Set in San Francisco, 1947, a dutiful Chinese-American woman who reluctantly joins the infamous Asian nightclub, Forbidden World, soon finds herself liberated through the world of provocative dance.
Set in San Francisco, 1947, a dutiful Chinese-American woman who reluctantly joins the infamous Asian nightclub, Forbidden World, soon finds herself liberated through the world of provocative dance.
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Story
Mission Statement
We are a group of recently graduated film students from USC seeking to create an empowering narrative for Asian American women who are often overlooked and underrepresented in the historical context of the film world.About The Project
Welcome to The Forbidden World! Get ready to Jump, Jive, An Wail!
Our StorySet in San Francisco, 1947, a dutiful Chinese-American woman who reluctantly joins the infamous Asian nightclub, Forbidden World, soon finds herself liberated through the world of provocative dance.
Synopsis
Shy LANY LIN spends her days taking care of her sick mother, AH LIN, and her nights volunteering at a temple. She is seen as good marriage material, especially by family friend, AUNTY SHIRLEY for her son, DANIEL. The all-Asian nightclub, Forbidden World, is disliked by the Chinese community, thought of as a place for promiscuous women in scanty outfits to perform. Despite this, Lany takes an apprentice job there to pay her mother’s medical bills.
Tough manager MADAM WU and seasoned dancer JANICE refuses to accept Lany’s passive nature and forces her outside her comfort zone. After finally letting her hair down, Lany starts becoming fond of her new job. She finds freedom in dancing and bonds with the other girls. One night, during a solo performance, Lany is spotted by Daniel. News spreads and Lany is berated by her mother but refuses to give up the job. At the temple, her community refuses to even make eye contact with her. Refusing to feel ashamed, Lany does an impromptu performance in the temple and leaves with her head held high.
This story is inspired by the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco that ran between the 1930s- and 1970s. They featured Asian dancers that drew in predominantly white crowds and was one of the few places Asian women could make money when education and jobs were not opportunities afforded to them.
While mainly following what the Forbidden City in San Francisco was like, it also takes inspiration from the Lancing Girls of Singapore, The Chop Suey Circuit in America, the China Doll nightclub in New York, and the Dance Halls of Shanghai.
I’ve always been interested in historical narratives surrounding Chinese cabarets. I grew up listening to the music, dancing to the beats, and hearing the stories of the Lancing girls in Singapore. Stories of women who were called whores by their community, and yet were some of the most talented, charitable, and selfless people of their time.
The heart of this story for me is about the strength of these women. Against odds, they were extremely resourceful and smart in finding means to enrich their lives. There is so much vibrancy and excitement in this world. Not only were there obstacles to overcome, but there was a great deal of fun to be had as well.
Especially for minorities, historical narratives tend to get swept under the rug. Stories of these San Francisco Asian nightclubs are few and far between. It is time we change that and champion the lives of these amazing Asian American women of that time.
We are a team of POC filmmakers, with the majority of us identifying as Asian women. We all believe in the message of this project and are working hard to do it justice!
Freedom and Independence. Constantly praised for being “guai” (meaning obedient), Lany faces a common issue faced by Chinese woman in the 1940s. They were expected to have a submissive attitude and have their main goal be getting married.
To break out of that mold was to face harsh backlash from a conservative community. Dancing In A Forbidden World champions the women that refused to let societal expectations define them and sought financial freedom and independence in an art form that they loved.
Visually, the film will be bold, energetic, and creative.The cinematography will juxtapose the static homelife of Lany to the constantly moving chaotic world within the club.
This film strives to create rhythmic pacing with well-choreographed shots.
The music will be heavily inspired by top American and Shanghainese jazz musicians of that time. Some examples include Louis Prime, Chang Loo, Grace Chang, Glenn Miller, Sophie Tucker, and Jimmy Dorsey.
What we need to raise!Our film has currently raised $11k and is looking to raise an additional $20k to help make our project a reality! We also understand that a monetary contribution is not necessarily the best package for everyone. We are more than happy to accept donations in the form of goods and services. Below is a list of items we are looking for in terms of physical donation:
1. Catering and Craft Service
2. Filming Location (An apartment, a nightclub/restaurant venue, a community center venue)
3. Camera package and G&E equipment
4. Potential Transportation
5. Wardrobe
6. Post-Production Service (recording studio, sound mix, colorgrading, etc.)
If you are interested in helping the project in ways other than a monetary contribution, you can reach out to us through Instagram! We are open to any and all help :)
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Current Team
About This Team
Writer/Director - Val Tan
Val Tan is a filmmaker from Singapore. with a degree in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts. As a filmmaker, Val has films selected at LA Shorts, Hollyshorts, and Newport Beach Film Festival. She has recently been selected as a 2022 Minority Report Screenwriting Fellow, where she is developing her feature script. Ultimately, Val is passionate about telling stories from the heart, surrounding themes of culture and family.
