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Part drama, part comedy, POP! evokes the sometimes absurd ups and downs of Millennial life. The story was inspired by my own experiences, chiefly the fact that I have struggled with acne for the last 20 years. It began in junior high and continued through high school, college, and graduate school. Despite all the experts I’ve consulted and the many different remedies I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to entirely get rid of my acne. The idea of writing a story based around these experiences percolated in my head for several years. But I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to broadcast my adult acne so publicly. I had never seen acne depicted seriously, as it can be a sensitive and embarrassing issue. The only time we normally see acne depicted in film is through stereotypical characters who are teenagers or nerds, and also usually the butt of the joke. I wanted to create, instead, a story that was both personal and honest. This made me think about how acne and physical appearance are very much tied to confidence, especially for women. I also wanted to make a film in my hometown of Orange County in Southern California. There is an obsession with how you look in certain parts of the OC. The culture is heavily influenced by Hollywood and the film and entertainment industry. Because the OC is more of a coastal county and because of its wealth and attitudes, there is an extreme and conscious effort to appear healthy. But what “healthy” actually means is to look flawless all the time. Even when you’re in your workout clothes. With all this in mind, a character began to form in my mind: A young woman contending with body image and self-confidence, striving for independence as an adult woman, and reflecting on what she wants for her life—all while breaking free from her mother’s expectations and desires for her. When I shared this potential story with a few close friends and collaborators, the response was overwhelmingly positive. They said they hadn’t seen acne discussed like this before and they were touched that it was inspired by my own personal experiences. I realized this was a story I had to tell. While I was thinking about casting for the role of Jennifer, I met up with Michelle Ang, an acquaintance from the film world, for lunch. She told me that as a Chinese New Zealander actress, she was tired of playing stereotypical Asian characters who were either martial artists, doctors/lawyers/smart characters with glasses, or overly sexualized Asian women. She wanted to play a woman who felt real, who didn’t wear makeup, who was dealing with ordinary, relatable issues. I hadn’t previously considered Michelle for the part, but her comments hit a nerve and prompted me to cast her. Michelle ended up being the perfect person to play Jennifer. Ultimately, POP! is both a mother-daughter story and a tale about what it means to be an adult (even one who still suffers from acne). It’s about realizing that sometimes we are our own harshest critics, and the way we see ourselves is often out of sync with the way others see us. I will never forget how when I screened a rough cut of this film for the faculty at NYU Tisch, my dean told me he had never even noticed my acne. I was touched.
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Duration | 22 Minutes |
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