THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A WOMAN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

‘Pity Party’ - 2022

Cherry only wants one thing in life: to feel noticed. On her birthday, however, she feels smaller than ever. In the comfort of her room, she finds freedom in knowing herself, until that is disrupted by a visitor. 

I created this short film based on the prompt, "What bothers me the most?". My film follows Cherry, a young woman reluctantly preparing for a party—a scenario familiar to many young women, especially in new environments like university. I aimed to capture an authentic coming-of-age feel, drawing inspiration from Euphoria and Chungking Express, as well as chiaroscuro artworks and the cinematography of Rina Yang BSC.

The project presented several challenges, from concept development to technical issues during filming. Initially, I struggled with an idea that was too ambitious and had to scale down to something more manageable. This experience taught me the importance of balancing creative aspirations with practical limitations.

Despite some setbacks, such as camera malfunctions and lighting difficulties, I adapted and found solutions that contributed to the film's final aesthetic. I worked closely with friends, which eased the process and highlighted the importance of communication in directing.

A memorable moment was filming the opening long take, where I experimented with visual techniques to evoke a dream-like memory using vaseline smeared on clingfilm across the camera lens. This project allowed me to explore new cinematic approaches, and although it had its difficulties, I am proud of the final outcome.