In recent times, 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 lady named Jules (Tiffany Chu) who can’t cease vomiting GOLDFISH for some cause. Because the story strikes ahead, followers get to know what’s the cause behind it and the way Jules is making an attempt to navigate her life via sure conditions. Though the narratives round loneliness and sobriety have been tackled in a number of initiatives, it hasn’t been instructed on this approach earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and revolutionary storytelling at its best possible and doesn’t shrink back from taking a troublesome route. Tang, who has attended NYU Tisch College of Arts, has made certain that followers keep 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 competition, and earned optimistic opinions. I bought the prospect to speak to filmmaker Wendi Tang about her brief movie and the way she managed to create such a novel 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 learn about your journey within the leisure trade.
Wendi Tang: I used to be born and raised in China and went to New York for faculty. I went to NYU Tisch College of Arts, it’s the varsity the place Ang Lee, and Chloe Zhao, plenty of very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and all the things. 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, however it made me assured and decided that I need to change 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 via these processes, I noticed I wished to get myself as shut as doable 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 needs to be the one to direct it. Directing has additionally been one other ardour for me, as a result of once I was a child, I used to be a kind of youngsters 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 individuals to complete the scene. So I really feel like that type of planted a extremely deep root inside six-year-old me making an attempt to determine what I need to do sooner or later. However for filmmaking, it’s at all times arduous, particularly if you happen to come from an Asian background. So it took me a very long time to actually show to my mother and father that that is what I need to do for my life. I’m glad I persevered. As a result of there have been plenty of setbacks in the course of the course of. Stress from them (household), from the atmosphere, monetary stress, and different stuff. I believe for now, I’m fairly assured to say that I could make a residing by being a filmmaker, and I need to hold doing it. I need to hold writing and directing.
Aayush Sharma: What was the primary occasion once you determined that you just wished to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I mentioned, as a toddler, I type of need 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 believe it was actually after I began my schooling at NYU, it taught me what it’s, being a director, that it’s important to perceive each side of the movie, from pre-production to post-production, from growth to advertising. So I type of attempt to expose myself as a lot as doable to that info, to that data. So it took me a very long time to get assured in the truth that I may very well be a director as a result of I at all times had plenty 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 individuals? Am I good at explaining issues on set in a really environment friendly method? However I believe it was the schooling at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot plenty of movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, greater scale ones. By means of the method, I in some way bought to know that I’m gifted in these areas, that I can do just a bit higher than I anticipated and I ought to hold doing it. I might say it’s like a via line via my childhood, however it landed on the concept I wished to change into a director once I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far essentially the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this yr. It’s a kind of titles, you already know, that require you to deal with a number of little issues. So, how did you provide you with an concept that’s so distinctive and has by no means been tackled earlier than in standard 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, impulsively, 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 might understand what was occurring, I already noticed a residing goldfish touchdown on my palm and I wakened. 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 thought, and it took me some time to dive into the method of self-introspection and see how this picture would possibly 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 bought 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 mother and father didn’t like furry animals.
In order a child, the one pet I bought to have was a Goldfish. It was like somewhat 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 plenty of time simply with my goldfish as a child. However as a substitute of, like, once I regarded into them, as a substitute of these emotions the place, you already know, in Asian cultures, they often affiliate goldfish with actually good meanings, like luck, prosperity. However as a substitute of that, once I regarded on the fish, I out of the blue felt like once I regarded into their eyes, I felt unhappy. Once I was wanting into them, I used to be like, why? I imply, the fish, solely have 7 seconds of recollections or one thing. They don’t keep in mind something. However once I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when individuals feed them the fish meals, like, they gained’t keep 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 keep in mind they’d it, and they’d do it once more. And finally, like, if I do know that if I hold throwing meals to them, they’ll hold consuming until they die, I believe that’s the unhappy a part of it. There have been moments once I thought again to these moments once I regarded into the fish, I in some way 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 need to visualize the story, to let individuals hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Picture Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m incorrect. Whereas watching the film, I noticed that, Jules vomiting goldfish is a reminder that one thing shouldn’t be 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 occupied with. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly important. So, was that additionally an concept behind displaying Jules and her struggles?
