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Filmmaker Jennifer Phang (photo: Shameel Arafin) JENNIFER PHANG blew people away at Sundance with her 2008 feature debut HALF-LIFE, and was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. (If you haven’t seen the film, it is now streaming on Netflix. For you New Yorkers it will be at the Anthology Film Archive May 11 ). She’s also a really good friend of mine, but we feigned some professional distance for the following interview in which we talked about production vs. promotion, the Tokyo International Film Festival, and her new projects LOOK FOR WATER and CRAZY BEATS STRONG EVERY TIME (directed by Moon Molson). ***** me: So, I first met you at SFIAAFF where HALF-LIFE had somewhat of a “coming home” screening in 2009, but you guys had already been all over the world with the film by that point. Which part of a filmmaker’s life do you enjoy more? the long process of putting a movie together, or the (sometimes) even longer process of getting it out there and engaging an audience? Jennifer Phang: I think the great thing about filmmaking is that you rarely have time to get bored of any part of the process. Each step relieves us from the last step. But I think I’m most happy in the creation phase. Working with other talents and being able to marvel at their creativity is something that can feel really “pure.” And I think everyone wants to feel that as much as possible in their lives. I think we’re all searching for the freedom to be creative and honest about our perspectives and visions. How about you? me: It’s hard to say. Whenever I’m promoting a film, I get really impatient to get back to the creative work. But whenever I’m shooting or editing, I just can’t wait to get to the end. JP: Well maybe your impatience is what makes you so prolific … me: Just purely out of curiosity, what was your experience at the Tokyo International Film Festival like? JP: Tokyo International was pretty much the most glamorous festival I played at. Where to begin… I got to meet my childhood idol director Nikita Mikhalkov who directed “Burnt by the Sun.” I praised him and he gave me a cheek kiss of appreciation. Also sat down for drinks with Jon Voight. me: Haha! Of “Anaconda” fame? Nice! JP: Very nice. He did an impression of Toshiro Mifune in SEVEN SAMURAI at one of the receptions. me: Whoa… JP: Yeah…right? I also got to talk a lot with Cesar Charlone (DP of CITY OF GOD) who was a fan of the HALF-LIFE, thank goodness. me: Wow, not exactly lightweights. I’m impressed. If I was in the same room as either of those guys I would sip my Diet Coke, and mind my business. I’m a coward. JP: No, you’d find a way to charm the pants off of them. Overall the...
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