Experiencing Interruptions?

Mo'o!

Two grieving cousins navigate Oʻahu’s haunted terrain in search of life - before and after.

  • Anela Ling
    Director
  • Anela Ling
    Writer
  • Jonah Okano
    Producer
  • Tysen Jao
    Key Cast
    "Mika"
  • Sir Cornwell
    Key Cast
    "Kekoa"
  • Sawyer Chesnut-Pinto
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama, comedy
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Gemini
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hawaii International Film Festival
    Honolulu
    United States
    Hawaii Premiere
    Ohina Lab Fellowship Winner
  • Seattle Asian American Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
Director Biography - Anela Ling

Anela Ling is a filmmaker and artist born and raised on the island of O‘ahu. Anela has worked on a wide array of independent films at all levels of production responsibility. After winning both the Judge’s and PIC Award at the 2018 ‘Ohina Fellowship Lab, she was granted the rare opportunity of being mentored by showrunner/writer, Dana Ledoux Miller (The Newsroom, Narcos.) With the support of her community and a passion to create personal and affecting films, Anela works to broadcast stories in the hopes that viewers find a bit of understanding, truth, and comfort in them.

Her most recent work was as lead Producer on Alexander Bocchieri’s dramatic short film, The Pit Where We Were Born, and Production Designer on Alika Maikau’s and Jonah Okano’s Kaneohe-centric film Mauka to Makai (‘Ohina Fellowship award & HIFF 2018 Best Made in Hawai‘i Short winner.) Anela’s commitment to nurturing the growing and diverse independent film community in Hawai‘i has led to many collaborations with a wide network of peers. She works now as an upcoming Writer/Director on her own film, Mo‘o!, as seen here. She is beyond ecstatic to work with a crew of her friends and peers.

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Director Statement

This is a story inspired by many things. It's deeply personal, based around my
experiences with mourning and death. In a way, it's me airing my guilt for the
world to see. It has been very difficult.
Growing up, my parents were divorced and my father became very sickly. I
saw him occasionally, and when we did see each other, I found I didn’t know
what to say. When I was in high school, he passed away. My mom told me
while I was still in bed, and she gave me a hug as I cried. That was the last
time it was ever spoken of again in my household.
With this film, I wanted to portray a different version of mourning. In a lot of
movies, the characters cry and scream and vent their emotions. But that
wasn’t my experience. I went to school and no one talked about it. It
disappeared with time but it has stuck with me all my life. I felt guilt for not
mourning as I thought I should have.
With this movie, I want to offer comfort to those who have felt loss and didn’t
know what to do. This is for the friends who didn’t know what to say. I wanted
to show preservation of memory, the roots that connect us all in nature, the
humor that comes with the darkness in life. A little bit of everything, all
wrapped up in my home of Hawai’i.