In recent times, we’ve got seen a number of brief movies making waves due to their progressive 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 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 initiatives, it hasn’t been advised on this method earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and progressive storytelling at its easiest and doesn’t shrink back from taking a tough 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 tip credit roll in. The film had its premiere at this 12 months’s HollyShorts Movie Pageant, which is an Oscar-qualifying pageant, and earned optimistic critiques. I received the possibility 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 discuss in regards to 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, numerous very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and the whole lot. 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 need to turn into a writer-director. Earlier than I began writing my stuff, I attempted completely 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 needed to get myself as shut as doable to the precise manufacturing course of. So I made a decision to begin 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 in regards to 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 type of youngsters that may, 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 performing expertise, however I loved directing different folks to complete the scene. So I really feel like that sort of planted a very 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 laborious, particularly in case you 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 continued. As a result of there have been numerous setbacks in the course of the course of. Strain 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 dwelling 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 needed to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I mentioned, as a toddler, I sort of need to. I sort of needed to be the chief, the conductor of all the group, however I didn’t fairly perceive the method of directing but. So I believe it was actually after I began my training 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 sort 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 could possibly be a director as a result of I at all times had numerous 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 believe it was the training at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot numerous movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, larger scale ones. By the method, I in some way received 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 by way of line by way of my childhood, nevertheless it landed on the concept that I needed to turn into a director once I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far probably the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this 12 months. It’s a type of titles, you already know, that require you to give attention to 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 laborious to plant them. So speaking in regards to the origin, like, the unique story of the movie, I might say they arrive from two elements. Like, twofold. One is without doubt one of the wildest goals that I had. Like, the very bizarre, unusual goals that I had. So the direct inspiration got here from one of many goals the place I dreamt of myself strolling in a abandoned place, like, hastily, I needed to throw up. I sort of know that I used to be within the dream at the moment, however I wasn’t fairly certain. However the feeling of eager to throw up didn’t cease and earlier than I might notice 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 thought, 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 goals, they’ve some meanings. They’re a mirrored image of your unconscious. So, each time I received woken up by these bizarre goals, 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 received to have was a Goldfish. It was like slightly 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 numerous 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 all of a sudden 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 reminiscences or one thing. They don’t keep in mind something. However once I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when folks 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 that they had it, and they might do it once more. And ultimately, 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 folks hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Picture Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m flawed. 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 enthusiastic about. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly vital. 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 surface world, not simply males. I needed 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. Now we have our personal lives. Now we have issues that we care about. Now we have issues that we wish, we want. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively along with her inner struggles, along with her want for connections, for real connections along with her personal. She needs to maintain her life in management. Yeah, it’s like all these issues that sort of make her vomit the fish. When she will get triggered, you already know.
Aayush: You have proven very completely different visible kinds for showcasing Jules’ world. After we meet her for the primary time, it’s very darkish and, makes us notice about her world. However issues all of a sudden 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 at the very least a number of the photos and the emotions that these photos give them. So Jules herself within the exterior world, like, I at all times needed to provide a sense of isolation. Like, despite the fact that 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 surface world. However as soon as she will get residence, despite the fact that it’s a very small house for herself, it’s stuffed along with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into slightly paradise for her on this very chaotic exterior world to create. So I needed 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 outstanding 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 taking part in the function of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really fascinating story as a result of once I was searching for the suitable actress for this function, I needed 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 received launched to Tiffany by way of my casting director, and instantly after we received linked, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a few script for slightly 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 expect. I believe it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the suitable one. She’s the proper alternative 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 absolutely in a number of the earlier work. So I need to see her use that core to a better extent. So, that turned 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 just don’t overdo each of those components and also you keep on the trail that you just needed to indicate?
Wendi: I like the query as a result of that was one in every of my issues in my writing course of. I at all times knew I needed to develop on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. However it’s additionally essential to land the idea on precise plots, to have interaction 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 believe numerous 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 numerous religion and perception on this planet 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 laborious as I believed. It turned 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 suppose that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s a fantastic query, as a result of once 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 needed to listen to and really feel what the viewers felt in regards to 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 choose up all the small print fully, they’re in a position to choose up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually fearful that folks will probably 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 nicely.
In recent times, we’ve got seen a number of brief movies making waves due to their progressive 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 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 initiatives, it hasn’t been advised on this method earlier than.
