Take 5 with "A Journey to the West"

The 7th annual Oxford Film Festival is getting closer every day. Before we kick off another fun-packed festival, we thought we would take five with filmmakers and get to know them just a little better.

OFF: In 10 words, describe your movie and why someone should see it.

Lawrence: It's a cultural experience exposing an unexplored side of China. 

OFF: Biggest lesson learned in getting the film made? Best part in getting the film made?

Lawrence: Throughout the course of making the film we learned to stretch our $10 budget through improvisation and flexibility, however at the same time we realized the importance of planning and pre-production work. The best part of making "A Journey to the West" was integrating ourselves into village life in order to fully capture the stories of rural China. 

OFF: Tell us about you. What is your movie making background?

Lawrence: Although I was born in the US, I spent most of my life in Beijing, China and recently graduated from Duke University (May '09). My crew consists of other American-born students who have grown up in China. I am a self-taught filmmaker, who has gained experience from shooting short films and digital comedy shorts throughout highschool and college. 

OFF: What’s your dream distribution plan for the film?

Lawrence: To have Nike pick it up as an educational promotional piece throughout the Asia-Pacific region. 

OFF: What’s the future hold in store for your film and for you?

Lawrence: Hopefully my film will continue on its festival run and gain recognition. As for myself and my crew, we will continue to learn from our mistakes, produce more shorts for online and festival distribution, and develop our filmmaking skills. We hope to create more international content and eventually be recognized as innovative filmmakers that bridge the cultural gaps between the US and China.