After the burn

I have always believed that filmmaking is about better expressing oneself. Compared to fiction, I am more persistent, and I have a stronger preference for using "non-fiction" stories to extend my memories.

Unsurprisingly, this film, "After the Burn," just like "Fumu" [or "Bound Wood"], is a true story that happened close to me. And even more coincidentally, this time, the protagonist is actually myself.

The short film originates from a personal experience that I still find unforgettable: that "burning" sensation that instantly washed over my face when, as a shy kid, I was publicly criticized in front of the entire class. I remember it to this day.

Watching Shu Qi's "HER" recently has also inspired me greatly, reaffirming my belief that I must ground my work more in realism and amplify more authentic female voices. "After the Burn" is just such an attempt—it is not only my non-fictional extension of that "burning" memory, but also, as a female creator, it is my sincere articulation of those real feelings of "shyness," "sensitivity," and "the pain of being gazed at."

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