growth to advertising and marketing. So I type of attempt to expose myself as a lot as potential to that info, to that data. So it took me a very long time to get assured in the truth that I might be a director as a result of I at all times had a variety of self-doubt in myself, and, like, I at all times doubted it. Oh, am I good at writing? Am I good at speaking to folks? Am I good at explaining issues on set in a really environment friendly method? However I feel it was the schooling at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot a variety of movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, greater scale ones. By the method, I by some means obtained to know that I’m proficient in these areas, that I can do just a bit higher than I anticipated and I ought to maintain doing it. I might say it’s like a by way of line by way of my childhood, nevertheless it landed on the concept I wished to turn into a director after I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far probably the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this yr. It’s a type of titles, you already know, that require you to concentrate on a number of little issues. So, how did you give you an concept that’s so distinctive and has by no means been tackled earlier than in typical cinema?
Wendi: I’m so glad you picked up these little concepts. I attempted so arduous to plant them. So speaking concerning the origin, like, the unique story of the movie, I might say they arrive from two elements. Like, twofold. One is likely one of the wildest desires that I had. Like, the very bizarre, unusual desires that I had. So the direct inspiration got here from one of many desires the place I dreamt of myself strolling in a abandoned place, like, unexpectedly, I wished to throw up. I type of know that I used to be within the dream at the moment, however I wasn’t fairly certain. However the feeling of desirous to throw up didn’t cease and earlier than I may understand what was occurring, I already noticed a dwelling goldfish touchdown on my palm and I awoke. That picture woke me up. I used to be like, what does that imply? What does that imply to me? So I broke down the concept, and it took me some time to dive into the method of self-introspection and see how this picture may connect with my previous, my emotions, and what it means for me sooner or later. I at all times believed desires, they’ve some meanings. They’re a mirrored image of your unconscious. So, at any time when I obtained woken up by these bizarre desires, I attempted to determine one thing. In order that’s one a part of the story. The opposite a part of the story was I used to be not allowed to have pets as a child as a result of my dad and mom didn’t like furry animals.
In order a child, the one pet I obtained to have was a Goldfish. It was like a bit fish ball with two or three goldfish in it. Like, I used to be the one child within the household, like, I didn’t have siblings, and I didn’t have cousins of my age, so I spent a variety of time simply with my goldfish as a child. However as an alternative of, like, after I regarded into them, as an alternative of these emotions the place, you already know, in Asian cultures, they normally affiliate goldfish with actually good meanings, like luck, prosperity. However as an alternative of that, after I regarded on the fish, I immediately felt like after I regarded into their eyes, I felt unhappy. Once I was trying into them, I used to be like, why? I imply, the fish, solely have 7 seconds of reminiscences or one thing. They don’t bear in mind something. However after I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when folks feed them the fish meals, like, they gained’t bear in mind they’ve had it earlier than. They’ve had it like, 2 seconds in the past, I threw it to them. That they had one, after which they swam round for a bit, and I threw one other to them. They don’t bear in mind that they had it, and they’d do it once more. And ultimately, like, if I do know that if I maintain throwing meals to them, they’ll maintain consuming until they die, I feel that’s the unhappy a part of it. There have been moments after I thought again to these moments after I regarded into the fish, I by some means felt like I relate to them. I do know what they’re feeling at the moment. In order that’s one other a part of the story that made me wish to visualize the story, to let folks hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Photograph Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m improper. Whereas watching the film, I noticed that, Jules vomiting goldfish is a reminder that one thing isn’t proper in her world. We see her first time vomiting whereas assembly a pervert man. Then we see her doing the identical when she goes to the AA assembly, which she doesn’t look considering. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly important. So, was that additionally an concept behind displaying Jules and her struggles?
Wendi: The visualization of her inside struggles and the time when she will get uncomfortable or will get triggered by the skin world, not simply males. I wished to make it clear as a result of I at all times consider {that a} girl’s life isn’t at all times about males. We now have our personal lives. We now have issues that we care about. We now have issues that we would like, we need. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively together with her inside struggles, together with her need for connections, for real connections together with her personal. She desires to maintain her life in management. Yeah, it’s like all these issues that type of make her vomit the fish. When she will get triggered, you already know.
