NARRATIVE SHORT
DECEMBER 20, 2022
NED | 3 minutes | 2021
Drama directed by Jenny Hsia
Starring Jenny Hsia
Monologue
What happens when you’re isolated at home and your thoughts are filled with moments of despair and little sparks of hope? Monologue is a short story created during the first summer of the pandemic and shares the inner world of a Dutch-Chinese individual.
Interview
CineAsian Films (CAF): What was the inspiration behind Monologue?
Jenny Hsia: I have a long history scrabbling and writing in diary’s, sharing thoughts, ideas and moments on white pages. During the COVID times I wanted to share a short and simple story about HOPE using all the things I already had.
We were banned from traveling and isolated from other people, so rather to see this as a blockade I used my creativity to play around with it.
Looking at things within and nearby, I decided to film with my iPhone X and use the place I live in as a location to film. There was no need to use external props or actors and a lot of footage in the film are scenes from self tapes I gathered over time. So from collecting bits and pieces from home I composed this short “Monologue”.
CAF: What were some of the challenges you faced during production?
Hsia: You become very self judgemental if you are the only one, writing, acting, directing and editing. So it was literally Me VS Me at all times. Once I found the flow of just creating and leaving the inner critical voice, it all came together.
CAF: What do you hope people can take away from watching your film?
Hsia: Most of my life I’ve been the outcast. Starting from primary school all the way to being an actress now in my late thirties, never felt that I truly belonged somewhere or found a place where I “fit in”. So I had to create something myself, doing it my own way. When we are being honest and real, we connect with each other, we belong here and there is hope. I hope the viewers will be inspired to tell stories in their own way, using whatever they have now. We are all unique and you are already great as you are.
CAF: Are you working on anything new?
Hsia: Yes, I am working on a longer story, using real experiences, transforming failures into comedy. Especially looking forward with talent who never had the chance to show their full potential to give them a place in my story.
Monologue is one of the many great projects shared with CineAsian Films through our submissions process. If you’d like to join them, submit your project.
Credits
Director, Writer, Producer: Jenny Hsia
CineAsian Films 