5Q's w/Shu Zhu "Moth" Director
#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it?
A magical realist tale of a working actress’ pursuit as she fades into obscurity. We observe the banality of her life and get a glimpse of her impending transformation.
#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?
Moth was conceived as a character portrait of a struggling Hollywood artist. It is a story close to so many of us striving to work in the industry and achieve fame and success. It differs from a traditional Hollywood narrative in that in the end, the protagonist does not get the fame and success she worked hard towards, but something better - a spiritual transformation. Moth as an insect that blindly chases the light serves as the perfect symbol for all of us dreamers in Hollywood, an arena of power and desires. But little do people know that moths are only attracted to light because they use the moon to navigate their truth paths – they are only temporarily distracted and veered off of their ways. The film serves as a cautionary tale, we should not let our pursuit of fame and success blind our true path to enlightenment. It is love and inner peace that truly matter.
#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.
I held a BFA in Film and TV from NYU and I am a recent graduate from AFI’s Directing Program. My earlier works were all very visually driven experimental pieces but now I’m exploring the possibilities of having surrealism rooted in very realistic presentation. I have made a few shorts that had pretty decent festival run and I’m in the process of preparing for my first feature film.
#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?
The biggest lesson learned in making this film was definitely the power of collaboration. Filmmaking is a collaborative craft and it takes everyone’s collaborative effort and trust in each other to achieve your artistic goal. It is paramount to find creative partners who trust your vision and put in their best effort to bring this film into reality. Shout out to my teammates - G. Wilson, Shincy Lu, Ayinde Anderson, Harshita Reddy, and Guangwei April Du, along with everyone who helped with the making of our film. Without their support the film would never be made and I’m forever grateful for their trust and dedication.
#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?
Moth is near the end of its festival run with around 30 international festivals under our belt. I’m currently in the process of prepping for my first feature film, a surrealist thriller told in chapters, set in my hometown of Daqing, China, an industrial oil town. I’m collaborating with my co-writer G from Moth, along with our friend Vanessa Kong, who is from the same region. Keep an eye out for our project in the coming years!