Aayush: You have proven very totally different visible kinds for showcasing Jules’ world. After we meet her for the primary time, it’s very darkish and, makes us understand about her world. However issues immediately change when the fish fanatic enters her life, the lighting turns into extra vibrant Why did you select such contrasting colours and lighting to indicate Jules’s world?
Wendi: Yeah, that was fully intentional with me and my cinematographer, Jay, and we mentioned the visible language some time earlier than the manufacturing, that we don’t need the viewers to really feel too snug strolling away from the movie. I need them to recollect, or not less than among the photos and the sentiments that these photos give them. So Jules herself within the outdoors world, like, I at all times wished to provide a sense of isolation. Like, though she’s standing very near different folks, standing in a really small area with a full home of individuals dancing, the sensation that she will get herself is lonely, that she’s remoted from the world. She’s not connecting with the remainder of the world. In order that’s why I selected a darker palette for the skin world. However as soon as she will get dwelling, though it’s a very small condominium for herself, it’s stuffed together with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into a bit paradise for her on this very chaotic outdoors world to create. So I wished to create a distinction so folks really feel what Jules feels when she enters her world. That’s her world.
Aayush: You’re working with such an exceptional actor, Tiffany Chu. So, what was the casting course of like for the movie? Additionally, was Tiffany Chu at all times the primary selection for taking part in the function of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really fascinating story as a result of after I was searching for the appropriate actress for this function, I wished somebody who not solely understands Jules, however has a really wealthy understanding of girls’s place within the trade. They’ve their very own opinion about it and Tiffany matches completely for the function. I obtained launched to Tiffany by way of my casting director, and instantly after we obtained linked, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a couple of script for a bit bit, however for the remainder of the time, we had been principally speaking about our personal experiences, about our emotions, about what we really feel like, and what we predict. I feel it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the appropriate one. She’s the right selection for this function. Additionally, I watched Tiffany’s earlier work, and I really feel like I at all times consider she has a very highly effective core in her efficiency, and that didn’t get explored totally in among the earlier work. So I wish to see her use that core to a higher extent. So, that grew to become our collaboration. I’m very glad to have her.
Aayush: The story of ‘Fishtank’ may be divided into two elements. Primary is the surreal half, which is just like the vomiting of the goldfish, AND we haven’t seen something like this earlier than. then the second half talks about real-life points, whether or not it’s associated to loneliness or sobriety. SO, how do you draw the road between that you simply don’t overdo each of those parts and also you keep on the trail that you simply wished to indicate?
Wendi: I like the query as a result of that was considered one of my issues in my writing course of. I at all times knew I wished to increase on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. Nevertheless it’s additionally crucial to land the idea on precise plots, to interact with folks as a result of it’s not a purely experimental movie. It’s a story movie. It’s an experimental narrative that I need folks to nonetheless get issues out of it after they watch the movie. I feel a variety of the method was to dive deeper into my emotions and the incidents I’ve personally skilled earlier than. Like, I throw myself right into a world the place I consider if I get uncomfortable, I’ll throw up a goldfish. I feel it takes a variety of religion and perception on the earth that you simply’re constructing so you may seamlessly sew collectively the idea and the story. Yeah, that was my course of. I feel as soon as I figured that out, writing them collectively wasn’t as arduous as I assumed. It grew to become a really pure, natural course of to consider in what I’m writing and to. I consider I’ve to consider in myself. I’ve to consider within the story to make different folks consider.
Aayush: Now that the film goes to HollyShorts. How do you assume that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s an awesome query, as a result of after we had our world premiere on the deadCenter Movie Pageant, which can be an Oscar-qualifying pageant in Oklahoma. I attended the pageant as a result of I wished to listen to and really feel what the viewers felt concerning the movie. I used to be actually glad that the majority of them knew what I used to be making an attempt to say. Even when they don’t decide up all the small print fully, they’re capable of decide up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually fearful that individuals might be like, what is that this? That is so bizarre. I don’t get it. I imply, I’m certain some folks don’t get it, however I’m actually glad to, join with these audiences who perceive what I’m making an attempt to say. Yeah, and I hope I’ll have higher reactions from the viewers and HollyShorts as effectively.
