5 Questions #9: S. Leo Chiang
The director of the Oscar shortlisted doc short "Island In Between" has some answers...
We are making history here! This is the first cross post between myself and my wife — filmmaker and substacker — Vanessa Hope. I will share the intro and first two answers from Leo here, but please follow the link to her newsletter, not just for all the answers, but a link to Leo’s beautiful film!
This is Vanessa’s intro:
In my last post, I wrote about ISLAND IN BETWEEN which has since been shortlisted for the Oscar! It’s a hugely exciting development for any filmmaker, but for one as accomplished and vital to the community of documentary filmmakers as S. Leo Chiang, who is telling an incredibly timely and high stakes, geopolitical story about the future of Taiwan from a grounded, personal perspective, it’s especially meaningful. As someone who’s also lived in the U.S., Taiwan and China, as a documentary filmmaker examining the relationships between these countries, and as a friend of Leo’s who is deeply inspired by his work and eager to collaborate with him in the future, I was so happy when Ted agreed we could co-host one of his “5 Questions” for filmmakers Substack posts for ISLAND IN BETWEEN and Leo.
It’s not easy opening up in these interviews. Not only does Leo share personal insights and excellent advice, but, like Ted, he has ideas about how to improve our sense of community among filmmakers, particularly in documentary, and how to improve the business of documentary filmmaking for all. Be sure to save twenty minutes to watch ISLAND IN BETWEEN available at the end of this post.
In dealing with real life subjects -- be they people, places, things or ideas -- beyond just putting the camera on them, how do you ensure you are giving them the dignity, humanity, compassion that all of us are deserving of?
A couple of films into my career, I realized that I only wanted to make films about people and places I adored. I would not be that hard-hitting investigative filmmaker, and I embraced this limitation to be the core of who I am as a documentarian. In my interactions with my subjects--either in-person and especially in the editing room working with their footage—I do constantly ask myself, “am I objectifying them by holding this one shot for such a long time?” And, “Do I fetishize them by focusing on this particular detail?” Usually I do pretty good here, because I tend to build long-term, trusting relationships with my subjects (people, things, places or ideas) that last beyond the completion of the film.
One aspect that I do need to be mindful of in my process is becoming overly accommodating to my subjects. I don’t want my fondness for them to hold me back from examining their shortcomings and challenging them in their beliefs. The best way to honor my subjects, I believe, is to present them as full complex human beings and ideas. Coddling and defending them unconditionally will only result in one-dimensional, inauthentic, patronizing portraitures. With my films, and my relationships with my subjects, I strive to celebrate the messy beauty of life, and amplify the little moments of humanity as I encounter them.
What makes something great? In cinema and/or in life? What are the qualities you look for and try to bring into your life and process?
Whenever something exceeds my expectations, I usually think it’s pretty great. The moment I realize that I’ve done something to level up a personal or a work relationship always seems pretty great. The feeling that someone listening to my story understands exactly what I’m trying to get across… that’s pretty great. Checking to-dos off a list feels great. The few anticipatory seconds of black screen between the end of previews and the opening credits in a movie theater are totally great. Whenever possible, I celebrate actions and ideas that deepen my connections with the people I love and the work I care about.
For the other questions and answers with Leo, as well as a link to his film, please check it out on “A Question Of Peace””
If you’d like to check out prior editions of “5 Questions”:
Joe Brewster & Michèle Stephenson 12/11/23
Roger Ross Williams 12/15/23
Matthew Heineman 12/18/23
Nicole Holofcener 12/22/23
Chris Zalla 12/27/23
Pawo Chorying Dorji 1/3/24
Maite Alberdi 1/6/24