Experiencing Interruptions?

Open Door

The story is about my reluctant to accept my fate as a daughter in a tradition Chinese family, which led to my efforts to change the condition I found myself in. My birth may have been seen as a nightmare to my mother because I confronted her for over a decade. My desire to go to school which she believed to be unnecessary, really irritated her. My mother saw me as disobedient, over-ambitious and a bad example to my siblings. She used every way she could to show her parental authority to stop my ‘ambition’. This work tells my life experience and effort to overcome my difficulties in becoming an educated person. I used my ceramic artwork to share my feelings and encourage people to be strong and face the world in order to keep their dream alive.

  • Nancy Ma
    Director
  • Nancy Ma
    Writer
  • Nancy Ma
    Producer
  • Nancy Ma
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 17, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Sydney
Director Biography - Nancy Ma

Born in Hong Kong and currently residing in Australia, Nancy Ma possesses a unique blend of professional expertise in management and creativity, setting her apart as an exceptional film producer, director, and screenwriter.

As the director of a leading multicultural marketing company, Nancy showcased remarkable administrative and managerial skills as a team builder and personnel motivator. She takes charge of strategic planning, budgeting, project launches, and promotional activities while maintaining strong connections with media and government entities.

Nancy's creativity shines through her work as a Chinese writer, copy/scriptwriter, and Chinese/English translator. With diverse experience working with creative and production teams, Nancy excels from pre-production to post-production including using programs like Ps, Pr, Ae and Ai, among others. Her extensive travel experience across the world has enabled her to connect with a wide range of people, lives, and culture, making her storytelling more realistic and down to earth. Notably, her imminent completion of a Master's in Moving Image adds an extra layer of distinction to her profile within the film industry.

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Director Statement

This work combines essay documentary with performance/video arts. Through creating this work, I aim to raise awareness of gender inequality and to serve as a record of Chinese women's history. However, I approach this work with a playful aesthetic, intending to demonstrate that the sorrowful experiences in life can be viewed as positive. My ultimate goal is to inspire women that it is never too late to pursue their dreams.

As almost all shots were taken on a green screen, I focused primarily on the editing process to strengthen my story, provide visual impact, and engage the audience, taking them on a compelling and meaningful journey. I hope to convey my vision within a short film.

I employed strong color tones and transitions in my work not only to enhance the visual impact but also to evoke emotions and feelings in the audience. In my work, a white dress symbolizes innocence and grief, while going barefoot represents being unprotected, and raised hands with open fingers denote questioning, complaint, and objection.