Producer - Alex Jiang
Alex Jiang is a writer/director/producer from China with a BFA degree in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts. Alex’s films have been selected and won awards at domestic and international festivals such as Fine Cut Festival of Films, Independent Shorts Awards, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Taiwan Queer International Film Festival, etc. She is currently developing her feature script and is eager to tell stories that center around the topics of identity, gender, and culture.
Producer - Ciao Zhao
Xinyu “Ciao” Zhao is a Chinese producer with experience in narrative shorts, documentaries and commercials. As a video producer at Shanghai-based digital media company Dx Channel, her works have earned in total 2.5 million views on Chinese video platforms. Currently in her last semester at USC Annenberg, Ciao is working as a development intern at Atlas Entertainment and Rideback, looking to support diverse and underrepresented voices in Hollywood.
Producer - Reid Scharenberg
Reid is an LA based screenwriter and producer with a keen interest in sci-fi and fantasy thrillers. After graduating from USC, he started working as a production coordinator for animated and interactive voiceover. In his free time, he enjoys producing short films and writing screenplays, mainly for the hour long dramatic series format.
Casting Director - Rachael
Rachael Fisher is a Development Associate for LJN Media, founded by E! Entertainment's Founder Larry Namer, developing brands, television series, films, pitches, and entertainment platforms for notable clients. Rachael is known for her casting work for several graduate and undergraduate LMU student shorts, a music video for a global artist, and a feature written by a recognized Academy-Award winning screenwriter. She serves as a Festival Coordinator for Indie Entertainment Media’s various festivals, filmmaker panels, screenings and red carpet events. Rachael is also currently pursuing a degree at LMU in screenwriting with a minor in public relations. Rachael is passionate about the collaboration aspect in storytelling to cast actors that gravitate audiences in for a greater impact on films’ global missions.
Cinematographer - Luke Sargent
Luke Sargent grew up in Southern California struggling with dyslexia, which made it extremely hard to enjoy written stories until his grandfather introduced him to silent films. Luke fell in love with the visual storytelling that allowed him to enjoy films without his dyslexia getting in the way. It was then that Luke decided he wanted to be a cinematographer. He enrolled at USC School of Cinematic Arts where his knack for visual storytelling led him to a Student Academy Award for "Sweet Potatoes" as well as being flown to Atlanta to shoot his first feature length film less than a year after graduating. Since then, Luke has worked with cool musical artists like Umi, Cupcake, and My Morning Jacket, as well as brands like Nike, ESPN & McDonalds. Luke always dreamed of making movies and now he does.
Production Designer - Adeline Wang
Adeline Wang is a filmmaker and master's candidate at USC, pursuing a graduate degree in Cinema and Media Studies. They work with all things visual, from videography and editing to production design and illustration. Their work focuses on themes of connection and understanding, with an emphasis on the exploration of queer spaces.
Choreographer -- Queenique Dinh
Queenique Dinh is a dancer and aerospace engineer from Los Angeles, California. She grew up dancing on competitive teams in styles like ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. She then transitioned into ballroom dance while attending the University of Southern California, competing with the SC Ballroom and Latin Dance Team in both smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz) and rhythm (cha cha, rumba, swing, mambo, bolero) styles.
Composer - Alexander Mansour
Alexander Mansour is a composer, pianist, and cellist from Los Angeles California. His music is fascinated with the lyricism of romantic expression, the dramatic juxtaposition of disparate harmonies, and dynamic narrative structures. As a composer, Alex is passionate about writing for both the concert hall and the screen. His music for media has been featured both theatrically and on streaming platforms. Most recently, he scored a documentary for director Patrick Creadon - THE LOYOLA PROJECT, which is playing on CBS Sports and in April, on Paramount +.
Costume Designer - JJ Moore
JJ Moore grew up in Ventura California and has been a LA-based designer and FIDM alumnus for the past year, and has been sewing costumes for 8 years. Fashion history has been one of her passions for a long time, and her parents were deeply involved in the Swing Revival community so to bring such a rich and niche moment of history to life is truly a joy.
Makeup Artist - Kurt Forensich
Kurt Forensich is a certified makeup artist from the Cinema Makeup School. He has experience in beauty, prosthetic applications, special effects, as well as sculpting and mold making. He grew up in San Jose California and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of becoming a makeup artist on set. He loves what he does and he will do it till the day he dies!
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