Ariel Chan: Why join JUMP CUT?

Next up we have Ariel Chan who amongst many other jobs, went onto RTHK5’s radio show to talk about JUMP CUT 2014 and designed the gorgeous publicity image for the festival! If being part of this festival sounds appealing… sign up to JUMP CUT 2015 now!

Ariel, tell us about JUMP CUT
JUMP CUT is a platform for film lovers, experts, professionals and all kinds of audience to interact and have a fun and unique experience watching independent films, chosen by a group of film-crazed teenagers. I was the cover designer and the PR officer, where I had the opportunity to work with YAF's PR staff and show my creativity and imagination while designing and developing the cover of JUMP CUT.

Why do you think others should join JUMP CUT?
First, it's fun, duh! The people you meet are fun. The films you watch are fun. The places you go because of the festival are fun. Enough said. Second, the things you learn. Through months of organising the event, you'd understand the process, the whole journey in creating a film festival. You'd learn to be more responsible, attentive to details, punctual and well, organised! Third, you get to explore what you can/want and cannot do/do not want to do. You can try and put yourself in the trailer team, or the cover design team, or be the president! Eventually you will find the perfect role for yourself and use your strengths and discover more about your other abilities.

What was your favourite thing about JUMP CUT 2014? 
I'd say "things" because there were too many! In addition to the lovely people you meet and have common interests with, I also loved how it provided us with opportunities to watch movies in unconventional ways and to appreciate them from different angles. The fact that we got to work independently with guidance from YAF helped me to be become a more open-minded, organised, detailed and responsible person.

What was most memorable? 
I remember the crew and I were chatting with a director at a screening and we were totally fangirling over his work, which was absolutely crazy! The director talked about his creation and the process of developing his hilarious characters. We were asking him endlessly about his short film, and he kept on answering all our silly questions. In the end, funny enough, we even got souvenirs from him! I think that's what makes JUMP CUT so special. It provides the closeness no other film festival can offer between the audience and filmmakers, creating an unforgettable experience for both.

​Which film had the greatest impact on you?
I was strongly impacted by the movie "Milk" directed by Gus Van Sant. It's not one of those movies which hits you so hard that you feel like you’ve been hitten by a truck, or one of those who makes you think about the meaning of life. I actually have to admit I found it quite boring at first as it's truly a long movie, and I didn't really even like it although I’d watched it two times. But what this movie does to you is that  it covers so many different themes that when you are reading the news, all of a sudden you'd be reminded of a scene in the movie. Or when you're reading a book, you'd be reminded of a line in the movie. That's what movies do to you sometimes. They slip into your mind unknowingly and remind you once in a while how important an issue, a person or a random "thing" is by connecting it with reality. That's how much "Milk" impacted me.

What role does film play in your life?
Film is very crucial to me. It's more than something to do while eating a pint of ice cream or a bucket full of popcorn. It's an expression, an interpretation and sometimes, an inspiration. The combination of sound and images, combining so perfectly to create an incomparable experience, can only be done with films. So, in my life, it's a medium to access many of my thoughts and inspirations, as film ignites my interpretation in images or sounds, and link them with different messages and themes. Its helped me to grow up and to learn in such a special way which cannot be forgotten so easily. That is why I'm an absolute film lover.