Wendi: The visualization of her inner 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} lady’s life shouldn’t be at all times about males. We have now our personal lives. We have now issues that we care about. We have now issues that we would like, we want. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively together with her inner struggles, together with her want for connections, for real connections together with her personal. She needs 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 out of the blue 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 utterly 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 comfy strolling away from the movie. I need them to recollect, or a minimum of a few of the pictures and the sentiments that these pictures give them. So Jules herself within the outdoors world, like, I at all times wished to offer a sense of isolation. Like, although she’s standing very near different individuals, standing in a really small house 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 house, although it’s a extremely small residence for herself, it’s stuffed together with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into somewhat paradise for her on this very chaotic outdoors world to create. So I wished to create a distinction so individuals 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 alternative for enjoying the position of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really attention-grabbing story as a result of once I was on the lookout for the best actress for this position, 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 position. I bought launched to Tiffany via my casting director, and instantly after we bought related, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a couple of script for somewhat bit, however for the remainder of the time, we had been largely speaking about our personal experiences, about our emotions, about what we really feel like, and what we predict. I believe it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the best one. She’s the proper alternative for this position. Additionally, I watched Tiffany’s earlier work, and I really feel like I at all times consider she has a extremely highly effective core in her efficiency, and that didn’t get explored absolutely in a few of the earlier work. So I need to see her use that core to a larger extent. So, that grew to become our collaboration. I’m very glad to have her.
Aayush: The story of ‘Fishtank’ could 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 just don’t overdo each of those parts and also you keep on the trail that you just wished to indicate?
Wendi: I really like the query as a result of that was one in every of my considerations in my writing course of. I at all times knew I wished to broaden on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. However it’s additionally essential to land the idea on precise plots, to have interaction with individuals as a result of it’s not a purely experimental movie. It’s a story movie. It’s an experimental narrative that I need individuals to nonetheless get issues out of it after they watch the movie. I believe plenty 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 believe it takes plenty of religion and perception on the earth that you just’re constructing so you’ll be able to seamlessly sew collectively the idea and the story. Yeah, that was my course of. I believe 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 individuals consider.
Aayush: Now that the film goes to HollyShorts. How do you suppose that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s an ideal query, as a result of after we had our world premiere on the deadCenter Movie Pageant, which can also be an Oscar-qualifying competition in Oklahoma. I attended the competition 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 almost all of them knew what I used to be making an attempt to say. Even when they don’t decide up all the small print utterly, they’re in a position to decide up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually apprehensive that individuals might be like, what is that this? That is so bizarre. I don’t get it. I imply, I’m certain some individuals 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.
In recent times, 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 lady named Jules (Tiffany Chu) who can’t cease vomiting GOLDFISH for some cause. Because the story strikes ahead, followers get to know what’s the cause behind it and the way Jules is making an attempt to navigate her life via sure conditions. Though the narratives round loneliness and sobriety have been tackled in a number of initiatives, it hasn’t been instructed on this approach earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and revolutionary storytelling at its best possible and doesn’t shrink back from taking a troublesome route. Tang, who has attended NYU Tisch College of Arts, has made certain that followers keep 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 competition, and earned optimistic opinions. I bought the prospect to speak to filmmaker Wendi Tang about her brief movie and the way she managed to create such a novel 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 learn about your journey within the leisure trade.
Wendi Tang: I used to be born and raised in China and went to New York for faculty. I went to NYU Tisch College of Arts, it’s the varsity the place Ang Lee, and Chloe Zhao, plenty of very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and all the things. 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, however it made me assured and decided that I need to change 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 via these processes, I noticed I wished to get myself as shut as doable 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 needs to be the one to direct it. Directing has additionally been one other ardour for me, as a result of once I was a child, I used to be a kind of youngsters 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 individuals to complete the scene. So I really feel like that type of planted a extremely deep root inside six-year-old me making an attempt to determine what I need to do sooner or later. However for filmmaking, it’s at all times arduous, particularly if you happen to come from an Asian background. So it took me a very long time to actually show to my mother and father that that is what I need to do for my life. I’m glad I persevered. As a result of there have been plenty of setbacks in the course of the course of. Stress from them (household), from the atmosphere, monetary stress, and different stuff. I believe for now, I’m fairly assured to say that I could make a residing by being a filmmaker, and I need to hold doing it. I need to hold writing and directing.
