Echo Chamber: DWFLA - Waiting for the Light to Change
@EchoChamberFP is back to our Dances With Films (22nd June - 2nd July 2023) coverage!
Today we have slice of life drama, that spawned out of the DePal University programme. Then we're joined by an industry titan who helped usher in this new feature and the rising talent behind it!
'Waiting for the Light to Change' is the feature directorial debut from Linh Tran and she co-wrote the story with Jewells Santos & Delia Van Praag. Over the course of a week-long beachside getaway, Amy (Jin Park), having recently undergone dramatic weight loss, finds herself wrestling between loyalty to her best friend Kim (Joyce Ha) and her attraction to Kim’s new boyfriend (Sam Straley).
Watch the conversation: HERE!
Today we have:
Waiting for the Light to Change - Poster
Waiting for the Light to Change
Watch Review: Here.
Heartland International Film Festival: 7th October 2022
Dances With Films
Wednesday, 28th June 2023 at 21:15pm SoCal Premiere
TCL Chinese 6 Theatres
Buy Tickets: Here.
Director: Linh Tran
Cast: Jin Park, Joyce Ha, Qun Chi, Sam Straley, Erik Barrientos
Credit: DePaul School Of Cinematic Arts, Prima Materia Pictures
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 89 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Watch the conversation: HERE!
James Choi
James Choi
Producer, Editor, Cinematographer, Director, Writer, Actor
James Choi is a prolific, award-winning filmmaker with over a decade of film industry experience in Los Angeles having worked in representation (Innovative Artists and The Firm), production (Sarkissian Productions, Rush Hour) and digital media (Ifilm.com/MTV Networks).
As an independent filmmaker, James Choi has produced two feature films from first time directors that have premiered at SXSW. "Made in China" winning the Grand Jury Award and Best Female Director and distributed by IFC Films and "Saint Frances" the Audience Award and Jury Award for Breakthrough Voice and distributed by Oscilloscope Films. Saint Frances was also nominated for two Gotham Awards and the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2021.
James made his directorial debut with "Empty Space," a multi award-winning feature film written by Judi Krant. The story centers on a young man bullied for his excessive weight and whose life majorly shifts after falling in love with a blind girl. This micro-budgeted feature was released theatrically in South Korea through cMovie Asia and is available on most digital platforms through Cow Lamp Films.
Having been in the forefront of the micro independent film movement in the last decade, James has produced and directed numerous films that have screened widely all around the world, winning awards and receiving distribution.
Mr. Choi also teaches film at DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts in Chicago.
Follow James via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Instagram: @jcpov
Vimeo: Here.
School Of Cinematic Arts: Here.
Professor Page: Here.
Instagram: @depaulcinema
Dances With Films - Poster
26th Dances With Films
Dances With Films (DWF:LA & DWF:NYC), now in its 26th year, champions the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. While the vast majority of film fests rely heavily on celebrity, we have relied on the innovation, talent, creativity and sweat equity that revolutionized the entertainment industry. And that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct and produce celebrity-studded vehicles, star in blockbuster movies and television series, produce multi-million dollar films and create hit TV shows. Oh…. and we even have several OSCAR® nominees… In a world of homogenized, formulaic film festivals, DWF:LA continues to defy the rules.
Film Information: Here.
Film Programme & Tickets: Here.
Panel + Special Events: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @danceswithfilms
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @danceswithfilms
*(Music)
'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You' by Black Kids - 2008