Behind the Cut: WINDOWS
People reveal who they are through their work. With Behind the Cut, I explore my editing process, while also giving you a glimpse into who I am.
Windows (2023)
A series of 3 videos that depict life in Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID), a neighborhood that has been under siege since it’s existence. It’s not just a place you pass through for dim sum and groceries. 1/3 of the residents are elderly and live below the poverty line. Entire communities are rooted in the CID.
Intro
Motivation to start an edit is a challenge. Imposter syndrome makes every edit feel daunting. One thing that’s worked well lately is noticing which shot makes me feel the most emotional when watching through the footage for the first time.
Nay
This was that shot.
Joyful, elderly Asian women remind me of Nay, my grandmother. She began by resisting a smile, but, eventually, it burst through. I teared up. This didn’t just happen once; it happened every single time I played this shot. Part of me felt like Nay was smiling at me and it reminded me of how much I miss her laugh.
This visceral reaction was the reason why it was the first shot I cut in. I didn’t care where it went. The idea was to just place the first building block.
Once I cut in this shot, the rest of my edit fell into place. Thinking too much slows me down. If the shot makes me feel something, I instinctively throw it on the timeline. The first cut is just that: a first draft. Nothing is permanent. Overthinking isn’t necessary.
Towards the end of Nay’s life, I began to really notice her hands. The loose skin, protruding veins, and abundance of bling on this woman’s hands were almost an identical copy. Nay’s hands always reminded me that our time together was almost over. It was a vivid feeling of fear and sadness that she’d be gone soon.
Bittersweet
Growing up, I worked at my parents’ grocery store every day after school. The depth of this shot and how it captured a fully stocked aisle, the act of storing excess instant noodle boxes overhead, and the arctic air from the fridge took me back in time.
I see my dad in this shot. He worked 12 hour days, 365 days a year and was stressed the entire time. It’s a bittersweet feeling to know that, in order to put food on the table, my dad sacrificed being a present father.
The Break
This was always going to end a scene. The sunset, empty street, and winding path of the skateboarder sparked a mesmerizing feeling of calmness and joy. Not a bad way to cap a scene.
This was shot underneath I-5, a freeway that, when built, created a geographic break in the Chinatown International District (CID). F you Seattle for trying to erase the CID and push a marginalized community even further into the margins.
Perspective
The concept for these videos was to provide a window for people to glimpse life inside the CID. When you’re looking out a window, you have the opportunity to notice all of the details that make up the view. I cut these images longer to allow the viewer to linger on that sense of wonder and transport themselves into the CID.
End
Joseph Guanlao (co-director) and I at the premiere.
Usually, I cut for theatrical release, TV, or streaming. This was my first time cutting a piece that would have a unique viewing experience. We called it a visual poem. This perspective and the chance to show why the CID is worth preserving got me excited from the jump. It made for an experience that challenged me in new ways, sparked my creativity, and opened a door for me to give back to my community.
