The Process
One year passed since the short was first announced. The first question is, obviously, “What took so long?” And sure, it’s not even one of our longer shorts– it’s only ten minutes! Ironically, my initial mindset for this short was to make something simple and quickly. Something with the minimal number of actors and only voiceovers to make the production as light as possible. Yeah. That didn’t happen. There are a few reasons WFF took one year to complete.
The short was created in a totally backwards manner. I had decided the parameters fairly early on (a love story, a narration from five objects, a girl), but the script was actually written after I shot it. From the beginning, I had scenes in mind, but I didn’t intensively think about the dialogue until I had finished collecting all the footage. There were nights I just sat watching a shot for hours just thinking of a line.
The structure was totally fluid. Since WFF is basically a series of five confessions, there was no linear timeline to follow. And since the script wasn’t written yet, there was no outline or blueprint to follow while editing. This being the case, I spent a lot of time deciding how to piece together each shot into a sequence that made sense.
This short was created at the speed of life. I let my mood dictate when I would work. There were days when it was the only thing I wanted to do. I was excited and eager. Then there were days I hated it. I dreaded thinking about the entire project. And then sometimes, it was simply the last thing on my mind. It would sit untouched for months. Throughout the year, my attitude towards the short shifted a lot. This was new to me. Usually when we start a project, we finish it fairly quickly. But thinking back, making a short like this benefits from a comfortable pace. I worked on it only when I truly wanted to. Only when I had a genuine desire to see it move forward. If at any time I got tired, frustrated, or bored, I stopped working. In that sense, you could say WFF only received my undying attention.
The Objects
Can the things we love, love us back just the same?
Glasses (David Choi – davidchoimusic.com) – The glasses represent sight. In a relationship, there are times when our one desire is to share with the other person. We hope to offer a new perspective. To learn and grow from each other in that way. To show the world. Unfortunately, nothing stays clear forever. Many things can blind us: jealousy, doubt, overthinking, and ironically, comfort.
Telephone (Bobby Choy – bigphonymusic.com) – The phone represents hearing. Relationships can’t exist without listening and communication. Sometimes, circumstances prevent people from communicating face to face. That distance greatly effects them. We hear about experiences when what we really want is to live them. Words can only go so far. The phone is interesting because it is constantly eavesdropping on our talks. What would that feel like? To always be talked to but never the subject of conversation. It must hurt to be so unknowingly ignored.
Umbrella (AJ Rafael – myspace.com/ajrafael) – The umbrella represents touch. The very simple idea of being close enough to touch someone. Physical contact. To be able to hold, cover, protect. These are basic parts of a relationship we hope to fulfill. Essentially an umbrella reflects occasional necessity. But who would want that? To feel needed when it’s only convenient.
Scarf (Paul Dateh – pauldateh.com) – The scarf represents smell. The intimacy of knowing someones scent is very special. It’s a privelege that isn’t easily shared and is often overlooked. It may sound ridiculous, but who are the people you can identifty with smell? Most likely those that you are very close with. People you have known for more than awhile. Also, scents can fade. Physical contact carries and transfers a scent but when that contact disappears, the scent is no longer.
Cup (Chris Dinh) – The cup represents taste. More specifically, the cup represents a kiss. And a kiss is the most universal symbol of love and affection. The fact that it describes a first kiss is even more significant. A first kiss is innocent and naive. We cherish it as though it will last forever. But when the cup is broken, the kiss is no longer possible– just like a relationship.
A pair of glasses that goes blind. A phone that resorts to eavesdropping. An umbrella that longs to be held. A scarf that treasures scent. A cup that wants to be kissed. These are the ways I tried to personify the objects to show they fell in and out of love. Between the five, viewers should be able to relate to different dimensions and roles of a relationship. Whether it’s budding in the early stages, the challenge of long distance, slowly fading feelings, or losing out to someone else. Even the order of the objects in the short show a progression in the relationship. Starting from looking and eventually moving onto touching.
