Connect with us

Fashion

How One Visionary Director Brought Her Story to Life

Published

on

lexus


When an idea sparks, it takes more than passion alone to transform it into a flame. From acquiring financial aid to finding resources and support to good old fashioned luck, there are countless factors that kindle a creative project into being, or snuff it out on the spot. The struggle to have an original idea realized can be unrelenting, and it’s one many emerging filmmakers know all too well. In an industry centered on crowd-pleasing blockbusters, remakes and sequels, many independent filmmakers are left to their own devices and funds to fuel unconventional artistry. Add in a slew of politics and predetermined constructs, and the odds become particularly stacked against female, trans, and non-binary filmmakers.

It’s estimated that of the top 500 films made in 2019, only 14% were directed by women. And that was a record high. And that was a record high. While male-domination within the film industry is beginning to teeter, there is no question that women, trans and non-binary filmmakers continue a lengthy and arduous fight to have their distinct voices heard. And even for those directors lucky enough to have the stars align behind their work, the challenge to maintain control of their vision until they cross the finish line can be a frustrating crusade.

It’s estimated that of the top 500 films made in 2019, only 14% were directed by women.

The film world has never been more ripe for change and fresh perspective. That’s why Lexus and ELLE joined together on a project called The Spark, which is aimed at driving the work of female and non-binary identifying filmmakers to the forefront of the conversation. In the summer of 2021, a group of emerging directors got the opportunity to pitch their original stories to Lexus and ELLE, with the chance to turn their idea into a short film that would be screened at the 2021 Women in Hollywood Awards. With the financial and creative support of Lexus and ELLE, one chosen director would not only be able to realize a film through their own lens, but have their work showcased before some of the finest and most influential forces in the industry today.

For Tiffany Frances, an independent filmmaker from Los Angeles, The Spark was a pivotal opportunity to see her work realized and the embers of her idea ignite. This is how “Another Day” was brought to the silver screen.

Josh Brede

TRAILBLAZING TALENT

From a sea of filmmakers, The Spark chose five innovative directors to develop and present an original story concept inspired by a theme that spoke to them. The goal: to partner with a director with an intuitive eye for character and strong sense of storytelling in a short film format.

The submissions from the five filmmakers—Mary Evangelista, Elina Street, Isabel Tan, Tiffany Frances, and Kajal—proved nothing short of extraordinary, presenting a wide array of both personal and socially explorative stories. Each creator put forth distinctly compelling narratives that stood as a testament to the reservoir of genius brimming in the independent film industry.

In conjunction with a panel of award-winning film professionals, ELLE and Lexus embarked on a review process that examined each director’s creative vision and storyline. The deliberations took into account all elements of the film pitch: concepts, characters, story beats, visual inspiration, locations inspiration, and even the production scale. Choosing which film would get the green light gave Lexus the chance to bear witness to and support remarkable talent brewing within the storytelling community.

Ultimately, only one film could be made, and that film was Another Day—the surreal sci-fi brainchild of Taiwanese American director Tiffany Frances.

A NEW LUMINARY

Raised in an area of Los Angeles known as Hacienda Heights, Frances is a Taiwanese-American writer and director of narrative film, commercials, and music videos. Her forté as a director lies in character-driven, dramatic storytelling that explores the authentic stories of women and marginalized voices through lyrical visuals.

lexus

Tiffany Frances filming Another Day in California.

In just the last five years, Frances has amassed an impressive body of work. Her short film Movement for National Geographic garnered over 1 million views on social media. And her AFI Directing Workshop for Women film, Hello From Taiwan, was the recipient of The Future of Film is Female grant, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Taiwanese American Film Festival, the Best Short at LA Diversity Film Festival, the Best Drama and Best Director at SeriesFest; it was also screened at MoMA’s FOFIF series in partnership with Chanel.

After a decade in Brooklyn she recently returned to Los Angeles where she is in the process of developing a series as well as two feature films. Yes, two. Needless to say, she’s been busy.

“We’re at an interesting time in the film industry where there’s a hunger for new perspectives.”

Despite the attention her work has been amassing, she (along with countless other filmmakers) has witnessed firsthand the ongoing hardships both within the industry as well as those going on around the world. “It simply hasn’t been an easy road,” Frances says, candidly. “After this year’s #stopasianhate movement, there’s been a deep consciousness in Hollywood to finally begin representing Asian-Americans with integrity. In this very moment there’s never been a better time for us, yet there’s still a long way to go.”

