QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: At first, I just simply wanted to create a story about a house. Compared to Asia, most houses here in America are sold second-hand. Each house carries the memories and history of the people and families who lived there. These houses bear traces of their past, like a nail hole in the wall where a family photo once hung or a tree planted in the backyard that has grown big. The first owners leave their marks, and the next ones build a new life around it, adding even more to it. It’s just a perfect symbol of how the world and culture are shaped. For me, making this film was also a journey of exploring this idea. That’s what excited me the most about it.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?: The most significant film I watched in 2024 was the re-release of Rebels of the Neon God, which has always been one of my favorite Asian coming-of-age movies. Set in Taipei in the early 1990s, it blends crime and family drama, and I love its raw, sincere texture. I was surprised to see so many local American audiences attending the re-release. This experience made me realize more clearly that one of my goals in filmmaking is to create stories that allow people from different cultural backgrounds to connect, empathize with the characters, and truly enjoy the film.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: The most obvious question people ask is whether the story comes from my personal experience. Parts of the story do come from my life, such as learning how to light a fireplace, remodeling a house, and exploring the connection and integration of cultures. The least obvious question, however, is about the car chase in the film. While the movie is set as a family drama, we actually spent a lot of time and energy on the car chase, wanting to create a street environment that contrasts with the warmth and safety of home. We made many interesting visual attempts, but in post-production, we ended up cutting a lot of it to allow the audience to focus more on the story unfolding in the house.

QUESTION#4: A magic movie genie is giving you an unlimited budget for your next production! However, you're only allowed to use it on either "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: If I had to decide, I might lean toward 'below the line' resources because strong execution is essential to bring creative ideas to life. Great movies rely on the cooperation of creativity and execution, and solid implementation ensures that the vision is realized. I think most people would feel disappointed if they see a great idea that isn’t well executed or a well-made movie that lacks emotional depth.

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: Each of my short films serves as preparation for the next. Some are technical exercises, while others experiment with emotions and narratives. The next feature film I am preparing will build on the emotional materials accumulated from previous projects and, using those techniques, challenge me to depict more complex relationships between people, transcending culture and language.

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5Q's w/: Zilong Wang "Christmas, Dumpling and Tortellini" Director, Writer