Interview with Filmmaker Will Kim (GLORIOUS VICTORY)

 GLORIOUS VICTORY played to rave reviews at the December 2017 Experimental FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Will Kim: Two things motivated me.

The 2016 Presidential Election between Trump and Clinton. When I saw them exchanging many pointless arguments to achieve one thing without being aware of the surrounding and the potential results, I thought I wanted to compare them to the two little bugs that fight aggressively for one fig.

There are just way too many fig (June Beetles) at my work in the early fall time and I had been fascinated by how carelessly they fly and hit the trees and buildings and how greedy they are with fruits /foods. Going back to my motivation 1, I thought it’s a perfect comparison to what was going on at the presidential election in 2016.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

I can’t exactly remember as I was working on this film while I was teaching full time at a college and working on a several freelance animations all at once. (Plus, being a dad of 3 and 4 years old boys at home)

But I can say it probably took me roughly 8 months from pre-production to the post production.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Visual Poem

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

As mentioned in the question number 2, I had/still have a full time teaching job, two little boys at home, and constantly work on commercials and live action films as an animator all year around. So, basically, just ‘doing’ it. or even finding time and energy to make this 2 minute film was a challenge.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

So grateful. So thankful. Some of the feedback was so smart and spot on.

I loved hearing their interpretations. I mean, it made me feel like
I should keep doing what I am doing.

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

I might have combined the answer to this one with number one above.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Faith Hubley’s and Ryan Larkin’s films.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the new(ish) submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

Great! I love it. Very organized, easy to navigate and easy to be organized myself with the project submissions to laurels etc.

9. What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

Hm… I don’t know I listen to so many random stuff haha.

But I would say, generally speaking, Korean Hip Hop from both mid 90s and mid 2000s

10. What is next for you? A new film?

Oh yes, of course. I am developing different ideas for at least two new films.
But I am also a painter myself. I am making an oil painting combined with my watercolor animation projection onto a canvas.

I just finished working on two documentary films as an animation director and two more like that is on the way.

GLORIOUS VICTORY, 2min., USA, Animation  Directed by Will KimGlorious Victory is an animated short film about two beetles fighting over a fig fruit which leads both of the beetles to complete disaster. Will Kim uses watercolor to tell a story of ambition, greed, and selfishness with an original soundtrack composed and performed by Tatenori Hamasaka. CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!