Yet Tiffany remains positive about the future of diversity in filmmaking as minorities of all walks are beginning to take the spotlight. “We’re at an interesting time in the film industry where there’s a hunger for new perspectives and how to tell their stories in an authentic way. People are finally really paying attention to what’s happening behind the scenes,” she explains. “It took me a long time to recognize that I do have a place here—my voice, our voices have a place here.”

lexus

Josh Brede

FROM SPARK TO FLAME

In Another Day, Frances tells the story of Julie, a young scientist who has spent her life working on technology to bring back a close friend she lost at a young age. Julie succeeds at creating a device that will bring his spirit back at the age he would have been in the present. The caveat: He can only stay on earth for one day. “Life is so precious and fragile and beautiful,” says Frances, when asked why she chose this subject. “I know I’m not alone when I wonder what it would be like to spend one more day experiencing the beauty of this world with someone we lost. It means so much to me that I could delve into this story, and talk about the meaning of life and friendships with everyone who was involved in this film.”

In the weeks after Another Day was given the green light, Frances, with the support of the Lexus and ELLE creative teams, shifted gears into production to bring her script to life. Pre-production came with many hurdles—from casting the touching friendship that anchors the narrative, to finding the surreal and scenic location where the film takes place. Steered by exceptional teamwork, Another Day began filming in Los Angeles one early summer morning in September 2021, with a crew largely flown in from NYC. “The first day of principal photography was absolutely packed, but it was filled with pure magic,” Frances says. “When I arrived on set in Malibu, there was this beautiful misty coastal fog that stayed there the whole morning. It set the tone for the rest of the day.”

lexus

R.J. O’Young’s emotional scene from Another Day.

But while the location was a dream, production was not without its curveballs. Knowing that actor R.J. O’Young also had Taiwanese-American origins, Tiffany devised to have him write a letter on screen in Chinese. The only caveat: R.J. didn’t know how to write in Chinese. Seeing this as a prime occasion to tap into her culture, Tiffany reached out to her mother for guidance. “She sent me a video of herself writing,” she remembers. “I noticed she also annotated how to write each word on a separate piece of paper, because stroke order is very specific. I was so moved by her help.” R.J. studied the writing, but when it came time to film the scene, he struggled to remember the precise stroke orders. So Tiffany stopped what she was doing and practiced with him. “It was this strange zen moment of writing Chinese together. A very unexpected moment while everyone else around us was moving at lightning speed. He nailed that scene,” she says.

Throughout filming, Tiffany not only jumped in to guide her team, but her team backed her every move, with her vision acting as a tenacious force commanding the helm. “I felt incredibly supported on this project, from creative development on the script through production,” she says. “As a Taiwanese-American female filmmaker whose sensibilities don’t always fit into the traditional marketplace in Hollywood, having ELLE and Lexus advocate for me liberated me to tell this film in an authentic, personal way. I’m emboldened to continue to tell stories with my own female gaze and stay true to my vision.”

THE FUTURE OF FILM

When The Spark program set out to collaborate with the ingenious voices of female-identifying or non-binary storytellers in film, it came as no surprise there was a wealth of extraordinary talent ready to be championed. By helping to bring the vision of one filmmaker to fruition, the initiative underscores the importance of empowering creators who challenge convention and bring authentic, unheard and underrepresented stories to the table.

“It’s more important than ever for women to be encouraged and endorsed, as directors, as storytellers, and as people who can influence the cultural landscape,” says Frances. “There’s a deep sea of gorgeous, intimate, unique, intriguing, fascinating stories that remain untold. And honestly, it’s time to dive in.”



Fashion

Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving

Published

on

Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving


On Wednesday night, Jennifer Lopez arrived in Los Angeles with her 13-year-old twins Max and Emme. The family was likely there to join Lopez’s boyfriend, Ben Affleck, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lopez recently returned from the much colder climate of British Columbia, Canada, where she was filming her latest project, The Mother.

J. Lo touched down in her private jet wearing a teddy fur coat from Coach’s Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, and a pair of Ugg boots. Classic airplane outfit, celebrity style. Lopez and Affleck originally dated in 2002 and broke up in 2004. Their romance was rekindled earlier this year, soon after Lopez ended her relationship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez. The new couple went official in July, while celebrating Lopez’s 52nd birthday abroad.

Affleck’s most recent relationship with Ana de Armas ended in January after about a year together. He had divorced ex-wife Jennifer Garner in 2015 after being married for almost a decade. Garner and Affleck had three daughters, Violet, Seraphina, and Sam.