Aayush Sharma: What was the primary occasion once you determined that you just wished to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I mentioned, as a toddler, I type of need 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 believe it was actually after I began my schooling at NYU, it taught me what it’s, being a director, that it’s important to perceive each side of the movie, from pre-production to post-production, from growth to advertising. So I type of attempt to expose myself as a lot as doable to that info, to that data. So it took me a very long time to get assured in the truth that I may very well be a director as a result of I at all times had plenty 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 individuals? Am I good at explaining issues on set in a really environment friendly method? However I believe it was the schooling at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot plenty of movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, greater scale ones. By means of the method, I in some way bought to know that I’m gifted in these areas, that I can do just a bit higher than I anticipated and I ought to hold doing it. I might say it’s like a via line via my childhood, however it landed on the concept I wished to change into a director once I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far essentially the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this yr. It’s a kind of titles, you already know, that require you to deal with a number of little issues. So, how did you provide you with an concept that’s so distinctive and has by no means been tackled earlier than in standard 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, impulsively, 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 might understand what was occurring, I already noticed a residing goldfish touchdown on my palm and I wakened. 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 thought, and it took me some time to dive into the method of self-introspection and see how this picture would possibly 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 bought 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 mother and father didn’t like furry animals.
In order a child, the one pet I bought to have was a Goldfish. It was like somewhat 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 plenty of time simply with my goldfish as a child. However as a substitute of, like, once I regarded into them, as a substitute of these emotions the place, you already know, in Asian cultures, they often affiliate goldfish with actually good meanings, like luck, prosperity. However as a substitute of that, once I regarded on the fish, I out of the blue felt like once I regarded into their eyes, I felt unhappy. Once I was wanting into them, I used to be like, why? I imply, the fish, solely have 7 seconds of recollections or one thing. They don’t keep in mind something. However once I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when individuals feed them the fish meals, like, they gained’t keep 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 keep in mind they’d it, and they’d do it once more. And finally, like, if I do know that if I hold throwing meals to them, they’ll hold consuming until they die, I believe that’s the unhappy a part of it. There have been moments once I thought again to these moments once I regarded into the fish, I in some way 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 need to visualize the story, to let individuals hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Picture Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m incorrect. Whereas watching the film, I noticed that, Jules vomiting goldfish is a reminder that one thing shouldn’t be 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 occupied with. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly important. So, was that additionally an concept behind displaying Jules and her struggles?
Wendi: The visualization of her inner 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} lady’s life shouldn’t be at all times about males. We have now our personal lives. We have now issues that we care about. We have now issues that we would like, we want. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively together with her inner struggles, together with her want for connections, for real connections together with her personal. She needs 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 out of the blue 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 utterly 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 comfy strolling away from the movie. I need them to recollect, or a minimum of a few of the pictures and the sentiments that these pictures give them. So Jules herself within the outdoors world, like, I at all times wished to offer a sense of isolation. Like, although she’s standing very near different individuals, standing in a really small house 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 house, although it’s a extremely small residence for herself, it’s stuffed together with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into somewhat paradise for her on this very chaotic outdoors world to create. So I wished to create a distinction so individuals 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 alternative for enjoying the position of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really attention-grabbing story as a result of once I was on the lookout for the best actress for this position, 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 position. I bought launched to Tiffany via my casting director, and instantly after we bought related, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a couple of script for somewhat bit, however for the remainder of the time, we had been largely speaking about our personal experiences, about our emotions, about what we really feel like, and what we predict. I believe it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the best one. She’s the proper alternative for this position. Additionally, I watched Tiffany’s earlier work, and I really feel like I at all times consider she has a extremely highly effective core in her efficiency, and that didn’t get explored absolutely in a few of the earlier work. So I need to see her use that core to a larger extent. So, that grew to become our collaboration. I’m very glad to have her.
Aayush: The story of ‘Fishtank’ could 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 just don’t overdo each of those parts and also you keep on the trail that you just wished to indicate?
Wendi: I really like the query as a result of that was one in every of my considerations in my writing course of. I at all times knew I wished to broaden on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. However it’s additionally essential to land the idea on precise plots, to have interaction with individuals as a result of it’s not a purely experimental movie. It’s a story movie. It’s an experimental narrative that I need individuals to nonetheless get issues out of it after they watch the movie. I believe plenty 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 believe it takes plenty of religion and perception on the earth that you just’re constructing so you’ll be able to seamlessly sew collectively the idea and the story. Yeah, that was my course of. I believe 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 individuals consider.
Aayush: Now that the film goes to HollyShorts. How do you suppose that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s an ideal query, as a result of after we had our world premiere on the deadCenter Movie Pageant, which can also be an Oscar-qualifying competition in Oklahoma. I attended the competition 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 almost all of them knew what I used to be making an attempt to say. Even when they don’t decide up all the small print utterly, they’re in a position to decide up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually apprehensive that individuals might be like, what is that this? That is so bizarre. I don’t get it. I imply, I’m certain some individuals 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.
