Smooth As The Wind: Chun Chun Chang On Her Short "Aura"
Chun Chun Chang is a director and animators whose short films have screened at several Oscar-qualifying film festivals. Her latest animated short, Aura, tells the story of a man who comes across a goddess during a deadly storm
The story starts from the perspective of a mortal. What he sees are the fierceness and the gentleness of nature. When the affection of the goddess is intertwined with the storm, What he experiences is a dream or reality?
Aura has already screened at many film festivals, including Encounters Film Festival, LA Shorts Fest, and the South Shorts Awards, where it won the 2020 Award of Excellence. We had the pleasure of chatting with Chun Chun about her film, its inspirations, sound design, and much much more!
How did the concept for Aura originate?
The initial inspiration for Aura came from William Forsythe's choreography in 'In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.' I was so inspired by the dancers' movements that I wanted to create a short film with contrasting vibes or gentleness and fierceness. I then decided to use Aura the goddess of the wind from Greek mythology as the blueprint for my film. And what better way to present both gentleness and fierceness than the wind itself? Besides Greek mythology, the film is also inspired by an Icelandic magical stave called "Wayfinder." Its purpose is to help the person carrying it to find the way home through rough weather. This inspired me to devise the ending where the goddess doesn't keep the mortal to stay with her inside the storm; instead, she lets him go and then disappears with the storm.
Sound plays a very vital role in the film. Can you tell us a bit about how you worked with composer Sturdivant Adams and Daniel Blanck to bring your vision to life?
I asked the sound designer/engineer Dan Blanck to create the continuous but settled sound effects for wind, thunder, and waves. He did a great job of making the film feel immersive.
The whole story takes place inside a storm, and the climax takes place in the eye of the storm. I wanted the music to be serene, which would not only represent the concept of the eye but also distinguish it from the fierce storm part. Similar to the above, I asked the composer/conductor Sturdivant Adams to simplify the score (to be almost silent) in the parts that Aura showed up with gentleness; in those moments, she was just a breeze, so it needed to be pure and simple. And then he created an amazing score.
This is your second project with Sturdivant. Was the collaboration process here different than your previous project, Between the Shadows?
It's a bit different than the previous collaboration. Aura required a score that's more contrasted compared to Between the Shadows, but both collaborations were fun and enjoyable.
The film has some truly breathtaking images. How did you go about achieving its distinct look?
Thank you! I just kept modifying the visual look. I had a rough idea of what kind of visual style I wanted, but I didn't commit to a certain look during the first half of the production process, so I could have the flexibility to keep trying and modifying until I found something that satisfied me.
What films or artists have inspired you, your style, or your approach to telling a story?
My creative process has been influenced by multiple artists, such as Philip Jackson, Lillian Bassman, William Forsythe, Antoni Gaudi, Hayao Miyazaki, and so on.
However, I'd say my first inspiration is the piece Danae by Gustav Klimt. I'm fascinated by the dwelling vibe that makes it seem that everything stops at that moment, with the character drifting in a dream. I think it inspired me so much that I tend to keep the stories simple, pure, and only about moments of fantasies.
What drew you to the visual arts? How did you get into directing?
The art of timing attracted me to the world of animation. There are so many things you can play with in animation. A pacing change in the same movement can tell the story differently.
I started making independent films during undergrad; that was when I first got into directing. As time progressed, my interests got wider on practicing and refining things around animations, such as visual arts, lighting, and so on.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
Enjoyment. I didn't design any complicated plots or twists in the story. I want the film's pacing to be smooth like the wind and provide audiences a moment to glimpse fantasy.
Do you have any future projects in the works that you can share with us?
For now, I'm working as a visual designer and VFX/lighting artist with a team from the CBS Pipeline Challenge program. We are making an animated short for the nonprofit organization School on Wheel. The story is about a little girl who faces multiple fears in her subconsciousness because of reading difficulties. The visual style of the film will switch between reality and the character's imagination.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!