Before traveling back to the U.S., Lopez posted a story to Instagram Reels about how grateful she was to be headed home.

“Hey everybody, it’s my last day here shooting on The Mother out in Smithers in the snow, it’s been beautiful, but tonight I’m on my way home,” she said, as she walked through the wild landscape in a black coat and beanie.

“I’m so excited for Thanksgiving! I hope everybody has an amazing weekend with their families and their loved ones, there’s so much to be grateful for this year. I’m on my way!”

This is the first major holiday of the year since Lopez and Affleck reunited, so it’s likely to be a big one for both families.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io



Continue Reading

Fashion

Everlane’s Black Friday Sale is Packed With Winter Essentials

Published

on

everlane


Courtesy

This is not a drill: Everlane just kicked off its Black Friday sale. Now through Monday, November 29, the direct-to-consumer brand is offering 20 to 40% off its cozy sweaters, minimalist activewear, and popular jeans. If you’re not super familiar with Everlane, let me spell it out for you: this is a big deal.

The e-tailer might be known for making sustainable, ethically made clothes and accessories at a fair, affordable price, but Everlane rarely has sales beyond its Choose What You Pay section. So, if you want to stock up on cute basics for less, now’s your time to shop.

And, in true Everlane fashion, the brand is taking this opportunity to give back. Everlane is partnering with Rodale Institute and help U.S. farmers transition their farmland to regenerative organic—and donating $15 per order to the cause. A great sale that gives back? I’m sold.

But, hurry! These deals are going to sell out fast, so you won’t want to waste any time filling your e-cart.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

1

The Cloud Turtleneck

$150 $105 (30% off)

Sweater weather is officially here, so why not pick up a few fresh layers? This turtleneck is the S’s: snuggly, stylish, and on sale. 

2

The Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny Jeans

everlane

$78 $58 (25% off)

Looking for a great pair of jeans, minus the markup? Everlane’s classic skinny style is not only super stretchy, but it’ll look good with everything from chunky sweaters to silky blouses.

3

The ReNew Teddy Slippers

everlane

$65 $39 (40% off)

Why limit the shearling trend to the upper half of your body? These plush slippers will give even your most worn-in sweats a stylish edge.

4

The Chunky Cardigan

everlane

$110 $77 (30% off)

Sure, this may not be the cardigan Taylor Swift was talking about. But, with an exaggerated collar and ribbed finish, this style would definitely score top marks from the singer herself. 

5

The Canvas Utility Boots

everlane

$115 $59 (40% off)

Brave the cold weather in style with Everlane’s chic boots. The canvas uppers and thick sole make these an ideal, all-weather option.

6

The Lofty-Knit Henley

everlane

$150 $105 (30% off)

Made with a nubby blend of merino wool, alpaca, and recycled nylon, this henley is perfect for a cozy night in, yet stylish enough to wear in public.

7

The Perform Bike Shorts

everlane

$45 $22 (51% off)

No, you can never have too many stretchy pants. Everlane’s bike shorts ooze major Lady Di vibes — for under $25, no less.

8

The ReLeather Court Sneakers

everlane

$110 $66 (40% off)

Made with recycled leather, these refresh sneakers will serve up major curb appeal — and Mother Nature’s seal of approval. 

9

The Field Dress

everlane

$100 $60 (40% off)

Found: a fun, flouncy frock you can wear year-round. For a wintry take, pair with opaque tights and your favorite chunky boots.

10

The Cozy-Stretch Wide-Leg Sweatpants

everlane

$150 $75 (50% off)

With a straight-legged silhouette and wool material, it’s safe to say these are the chicest sweatpants we’ve ever seen. To sweeten an already enticing offer, this pair is half off.

11

The Organic Cotton Flannel Popover

$80 $56 (30% off)

Everlane reimagined the traditional flannel with a cropped silhouette, voluminous sleeves, and a slew of minimalist colors.

12

The Studio Bag

everlane

$275 $192 (30% off)

Large enough to fit all your essentials, but not too big that it’ll weigh you down, Everlane’s Studio Bag is the perfect everyday purse.

13

The ReNew Long Liner

everlane

$158 $118 (25% off)

House Stark was right: winter really is coming. Made with recycled materials, this liner is a great layering piece that’s considerably chicer than the yesteryear’s Michelin Man-worthy parkas.

14

The Felted Merino Beanie

everlane

$50 $30 (40% off)

All set on clothes? Pick up this cheery beanie, which is 40% off its original price.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Continue Reading

Fashion

29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

Published

on

29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy



29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2021 Vitamin Patches Online.