Constellation 13 Wolves

The story driving this film is a personal one. As a former rock-singer and touring band leader who was born in Seoul and grew up in Panama, New Jersey and New York respectively, I felt a very strong need to connect my western life story with my eastern background and ancestry, especially with regard to my North Korean family line. I started writing this as an origin story that involves an exploration of self as artist and her destiny, as well as the dichotomy of inner and outer identity. And what better way to explore the trauma of love, work, family and separation than within the genre of action/fantasy, replete with demons, fight scenes and original punk-rock adrenaline!

All the music is written and performed by myself and some very talented friends. The images were very clear to me from the get-go -- before I even adapted this short film from the original hour-long pilot script. In a world with so little understanding of North Koreans and the pervasive plight of lasting political, societal and familial separation (I include myself in that group needing to understand), I felt the need to create a visual language that would help me to understand my own (at times mind-bending) experiences of living in society as an outsider. The film also references films that I have connected strongly with in the past, to filmmakers who have created their own vivid filmic language -- sometimes bewildering to behold, but always personal and unforgettable in nature.

Because life can be a bewildering enterprise. Thankfully, the making of this film was not - it was an amazing shoot that took place during a massive heatwave in Southern California over the hottest weekend on record in the last 10 years. Directing and acting this script that I wrote was an energetic and unbelievably joyous effort made possible by many - a fantastic crew and cast that brought their best sweat and positive energy to this project.