I-Jien Jane Kou

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your background in filmmaking?
My background was in computer programming. I have a B.A. in computer science from UC Berkeley. After I graduated, I worked as a software engineer for ten years at Silicon Valley. One day, I quit my job and went to The Art Institute of Chicago to study painting and drawing. After I graduated from SAIC, I took a few graphic art classes at Pasadena City College. But, soon after, I went back to study computer programming at UCLA Extension, because I was afraid of not being able to make it as an artist. I was afraid that I would not be able to feed myself if I were an artist. One day when I was studying at Corners Bakery, I started doodling. And that doodling became RabbitWell.com, an animated comedy shorts web series. Last year, I went back to Pasadena City College. "Soul" is my final project for my performance dance and ballet classes. I used Bille Ellish's song "What Was I Made For". "Rabbit Well" is a graphic cartoon web series done by Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash, Animator, and After Effects. Most of Rabbit Well's background music and songs I wrote were recorded by iPhone and mixed by Apple Garage Band. "Soul" is more of a fine art drawing drawn by Pro Create and Photoshop. The dance is shot with an iPhone selfie.

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What inspired you to become a filmmaker, and how did you get started in the industry?
I studied at Corner Bakery every night to do my computer application programming homework. Although I was trying to focus, I just kept doodling, which eventually became an animation short web series RabbitWell.com. During Covid pandemic, I met my mentor Sumithra Jonnalagadda. I was learning Javascript with Sumithra. Sumithra told me that I am a better fit as an advertisement artist than a software engineer. So, she had me do a trial project, Cornovirus Ad - Stay Home, with her guidance. The one-minute animation short won several awards two years ago. That project helped me gain confidence. I started to think that maybe animation could be for me. I started to practice drawing at cafes after that.

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What was your motivation behind creating this particular film?
My performance dance professor Catrelia Magee inspired me to make this two-minute film "Soul". Professor Magee was very into spirituality. One day in our ballet class, she asked us what we think a soul is. Since I just saw the movie, Oppenheimer, I answered, "Soul is quantum transfer from one person to another person." We had this final project assignment called "Investigation", in which each student had to shoot a three-minute film dancing solo at a location. I decided to draw the background. I am glad that I took the ballet class and the performance dance class with Prof Magee. Professor Magee was a good guide. And mostly, I gained back a lot of self-confidence and self-control by taking her dance classes. I had mental blocks and had low self-esteem. It is kinda like a character development. Her classes are therapeutic.

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Did you face any challenges during the production process? If so, how did you overcome them?
For this film "Soul", I have to say that I, myself, am my muse. I was fifty-three years old last year and never danced ballet. That was a challenge to me, not only physically, but also psychologically. I had to overcome the fear of even just registering for a beginner ballet class. But, I kept asking myself, "Would I regret it, if I didn't?"

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Can you discuss the creative decisions you made while developing your film, such as the visual style or narrative approach?

"Soul" is more of a fine art drawing drawn by Pro Create and Photoshop. The dance is shot with an iPhone selfie.I figure that if I want to portray a soul in sincerity, hand drawing would be the best choice. At the beginning of the film, it is only black and white of an empty bed. It is silent at the beginning. Then, Billie Elish's song "What Do I Made For" comes in, as the "soul" reveals. It gives that moment to ask the viewers to think: "What is my soul" and sending the message "Live without regret", as one cannot deny his or her soul.

Are there any specific themes or messages that you aimed to convey through your film? We all have doubts. When we have doubts, ask what your soul is and what your soul wants. Don't leave regrets.

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How do you feel your film stands out from others in the same genre or category?
Its sincerity. It is about a person's soul. The two-minute animation short "Soul" gives different meanings, depending on the foreground dancers with the same animation backdrop. In this film, I dance alone. It would mean differently, if a couple of male and female dance together. It would mean another if it is danced by two males or two females. It would mean differently, if it is a group of dancers, etc.

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What do you hope the audience will take away from watching your film?
Ask what your soul is and what your soul wants. Find out who you are, be honest with your true self, and live with no regret.

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Can you share any interesting or memorable experiences you had while making this film?
"Soul" was made for my ballet final. The final project is called "Investigation", in which each student shoots three minutes of his or her dance on a location. I chose to draw my background. Because I just started learning ballet, I felt embarrassed to show my dance in the film. Therefore, I submitted "Soul" without my dance to film festivals originally. During class critique, Prof Caterina Magee said, "It is an 'insincere' 'ingenuous' highly skilled crafted film." Then, she asked me to play again with the version which included my dance. After I went home, I resubmitted "Soul" to film festivals, which is the version that includes my dance, even though I danced terribly.

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What are your aspirations as a filmmaker, and where do you see yourself in the future?
I never really asked what my true heart wanted and never dared to jump, until I was in my mid-thirties. It is a point of no return if you pledge 100% with your full heart out. When I finally jumped, I did not play my full heart out, because I have fears: fear of being financially broke, fear of social judgment, fear of being alone, fear of speaking or reading in English, fear of stepping out of my boundaries, fear of saying "No", and even fear of saying "Yes". And my soul could not sustain God's tests either. I was frustrated and could not fill that empty void. Now I know that without being true to my authentic self and committing 100%, my soul would burn in hell eternally. I would like to be a social media influencer by making animation.

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Are there any filmmakers or films that have greatly influenced your work?
There are so many movies that I love. Mostly, I like romantic dramas, such as Green Card, Titanic, Great Expectations, Ratatouille, The Shape of Water, Slumdog Millionaire, Les Miserables, La La Land, etc. Did I mention that I saw Titanic four times at movie theatres? I am trying different styles now. I would love to learn 3D animation.

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Have you participated in any other film festivals or competitions? If so, how was your experience?
It was shown on screen by the Culver City Film Festival and Hollywood Gold Awards in December last year. It will be shown on screen by London Director Awards and Golden State Film Festival this month. It will be shown on screen by IndieX Film Festival and Independent Shorts Award in May this year. It is cool. You get to meet other cool filmmakers, actors, and actresses. And I get to see my animation on big screens with nice surround sound. It is very difficult to survive as an artist. So, whenever my film gets to be selected, it gives me that courage and some more confidence to continue. It is also a good advertisement.

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Is there anything else you would like the audience and the film festival organizers to know about you or your film?

RabbitWell.com is my animation short website. And

http://www.youtube.com/dablueisle is my blog. Please subscribe, comment, and like my animation.