The Look
Just like the objects are based on senses, I wanted the short to appeal to the senses. I wanted to stimulate people with beautiful images of the typical everyday things. One goal was to have each and any shot to stand alone as a still photo. Of course nothing can be that spectacular in real life. It only exists in the hyperreal, in our memories and imagination. The color treatment is reflective of this– with deep and saturated tones. A lot of WFF was shot during the “golden hour” right before and during sunset. This brief time, when the sun hangs low in the sky, provides warm color and excellent outlines around subjects.
The Sound
Jesse Chui (songsforcinema.com) worked tirelessly to create the music for this short. The sound of it was crucial for evoking the right emotions. And I would say Jesse hit it spot on. I approached him a year ago with the project and he was really interested. I have to apologize to him for lagging so long. Jesse is amazingly talented and there was a lot of back and forth between us for each song. I think he really succeeded in creating music that can be heard as hopeful and romantic but also tragic and bittersweet.
For the voices, I asked popular YouTube artists like David Choi, AJ Rafael, and Paul Dateh because as singers their voices already have a great quality. In addition, hopefully having big names will lend to the online success and spread of the short. Bobby Choy voiced the telephone and he is the lead singer/songwriter of Big Phony. Chris Dinh voiced the cup and he’s been in many of our shorts before, including “Up in da Club” and “Poser!”
Besides the music and narration, there is rarely any ambient sound. This was a conscious choice. Since the way we experience memories is very much the same. Sometimes we choose to only remember the important pieces of an experience. All else fades away.
Some Extras
- The shallow depth of field and blurred images are references to sight and the inability to see clearly.
- There are symbols of being broken and/or replaced throughout the short. Can you find them all?
- The cup narrates the beginning and end of WFF. I like to believe that this is because the cup fell the hardest for her.
- Makoto Shinkai’s animation was a great inspiration. I cannot deny his influence on the aesthetic of WFF.
- Mimi Chao has been in a few of our works including the infamous “Yellow Fever” and our first feature length film “A Moment with You” I absolutely love working with her because she is so natural and elegant in her actions. I can tell her a feeling or mood I’m going for and that is enough direction for her. Makes my job easy haha. Hat’s off and cheers to Mimi for being the beautiful and talented actress in this short!
- Everything was shot locally. We used Mimi’s house, my house, street sides, backyards, etc. Definitely a no/low budget project
- I’ll try to find some production photos (if I have any) and post them later on!
- This short can be considered a prologue to a previous short I wrote, “At Musing’s End” It is the time period when Robin meets Adam. There are clues that connect the two shorts. The shot of the radiometer is repeated. And the ending theme song in WFF is the same theme in AME. Basically where one short ends is where the other begins.
August 27, 2011 at 6:50 am
it’s 2:19 a.m. right now. i should be sleeping way before at this hour but i stumbled upon your tumblr earlier and saw this. despite my sluggish internet connection, i waited for the vid to load just to watch this. the title itself captured me + i love all wongfu vids!! im a huge fan!!! <333 i knew it would be really5x good!
and it was! damn!!! wesley chan!!! you made me cry!!!! *off to a corner & forever cries*
no, seriously, it's so… beautiful!!!! you have already said/wrote the words i wanted to say/write. the five senses are so important in a relationship. sadly, some (or worse, all) senses are neglected at this fast-paced, ever-changing, tech-y & modern world. also, the literal distance between the 5 things & the girl compared with the closeness of the girl and the boy really pinched my heart badly. dunno why but… short distances may be sad (like it says "i miss u" or "im yearning for u") but somehow, the distance feels… good. it does feel good at times…
i love how this vid was shot naturally, as it is. no special effects. love the subtle colors too! and oh, i feel bad for the cup. T_T lol.
imma watch "at musing's end" again after this.
ugh… why haven't i seen this vid early on? then again, i guess it was destined for me to watch it late at this very moment for me to ponder and remember some things i have probably neglected…
and this vid just might act as a guide for my future relationship.
more power to you, wes & the rest of wongfu productions!!! continue to share your visions and feelings to the world!! much love from the philippines! <3
April 23, 2011 at 12:49 am
Took my breath away.
February 20, 2011 at 8:58 pm
coool. well-thought. really touched by the words
)
February 14, 2011 at 9:49 am
Wow, I made many connections when I first saw this, as many other people have.
