CHRISTINE YUAN
CHRISTINE YUAN
Born in Los Angeles, CA, Christine Yuan is an Emmy-award winning Taiwanese-American director. Known for her bold and playful style, and with an instinct for authentic performances that depict organic facets of youth culture and the female experience, she creates worlds that capture the imaginative quality of the human experience. Yuan worked previously as a creative director for 88rising and has created visuals for Joji, Rich Brian, Summer Walker, GoldLink, to name a few. Her feature documentaries have won Best Culture/History Documentary at the 2018 LA Area Emmy, Best Documentary at the 2018 Golden Mike Awards, and Best Feature Documentary at the 2017 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Her commercial work has been shortlisted for D&AD’s Next Director Award, 1.4 Awards Show, Young Guns 15 Awards, and Shoot’s Director’s Showcase. Commercial credits include Prada, Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Reebok, Zara, and Tiffany & Co, and more.
This film was commissioned by Vogue for their cover star Hoyeon Jung. The film was written and directed by Christine Yuan.
This film might be about the playful and charismatic Hoyeon but it is also about Hollywood and America. Hoyeon, a Korean who rose to fame through her role in Squid Game, is now an international woman of mystery. The title really makes us question, what defines one as International? Is International just another name for ‘American’, without taking away another's cultural identity. The questions are endless which is why we are presenting the range of videos to keep this conversation going!
AYANNA DOZIER
SOFTER, 2020
Softer examines the demands of "softening" that are requested of Black women's bodies in society---from job prospects to romantic ones---be that in their voice, their manners, and, critically, their hair. The experimental short plays upon the grooming rituals of softening that are terrifyingly rough through a recreation of a permanent wave machine produced perm (popular in the 1930s-1950s). The short mediates on the historical ways in which Black women have tried to answer this demand on softness through respectable appearance and behavior.
CHRISTELLE DE CASTRO
JUST SAY, 2021
"Just Say" is a music video directed & produced by de Castro for her best friends, twin musicians, Coco & Breezy. It is a dance-centered film particularly honoring the genre of house. It is a window into Christelle's world, one that is eclectic, soulful, and celebrates the spectrum. This film was self funded by Christelle & the artists and made possible with the contribution of friends, both in front of the camera and behind the lens.
KASEY ELISE WALKER
HOOP DREAMS, 2021
The short film explores the vibrant colors of South LA through the eyes of Savannah Walker, an 8 year-old, African American girl who idolizes her mother’s resilient strength and mystical, golden hoop earrings. Walker's fear of speaking publicly in poetry class leads her to steal her mother's hoops with a belief that they'll help her overcome anything. Ultimately, her mother’s golden hoops transport her into a world beyond her greatest imagination.
KILO KISH
DEATH FANTASY — this song serves as the American Gurl album “manifesto”
It’s asking who we are beyond definitions, and beyond who we appear to be to ourselves, and others. I’ve struggled with this for a long time as I haven’t always fit neatly in any space so this song is actually a declaration of freedom in many ways.
KITTY CA$H
KITTY’S WORLD: GETTING TO THE MONEY, 2021
“Getting To The Money” by Kitty Ca$h invites viewers into the artist's mental landscape; through the 3D character, Kitty has an open discourse on achieving the American Dream through financial literacy and hip hop culture. This episode features live action guests featuring Aleali May, Amber Khan, ModernBlkGirl, and Beverly Beal.
LEILA JARMAN
THIS IS MARAWA, 2021
SARAH NICOLE FRANÇOIS
iGURL, 2022