BBFF2022 Meet the Filmmaker: Yoo Lee
7LBS 8OZ
Writer, director, fashion designer and stop motion animator Yoo Lee, brings us on a journey based loosely on her own experience of moving to a new place. The story follow a young mother who moves into 8th street, Jersey City, NJ, she learns about the value of the community and how her own perception determines her own experiences.
We had a chat to Yoo Lee about the making of ‘7LBS 8OZ’ and her journey from changing careers and creating a story worth telling.
Screening at Palace Cinemas Byron Bay
Sunday 23 October at 3:15pm with Klondike
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What was the process for you to get this film from an initial concept on page to screen?
It's loosely based on my experience of having moved to Jersey City from Los Angeles. I quickly learned not to judge the book by its cover and learned the meaning of community.
Have you always wanted to be a filmmaker?
Actually no. I was a fashion designer and had my own clothing brand for almost two decades. I became a mother in my late thirties, and in wanting to entertain my daughter, started making stop motion music videos and quickly realized I loved being a storyteller. Wanting to pursue it more than just a hobby, I applied and enrolled myself as a MFA student at USC majoring in animation in my forties and rest is history.
As a filmmaker what is your favourite memory you had in the process of creating this film?
7LBS 8OZ was filmed in my garage. It was made during the pandemic and although I received the generous LAIKA Animation Grant to make the film, it wasn't enough to rent a studio for many months to film the short. So although it was air-conditioned and secured, because of one side of the garage door, there is tiny gaps where the flies alway came through. So we had so many flies, that it made the shot, so we had to constantly post VFX out. That plus my buddy, Golden Retriever, Peaches' mountain of hair always tumbling around the studio. You can spot dog hair in many shots on 7LBS 8OZ.
Why do you think short films are an important medium to explore creativity through?
Short film is the most effective way of storytelling in the shortest amount of time, you have to hit the notes and arcs. No fat to trim. Since my medium is stop motion animation which is excruciatingly slow and painstakingly laborious, I think it's a perfect marriage to tell short stories. I believe in telling the right story, you can be just as effective in few minutes as in hours.
Part of the filmmaking process is you will face challenges, how did you overcome these?
This was a grant piece and I was thrown into a team of talents who only worked on live action prior with no animation background. So there was a lot of learning curve as well as adjustments of expectations. Instead of taking 3 days to film in live action shorts, we filmed for 3 months just on filming the short. Scheduling was challenging. I focused on the end goals, finishing the short on time and on budget and making it the best we can at the given time and never lost sight of that.
I would say Pandemic gave me a chance to focus and I was able to finish two short films, including 7LBS 8OZ. I set up studio in my garage and got to work. And pandemic really made me realize how we are not built to have social distancing and I appreciated the communities I had prior. So out of the pandemic came 7LBS 8OZ.
What is next for you in the future?
I am currently directing on another short called 'Welcome to 8th Street' as a part of HBO Max Access Animated Short Program which hopefully will air on HBO next year. I will wrap that production in about a month. Then I will jump into directing my thesis film called Little Dandelion which I hope to finish by next May. After that, yes, taking a long break to recover.
What is your biggest creative influence on your filmmaking style?
Actually it's an Australian director, writer, and stop motion animator. Adam Eliott. His stories always have heart, humor and melancholy such is life. I also respect his dedication to his craft and going out it independently. I look up to him tremendously.
What is a piece of advice you can give to all aspiring filmmakers?
There is no limit to what everyone is capable of. I decided to switch my career and became a filmmaker/ student at the tender young age of 46. I only sought after the voices who encouraged me and gave me hope. I also worked hard and completed every short I worked on. I don't believe in luck. I believe in creating opportunities through work and applying to opportunities. I also don't believe rejections are not negative. I think they exist to energize you to work harder and to pivot you to the right directions.
I think BBFF makes people dreams come true. Festivals are such a necessary vehicle for us filmmakers to showcase our work, connect with one another and elevate our skills by viewing others' work. The fact that we get to do that in paradise like Bryon Bay festival is such an honor.