Makoto Shinkai’s “Voices of a Distant Star” and “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” actually did not come to my mind after watching it. Even though the subject is still about love, your approaches were a bit different. I was surprised after learning this, but it does make sense in reference to the colors. Also, for some reason the mood feels quite similar as well, attributed to the music and dialogue.
However, what did come to mind when watching it was the use of saturated colors in Shunji Iwai’s Lily Chou-Chou, as a previous commenter “lolo” mentioned.
Also, overall the short certainly had that feeling that many Taiwanese love movies have.
In any case, despite all the apparent Asian influences, I did feel that this was a separate creation in its own right. Personally I wouldn’t call it an Taiwanese/Japanese work at all.
December 26, 2010 at 12:03 pm
When Five Fell is a stunning video with such a deep meaning. It was only after I’d watched more than half of the video that I realised each object was a picture of one of the 5 senses. Cleverly thought out.
I’ve just watched At Musing’s End too, another amazing video. There’s something soothing about the two videos; a combination of the music, the words and the beautiful camera shots.
You all are very talented and quite inspirational. I hope you get all the recognition you deserve!
Love A x
October 23, 2010 at 7:10 pm
i really like that you used a landline instead of a cellphone. Something less romantic about cellphones. It was nice that it was low budget (you used what was available) too.
At musing’s end, was a tad wong kar wai-ish? Maybe it was the coin spinning thing in part 2 with the neon blue light. Something about that scene reminded me of wong kar wai films. The shots of the sky, with the electrical lines, trains, very shinkai.
July 14, 2010 at 6:43 am
you’ve melted my heart! i loved the raindrop part! i can identify with it! and i loved the part of the cup…the first kiss…that’s when i really started to cry…i watched it after i read…and as it went i was like…who comes up with stuff like this? this is beautiful! a masterpiece indeed! i wish you the best of luck…thank you very much for this!
June 26, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Wow! This is such a different take and tone that wongfuproductions has normally done, and I can wholeheartedly say I am in love with it!
It was a very moving short, so much emotion condensed into those short ten minutes. Why aren’t you a millionaire yet. That’s how amazing it was. You guys are inspirational and role models for all the Asian-American children out there that are trapped by stereotypes.
June 22, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I watched “When Five Fell” and “At Musing’s End” today, I must say that you are brilliant. You made both shorts sweet yet poignant. *awww*
Wishing all at Wongfu P. good health, good weather and more ideas boarding the Wongfu train!
XD
June 20, 2010 at 7:24 am
your work, the video, everything leaves a deep and overwhelming impression on me and how i see things in life….thank you….you guys are truly amazing…..
June 18, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Beautiful… you truly have an eye for those subtle and beautiful moments. A rain scene at golden hour with shallow DOF… ahhh!! wonderful.
And I knew I sensed a bit of makoto shinkai~! This reminded me so much of my favorite short ever: “She and her cat.”
June 12, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Makoto Shinkai’s works are awesome. I can still distinguish between yours and his anyhow.
June 12, 2010 at 4:34 am
Beautiful..and deep. Thanks for being generous with your talents. Really enjoyed watching it
May 30, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Is there somewhere I could download this?
This was just so breathtaking.
Thank you.
May 29, 2010 at 10:06 am
The most beautiful and genius work of art I have ever witnessed O:
May 26, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Won Fu productions: You guys are geniuses! My husband and I love films, and I didn’t know you guys made poignant films as well as comedy, and you do both equally well. I loved A Peace Of Home, especially since my sister is moving to France in two months. And I really loved When Five Fell, because of the sentimentality, especially the scarf, representing scent. My husband Ted has the most amazing smell, not cologne, just himself. My favorite scent in the world….You guys are incredible! I fully expect you to make a full length film someday. You guys are great! My husband and I love films that have won at Cannes Festival, like your A Peace of Home. My husband is from Hong Kong, so this film will touch his heart when I show it to him. And the music was beautiful. My husband is a martial artist, but in addition to all of his Yang, he has a lot of Yin as well, which makes him not only a wonderful husband, but my best friend, and a terrific father as well. If ever you need anyone for martial arts scenes, my husband and his twin, who have been martial artists for over 30 years, could certainly help you with that, even if you don’t want them in film, they do choreography really well. Just a thought.
