Please note this program is exclusively online. This event is a part of the Reel Ideas Symposium: Specificity Drives Authenticity programme.
Join us for a deep-rooted dive into Uprooted: The Plantemic, a show about houseplants surviving the pandemic, with us. We’ll explore the narrative of this CBC Gem short-form series, the development from concept art to animation, and contextualize the series not only in its time, but also in contemporary conversations, as storytelling methods evolve. In an era of remote working, what would my houseplants think of me? Do they root for me? Find out from the creative team behind Uprooted.
Lillian Chan
Animation Filmmaker
Lillian Chan is an animation filmmaker who loves to doodle. Past projects include the award-winning children’s film Jaime Lo, Small and Shy (NFB, 2007), an educational short for TEDed, and a VR prototype for the CFC Medialab. Her commercial clients include DisneyXD, Nelvana, Guru Studios and Mozilla. She often works with her composer husband, John Poon, making mostly silly content for kids, of which they have two.
Betty Xie
Filmmaker
Betty Xie is a Chinese Canadian director, producer and writer. Her works range from documentary, fiction, and animation. She has previously worked on projects that were funded by Telefilm and CBC, and her films played internationally in festivals. In January 2022, she launched the CBC Gem digital animated series Uprooted: The Plantemic, which she wrote and directed.
Joyce Hui aka ``rurupoi``
Art Director
Joyce Hui (aka “rurupoi”) is a Chinese Canadian art director, illustrator, and designer based in Burlington, Ontario. She received her master’s degree from the University of Toronto Biomedical Communications program, and has over a decade of experience telling science stories through award-winning interactive installations, animations, and illustrations. Uprooted: the Plantemic marks her first foray into animation for entertainment. When her professional hat is off, Joyce can be found capturing everyday moments in her sketchbook, hiking on nature trails, and making indie games. She can also be found tending to her many houseplants.
Andrea Bang
Actress, Screenwriter
Andrea Bang was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C. She is best known for playing Janet on CBC’s KIM’s CONVENIENCE, which has earned her multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy. Her film credits LUCE, opposite Naomi Watts and Octavia Spencer, and FRESH, opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan both premiered at Sundance Film Festival. She also starred in STAY THE NIGHT which premiered at this year’s SXSW. Coming up next, she stars in the Lionsgate feature, DEAR DAVID, as well as FLOAT. In television, Andrea currently guest stars in the ABC drama, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS.
Aside from acting, Andrea continues to write, make videos, and watch way too much TV. She is represented by The Characters Talent Agency, and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.
18 Nov, 2022 4:30 pm
to 6:00 pm
Please note this program is exclusively online. This event is a part of the Reel Ideas Symposium: Specificity Drives Authenticity programme.
Missed chances, unspoken conversations, fated meetings, connections sparked in the most unexpected places: these shorts delve into the weight of all our relations in their fullness and in their absence.
12 Nov. 7:00 pm
Challenging norms, paving the road, and telling fresh stories, our Canadian Spotlight Artist program is dedicated to a member of the dynamic and talented Asian Canadian film community. This program celebrates a selected artist by activating their journey, process, and future works.
4 Nov.
A collaborative exhibition by Jasmine Gui (special projects programmer, RA) & keiko Hart (co-curator), RA:X Puncta aims to present a plurality of punctum moments (as defined by Roland Barthes) that disturb and prick at diasporic Asian narratives and slip beyond an easy legibility of “Asianness”.
4 Nov.