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Three mothers for a Comet Orphan - Cannes Film Festival Interview
At the Marché du Film in Cannes, our David Caballero catches up with Natalie Gimon Valencia, Hyejin "Grace" Park, and Ziyu "Arwen" Wang — the trio of filmmakers behind the upcoming project Comet Orphan — to talk about the short film, their backgrounds, and the industry side of the Festival.
Audio transcription
"Hi friends, it's the end of day 2 in Cannes for me, the end of the show actually.
It's a little bit sad, but I'm happy that I'm joined by these three ladies who made my red carpet waiting line much interesting and fun yesterday."
"But also you have an interesting story to tell.
We are at the Marché du Film, this is the industry side of things.
It's almost empty now, so thank you so much for joining us.
I wanted to know, tell us the story, what are you doing here?
What are you showing and what can we expect to see from you in the near future?
Perhaps you?
No problem, I will hold it."
"So we have a short film that's called Comet Orphan.
It's a mockumentary comedy about a woman who believes she's an alien and tries to launch herself into space.
And it's in the market of Cannes in Short Film Corner."
"And you're going to be screening it in 2-3 days if I'm correct?
Correct.
What about the business side of things?
Is it working out for you?
The Marché du Film, the talks you're having, the conversations, meetings?
Yes, actually we've been meeting with several potential investors who are interested in either developing it into an episodic or a feature."
"We're currently really talking to as many people and grabbing every opportunity that comes our way.
Alright.
That's interesting because we really want to know how things work behind the scenes at the Marché du Film."
"What can you tell me about the concept, what you are trying to convey with this?
I know we still don't know if it's going to be a feature film or, as you said, an episodic series.
But what are you trying to tell here?
And are you the main actress?
I'm one of the actresses in the film."
"And Comet Orphan is about a young woman who is an orphan from a comet.
And she is going back to her comet but she's also torn and staying back on Earth.
Does she go? Does she leave?
It's a really heartfelt story."
"And it's a mockumentary sci-fi short film.
How is it going to be technically, visually?
What are you guys going to do?
Is it going to be animation plus actors?
Is it going to be a live action thing?
Or what is the technique and the visual style you are approaching it with?
We are going for retro sci-fi."
"It has a style of 70s, 80s.
Very poppy, muted colours and also poppy colours.
And it's told in a mockumentary way.
So we are asking the audience the question."
"Is this real? Is she a real alien or is she not?
And at the end we figure it out and everyone will see.
I guess a lot of philosophy into it because it's sci-fi.
A lot of reflection, right?
Tell us a little bit more about your background."
"I know all three of you come from L.A.
I'll be there in a month's time.
But not from the same school or studies or background.
So what can you tell me, in turns?
I'm actually originally from China."
"But I went to Los Angeles for school about 3 or 4 years ago.
Now I'm based in Los Angeles.
And that's where I met these beautiful people.
And then made this film possible."
"I'm originally from Korea.
But I did go back and forth from New Zealand to Korea growing up.
So I have a weird mixed accent.
I'm currently based in L.A."
"And I met Arwen in USC.
And Natalie in Lee Strasberg.
Very lucky.
And I'm originally from Toronto.
And then I moved out to L.A. to study at the Lee Strasberg Institute."
"Acting.
And then producing fell into my lap.
And that is how I met our lovely Grace here.
And then she introduced me to Arwen."
"And now I go back and forth between L.A., Toronto and Montreal.
And you can speak Spanish as well. Why?
I'm a Latina. I'm half Colombian and half Venezuelan.
Fantastic."
"Anything that you would like to share that we can check out from your previous works?
I don't know. Short films that you've presented before?
Somewhere that you have acted before?
What can you tell us about that?
Actually, I've produced some other short films."
"I did one with Grace earlier.
It went to L.A. Short Festival.
And I also have another short film that also went to L.A. Short Film Festival this year.
And some of my short films have gone to some Canadian award-qualifying festivals as well."
"Kind of all over the place.
She produced another short I wrote and directed.
It's called New in Town.
About houseless situations."
"It went to L.A. Shorts and Sedona.
And I'm currently finishing up a film called Rope from Heaven.
It's a period piece about a Korean woman going through Japanese colonial time.
In a very fantasy way."
"I have a couple films that are in the festival circuit.
So I have the Beverly Hills Film Festival I just finished tomorrow.
And another film called Chance of Rain.
Both of those premiered just now."
"And I'm also wrapping up post-production on a film called Hawaii.
Alright, that's fantastic.
I think we can wrap it like this.
Thank you so much for your time."
"Good luck with Comet Orphan.
I'm looking forward to watching it.
And thank you again.
Perfect, thank you."
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