May 26, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Sorry, I thought I proof read this before I posted it. I certainly meant Wong Fu Productions, not Won Fu. Guess I’m tired, and a little blind with these contacts on, because with them on, I can’t see close up things very well. Maybe my glasses will become necessary to me once again….that should make them very happy, right?
May 21, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Among thousands of words, some are hard to say.
Behind many emotions some never get left behind.
This morning I felt something that made me feel alive again – in times like these,
words are just not enough yet this is all I have to thank you by Wesley.
I am an artist and art is something I never miss to appreciate –
The Cinematography Directing and the story line are innately exceptional.
Nothing quite like any other, looking forward to your next work Wesley…
Thank You.
May 19, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Wow, simply beautiful. It’s my first time replying since I’ve been following you ever since “Yellow Fever” and I just wanted to say that I love the scenes you have picked and colors. A little sad, but it was a pleasure to watch. Good job. Always seems like u guys are improving, so keep up the good work!
May 17, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Reminds me of something ….
great job displaying it, beautifull
May 17, 2010 at 7:01 pm
LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!
May 17, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Loved the film! Beautiful!
But why are your “Technology Ruins Romance” shirts only for women?! I’m a guy and I want one!! Sexist much? D;
May 15, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Makoto Shinkai is a genius. The influence on the colors of this film is obvious, and extremely well done. How did you color it, if you don’t mind me asking?
May 15, 2010 at 6:08 am
I like how you implemented and composed the materialistic objects in this short and the way these objects has awaken our natural senses of emotions, feelings and thoughts. Which brings me back to reminisce of my past and to help me appreciate of the present relationship with my love and to further grow in the future.
A great masterpiece put together.
Great job!
“Thoughts”
May 14, 2010 at 5:32 pm
for some reason, your shorts always have this calming effect on me.. and leaves me thinking and wanting to rewatch it. after reading your commentary, i think even MORE! i thoroughly enjoyed it bc it makes me think and all the scenes were so beautiful. think i’ll let everything sink in, and rewatch it again tmr
May 14, 2010 at 3:06 pm
absolutely beautiful! it reminds me of that poem, household objects, you guys know it?
May 14, 2010 at 7:45 am
Is it sad that I cried at the end?
Such a beautifully created masterpiece.
May 14, 2010 at 3:06 am
I couldn’t help thinking about my long distance relationship with my boyfriend.
I think what really gets to me the most is me wanting to be close to him. To bury my face in his neck, breathing his scent in like the scarf. I long for him so badly and when MiMi and her boyfriend kissed, i couldn’t help feeling jealous.
We call alot, on skype. He sleeps with me in the night to morning, and I sleep with him during the afternoon. We talk all day afterschool and before school. All on skype. infact I was listening to him sleep while typing this, until the call disconnected. When we webcam, I feel like I’m watching from a distance (even though I really am). The umbrella watching from halfway around the world.
I say alot and alot of stupid things and he just opens my mind and gives me a different perspective on everything.
In 3 months, it’ll be 2 years =]
aha I don’t even know why I’m explaining all of this. But I just wanna congradulate you Wes, on creating such a beautiful and gentil piece of art full of tranquility, that captures things that many of us can’t really put to words or haven’t really thought of.
All of Wongfu’s videos are simply breathtaking. You guys are really an eye-opener. A new, fresh, simple and deep way of looking at the world around us. If you guys made CD copies of all the vids you have and sold them, I’d be the first one at the store
hehe the video ‘Together at last” sounds like it was also made for me and Vi. How they lived in different countries and how they couldn’t really be together until finally, they were. I really hope that’ll be me and him one day.
(Man… wonder when he’s gonna wake up and we can call again :/ )
But anyway, a HUUGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THANKYOU!
And sorry, for rambling. Lol
May 17, 2010 at 11:27 am
how beautiful. i hope it all works out
May 14, 2010 at 12:58 am
really beautiful
it reminds me of Shunji Iwai’s films, like “Hana and Alice”.