‘FISHTANK’ is exclusive and progressive storytelling at its easiest and doesn’t shrink back from taking a tough 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 tip credit roll in. The film had its premiere at this 12 months’s HollyShorts Movie Pageant, which is an Oscar-qualifying pageant, and earned optimistic critiques. I received the possibility 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 discuss in regards to 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, numerous very nice Asian filmmakers went to. So I spent greater than 5 years at school due to Covid and the whole lot. 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 need to turn into a writer-director. Earlier than I began writing my stuff, I attempted completely 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 needed to get myself as shut as doable to the precise manufacturing course of. So I made a decision to begin 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 in regards to 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 type of youngsters that may, 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 performing expertise, however I loved directing different folks to complete the scene. So I really feel like that sort of planted a very 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 laborious, particularly in case you 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 continued. As a result of there have been numerous setbacks in the course of the course of. Strain 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 dwelling 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 needed to be a director?
Wendi: That’s a really nice query, as a result of, like I mentioned, as a toddler, I sort of need to. I sort of needed to be the chief, the conductor of all the group, however I didn’t fairly perceive the method of directing but. So I believe it was actually after I began my training 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 sort 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 could possibly be a director as a result of I at all times had numerous 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 believe it was the training at NYU that, as a result of we needed to shoot numerous movies all through the method, from smaller scale ones to, like, larger scale ones. By the method, I in some way received 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 by way of line by way of my childhood, nevertheless it landed on the concept that I needed to turn into a director once I attended NYU.
Aayush: ‘Fishtank’ is by far probably the most imaginative and surreal movie I’ve seen this 12 months. It’s a type of titles, you already know, that require you to give attention to 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 laborious to plant them. So speaking in regards to the origin, like, the unique story of the movie, I might say they arrive from two elements. Like, twofold. One is without doubt one of the wildest goals that I had. Like, the very bizarre, unusual goals that I had. So the direct inspiration got here from one of many goals the place I dreamt of myself strolling in a abandoned place, like, hastily, I needed to throw up. I sort of know that I used to be within the dream at the moment, however I wasn’t fairly certain. However the feeling of eager to throw up didn’t cease and earlier than I might notice 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 thought, 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 goals, they’ve some meanings. They’re a mirrored image of your unconscious. So, each time I received woken up by these bizarre goals, 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 received to have was a Goldfish. It was like slightly 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 numerous 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 all of a sudden 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 reminiscences or one thing. They don’t keep in mind something. However once I regarded into them, they regarded unhappy, particularly when folks 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 that they had it, and they might do it once more. And ultimately, 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 folks hear my voice.
Tiffany Chu in Fishtank (Picture Credit score: Fishtank)
Aayush: Correct me if I’m flawed. 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 enthusiastic about. Nevertheless, the final two are fairly vital. 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 surface world, not simply males. I needed 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. Now we have our personal lives. Now we have issues that we care about. Now we have issues that we wish, we want. So it’s all her emotions entangled collectively along with her inner struggles, along with her want for connections, for real connections along with her personal. She needs to maintain her life in management. Yeah, it’s like all these issues that sort of make her vomit the fish. When she will get triggered, you already know.
Aayush: You have proven very completely different visible kinds for showcasing Jules’ world. After we meet her for the primary time, it’s very darkish and, makes us notice about her world. However issues all of a sudden 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 at the very least a number of the photos and the emotions that these photos give them. So Jules herself within the exterior world, like, I at all times needed to provide a sense of isolation. Like, despite the fact that 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 surface world. However as soon as she will get residence, despite the fact that it’s a very small house for herself, it’s stuffed along with her fish, one thing that comes out of her physique, and so it turns into slightly paradise for her on this very chaotic exterior world to create. So I needed 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 outstanding 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 taking part in the function of Jules?
Wendi: It was a really fascinating story as a result of once I was searching for the suitable actress for this function, I needed 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 received launched to Tiffany by way of my casting director, and instantly after we received linked, we did a two-hour Zoom session. That was our first assembly. Yeah, we talked a few script for slightly 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 expect. I believe it was that very in-depth dialog between me and Tiffany that made me assured that she was the suitable one. She’s the proper alternative 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 absolutely in a number of the earlier work. So I need to see her use that core to a better extent. So, that turned 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 just don’t overdo each of those components and also you keep on the trail that you just needed to indicate?
Wendi: I like the query as a result of that was one in every of my issues in my writing course of. I at all times knew I needed to develop on this bizarre, awkward, weird idea. However it’s additionally essential to land the idea on precise plots, to have interaction 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 believe numerous 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 numerous religion and perception on this planet 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 laborious as I believed. It turned 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 suppose that viewers will relate or, you already know, interpret Jules’s struggles and her journey?
Wendi: That’s a fantastic query, as a result of once 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 needed to listen to and really feel what the viewers felt in regards to 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 choose up all the small print fully, they’re in a position to choose up most of these and, string it collectively, which I’m actually glad as a result of I used to be actually fearful that folks will probably 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 nicely.
