||FILM SCREENING|| "Hot Bread Shop" by Maria Tran

Well, its the month of April now and I've just completed the finishing touches to this experimental baby of mine. In the last few years I've been working with the Vietnamese Community quite extensively and via a number of roles and finally, all storytelling process I've been involved in has inspired me to make content today. "Hot Bread Shop" isn't your slick cutting-edge short film, its a definite on-the-fly project and my first time working with Quan Tran from Dragon Vision Productions and new crew. Overall, it was a one full day shoot and boy...lots of takes.  I'm not 100%, but I do believe that it will be a first, Vietnamese mockumentary genred film. It will be a test to see if this genre gels with the community, and potentially for the Vietnamese market in general.

So if you are in town, do come down and join the event!

DATE: Sat 7 May, 2011
TIME: 6.30pm
VENUE: The Shed, 6 Carramar Ave, Carramar 2163

CREW

Writer & Director	Maria Tran
Producer	Quan Tran & Maria Tran
Cinematographer	Quan Tran
Camera Operator	Thuy Ng
Assistant Director	Elizabeth Vu
Editor	Maria Tran
Sound/ Boom Operator	Linh Trinh
Make Up Artist	Henry Bui
Lighting	Quang Nguyen
Production Assistant	Oanh Nguyen
Music	"Take Me Back" http://tiny.cc/z7t7t
Catering & Hospitality	Betty Thi Tran
Costume & Props	Pats Cleaning & Polishing Cloths Pat Murray
Equipment	Dragon Vision Production

CAST

Kim Cuc	Maria Tran
Vinh Le	Vinh Nguyen
Customer #1	Tuan Lydang
Customer #2	Ok Chop
Customer #3	Dinh Tran
Thug	David
Voice over	Ben Little

UPDATES: I think this one will be the last experimental one for now. After this one, I'm dead set head into the production and post-production of "Quest for Jackie Chan!" (June-July), in which, I am looking for a strong crew to be a part of. In September, I'll be in production for my working concept "FL" in guidance of C. Logan. "FL" will promise to be in similar vein of my predecessor project "Downtown Rumble".

FILM SHOOT: Hot Bread Sup

After 7 days of toiling around for the concept and massaging the script, I finally put my action down with a 5 hour gungho film shoot that was inspired by channel ABC show "My Place" as air on national TV during 2010.

"Hot Bread Sup", once completed, may be Vietnamese's first short film of the mockumentary genre. Prior to that, films in the Vietnamese context has been with straight comedies, music shows, dramas and even recently, action genred.

Honestly, I don't know how the outcome would be like, but my directorial training (learn on the fly) has been worthwhile, working with people who also have a passion and patiance for the arts.

The time quickly went past us, and at times I got quite straightforward and masculinely direct, but after we wrapped I'm quick to also get some feedback about my myself from my peers.

It was my first time directing with a predominately unknown crew, from Quan Tran, who offered his Canon 5D and sound and boom equipment, his lovely wife - Oanh and his link of Make Up artist Henry Bui. Other crew included Ok chop (previously he assisted at Urban Action Film night, MC2 screening Newcastle) and newfound crew/actor Tuan Le (previously has known my involvements on Vietlish).

Closer to home, we had Elizabeth Vu who debuted her assistant director role (she whipped me in line for time) and catering was courtesy of my mum and her pork rolls.

I also had Linh Trinh (our stills photographer/ boom operator) who was always so reliable for on call for the last minute call out.

This set was unlike others I've been in, as I really had to squeeze my "eye" to make sure that we got the shots. Collaborating with Quan was great as he was quick thinking throughout the day. Continuity maybe an issues and also unseen mirrors had a bad habit of adding more unwanted extras in the scene.

Also big thanks to Somchay Phakonkham for his concept advisory assistance, Thuy Ng for her assistance on the following day shoot and Quang Nguyen for lending me his lighting gear.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS:

Tuan Ly Dang - (He's also a youtuber!)

Saturday the 19th of February 2011 was a real eye opener for me. I attended the shooting of "Hot Bread Sup" at Carramar with Maria Tran and her crew, and as an extra/spectator, I feel that I have learned much from the experience.

From the get go at 8:30am, I saw some real magic at work throughout the whole day. The process of film making is strenuous and time consuming, and at times even tested an eager fellow like me, but Maria's energy and enthusiasm as a leader kept us all together and pointed the project further and further towards completion.

I met some very interesting people along the way, from the patient and artistic crew to the very talented (and very hungry in some cases) cast.

All in all, I saw the day as extremely well spent as I have learned a great deal and gained much insight on the process of film making from the production of "Hot Bread Sup".

Ok Chop

I was invited by Maria Tran to appear in her first mockumentary revolving around a Vietnamese woman's hot bread shop. I was casted to be a part of this production as a gay(?) annoying primadonna(?) customer who annoys the crap out of Kim Cuc, the owner of the shop.

All actors involved in this film have not had many experience in video filming before, besides Maria, so it was a great experience for all and learning along the way. Even though I failed plenty D:

All crew, actors and just everyone who was involved, even the public were all awesome. And thank you to Betty for the awesome rolls, lol.

P.S.
I made a new friend called Girby who is apparently a rat but I think he is a jerboa. Hmm. Well, he is a jerboa casted as a rat.