Mango Seed 《芒果芯》
After an ordinary day at the produce markets, a Chinese working-class father is met with the announcement that his daughter is moving to another city to pursue her dreams. Faced with the approaching separation, they struggle to express to each other the words in their heart.
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Berni JiangDirectorTo Fly A Kite
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Berni JiangWriter
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Cameron DavisProducerThe Hug
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Chu Min JiangKey Cast"Zhan"
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Janna SaigeKey Cast"Ellie"
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Alex GibbsDirector of Photography
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ĀNJÍComposer
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Michael TitterGaffer
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Michael Phan1st Assistant Camera
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Ben L’AiguilleBest Person
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Ricky Perdec1st Assistant Director
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Ken TrijoProduction Desginer
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Jesse LeeProduction Designer
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Ken TrijoStylist
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Berni JiangEditor
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Alex GibbsColourist
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Diego EspinozaSound Recordist
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Javan AshComposition Mix
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:13 minutes 35 seconds
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Completion Date:October 25, 2024
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Production Budget:5,000 AUD
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Country of Filming:Australia
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Language:English, Mandarin Chinese
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Berni Jiang is a Chinese-Australian writer and director who has a minimalistic yet sensory approach to weaving narratives. Her films paint otherwise inexplicable sentiments rooted in the intersectional experiences of queer diaspora, coming of age and Chinese culture. She hopes to invite people into a dreamlike world of reflexive nostalgia that lingers after the cinema.
This film developed out of my frustration in common one-dimensional portrayals of immigrant tiger parents in the media, and how I saw such representations could affect my own father.
I wanted to make a film that humanises and sees the love of a reserved immigrant Dad, who can often be misunderstood or held to incongruent ideals. Introverted, elusive and seemingly distant, some fathers can often be labelled as an “absent father figure” by their children growing up. Yet, as we grow older we realise they have been present all along.
“Mango Seed” aims to give grace to the Dads that love with quiet yet earnest ways. It centres Zhan, a Chinese father who expresses his love in ways awkward and subtle - yet reach his daughter deeply.