Today we’d like to introduce you to Engels Perez, Shin Yu Liu, and Gabriel Lozada. They and their team shared their story with us below:
– Gabriel Lozada, a rising DP in SCAD’s Film and Television Department, initially pitched the project to Shin Yu “Shin” Liu, an ambitious SCAD Dramatic Writer major who doubles as a Producer for film sets, over brunch as a concept. – Shin Yu Liu loved the concept so much that she immediately hopped onto the project as a producer and a co-writer. Together, they watched a myriad of movies that they believed emulated the film’s message or tone (Marriage Story, Minari, The Humans, etc.)
– But it wouldn’t be in the Fall of 2022 when the project really got rolling. That was when, in an 8-hour back-and-forth session, Shin Yu Liu and Gabriel Lozada finished their shooting script and began their endeavor to look for a third creative partner to help them realize their project.
– That was when Shin Yu Liu reached out to Engels Perez, a multifaceted Actor, Director, Producer, and Writer from SCAD’s MFA Dramatic Writing Department, who jumped at the opportunity to tell an immigrant story.
– The SCAD Film Thesis market had always been saturated with stories from white creators with predominantly white sets. And so, Engels Perez, Shin Yu Liu, and Gabriel Lozada set out to work with a set that was largely made up of talented immigrant filmmakers and performers.
– It was a grueling 12 months of back and forth in raising money for the project and finding a group of cast and crew members who believed in the project as much as we did, which got us to our successful set. And now, we’re well on our way to post-production.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The project has not been a smooth road from start to finish; no real projects are. We had many ups and downs, but we don’t like to focus on it too much. Rather, we’d like to thank all of the amazing cast and crew members who made our vision possible! We love you!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Engels Perez (Director): I’m a “Venezuelan child of dictatorship turned storyteller.” Engels has a big background in theatre which has allowed him to work in many aspects of production. From acting to light design, Engels Perez has done it all. Currently, Engels is taking his Master’s in Dramatic Writing to polish his storytelling skills, but he believes that directing will always be his one true love. And now, as a confident and experienced Writer and Director, Engels is jumping between Narrative Film Projects, Theatre Projects, and Documentary Film Projects. He does it all!
Shin Yu Liu (Producer): Shin Yu Liu is known as a Screenwriter and Producer on set and around the school. Prior to ‘The Longing for a Familiar Stranger’, Shin Yu Liu mostly produced Directing the Narratives and Passion Projects, but in the last year. In the past year, Shin Yu Liu has been starting to lend scripts that she’s written out to student productions as well. Shin Yu Liu’s most valued project definitely has to be ‘The Longing for a Familiar Stranger’. As a producer who works alone, this has been the biggest and most complicated set she’s had the opportunity to produce. As a writer and producer, Shin Yu Liu is able to have both drastically different takes and empathize with a large variety of creators when they talk about their creative work. She feels that it’s helped her navigate sets rather easily.
Gabriel Lozada (Director of Photography): Yet another Venezuelan child of dictatorship turned storyteller, Gabriel Lozada, is deeply passionate about cameras. When he’s not working on set as a Dir. of Photography or Assistant Camera, you can find him walking around the city of Savannah, taking in the beautiful scenery through the lens of his camera. His passion for film and photography has led him to SCAD where he is currently finishing up his undergraduate in Film and Television, honing his skills in shot design. He loves his family and is deeply passionate about telling stories that reflect the nuances of a family who loves each other despite years of trauma.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Indie Filmmaker Toolkit by Indiewire, Let’s Start With ‘Why?’ by Simon Sinnek, The Screenwriting Life by Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, Make Art Not Content by Father Bronques
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thelongingfilm
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/engelsperez/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinyuliu/
Image Credits
Marianna Asimakopoulou
