Sundance 2020: Vera Brunner-Sung
Vera Brunner-Sung was born in Michigan to parents from Korea and Switzerland. Her films have been screened at festivals and museums around the world. Her first feature, Bella Vista, premiered at the 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam (Bright Future) and won her the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. She is the recipient of a Center for Asian American Media writer/director fellowship. Here she talks to us about breaking down character stereotypes and how sometimes you’re your own best advocate.
How did you find your way into film making?
Like a lot of people, I always loved movies. After graduating from college, I got involved with the Ann Arbor Film Festival and discovered experimental film. I ended up going to grad school to follow my obsession, which expanded into documentary and narrative.
Tell us about your film?
CHARACTER is a short film that explores the life and career of the character actor Mark Metcalf, most known for his roles in ANIMAL HOUSE and on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. He's always been cast as a frustrated authority figure, and I was interested in his relationship with that archetype: the angry white man. It's an unconventional documentary in that it's told in the first person, guided by Mark's voiceover, and is built out of devised scenes and moments rather than talking heads or clips of his work. I was trying to learn something about acting and actors, as well as the kind of characters that repeat themselves in popular culture.
How did you take the news of being accepted into the festival?
I was thrilled. It's my first time at Sundance. I've shown my work at a lot of festivals but it was the first time someone called me on the phone with the news -- it was very fancy.
Funding in this industry can always be a challenge, how did you achieve yours?
I was fortunate to receive support through my position as a faculty member at Ohio State University; I also received a residency from the Film/Video Studio at the Wexner Center for the Arts and a grant from my city's arts council. That said, our budget was still minuscule and this film was absolutely a labor of love.
What was the most challenging aspect of making your film and how did you overcome this?
Hmm, maybe being my own producer? But the way this project developed, it just made sense to do it myself. Sometimes you're your own best advocate.
If you could have gone into any other role in the industry, which would you be interested in?
I'm a writer and director -- no way around that!
The percentage of female directors at Sundance has increased again this year, a great move for the industry, which female film makers do you look up to?
I admire so many women directors, for what they do on set and on screen, as well as how they use their voices out in the world. One person who inspires me is my friend Eliza Hittman, who's at Sundance with her third feature this year.
What’s the next project for you?
I'm currently in development on my next fiction feature.
And finally, what film are you most looking forward to seeing in 2020?
This is so tough -- there are a lot. There's Eliza's NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS, as well as Edson Oda's NINE DAYS. I'm also looking forward to catching as many of the shorts programs as I can.
You can follow Vera on social media via Instagram and Twitter. You can also view more of her work via her website brunner-sung.com
Character will be screening in Shorts Program 5. For more information on this years line up at Sundance Film Festival 2020 visit their website here.
