Harry Sung
My name is Harry Sung and I am a 23 year old Vancouver based filmmaker/photographer that explores the idea of universal human experience in my work. Immigrating from Korea, my longing for my mother country’s cultural connection was the main drive to constantly seek for new engagement with my surroundings and the world around me. With this motivation it drove me to work in film sets from the age of 18, volunteering on student film sets to assisting on commercial shoots through the glimpse of film connection I grew in my entire university career. While the momentum grew as I continued on my film career while in school for a different degree, I was hit with the roadblock that stopped all of the snowball all together–covid. While sharing mutual experience with others during the pandemic, I got lucky in the stagnant moment as I got the chance to explore furthering my film career by directing my first music video for his friend’s band tiger really. Both my friend and I, being bored, decided to embark on their first releases visually and sonically, starting a brand new snowball effect that continues to this very project I am working under Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society with the team. The momentum has not stopped for me, as I continue to work on creative projects as a Director/photographer, having worked with Bing Microsoft, Biig Piig, Curtis Waters and many more.
Under the Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society (VACS), I am the Cinematographer and Editor for the project Hidden Flowers and Weaving Our Way, which is set to be finished at the end of the summer. Having explored various genres and style through my film career, new challenges and projects always excites me, and with a story like these two documentaries that I have yet to explore in my lifetime only brought curiosity on the project’s endless possibilities. When I was first recruited, there were a multitude of emotions that rushed through me–curiosity, excitement and puzzled. The idea of co-creation was an unfamiliar chart of territory, as collaboration and hierarchical system was all that was known, especially having been exposed to the film industry which revolves around exploitation of the hard working classes. The idea itself was a challenge and still is an unlearning process, as the difference between collaboration and co-creation is often overlooked and requires diligent effort in understanding its core value. However, through my weeks of spending time with Keiko and others on learning slowly on its value and its metric system, I’ve grown fonder of expanding my development through this internship not only as a filmmaker, but as a human as well. Having opened my heart to approaching every interaction as a beginner, I have already gained significant insight through the various interview subjects I have gotten the chance to meet.
For Hidden Flowers, the project revolves around the story of these Continuing Studies colleagues that self-formed into a group, as they individually embark on their own unique creative expression. Having met wonderful subjects from the documentary like Lucy, it has given me insight into the world I have yet to explore–middle and late adulthood. The common theme of spreading their seeds and knowledge to the next generation and their focus on intergenerational learning has opened a new perspective in approaching life, as it provided an opportunity to see the gray color in the black-white perspective. One of the concepts we are expanding on is the grayscale, as an opposition to the black and white thinking that we have ingrained into our daily lives. That there are more ‘options’ and a spectrum within how and what we think and believe. The idea that things don’t have to be bipolarizing is often an unsettling idea for a lot of people. To challenge discomfort and seek the reason why we feel that way is an uncharted territory that requires a lifelong journey to learn from. From interacting with all of the subjects from the Continuing studies group, I’ve been given an opportunity to open myself up to these challenging yet thought-provoking ideas, thanks to the group’s willingness to share and create a welcoming space for intergenerational learning. Ella for example, a lawyer that recently quit her corporate lifestyle after the Continuing Studies course, provided a warm parent-like environment for both Tanisha and I, telling us to be an open book need there be help from either of us. This reflects back onto many other subjects, many who have prioritized their life goals to passing down knowledge and experiences intergenerationally. Having been introduced with such strong initial impact, it’s only pure curiosity where the project could lead from now on.
The second project I am developing alongside the team is Weaving Our Way, which focuses on these groups of women in Kerrisdale and Dunbar community centre that fosters close-knit communities and friendship through one central activity–weaving. On the very first day, Tanisha and I were introduced to the wonderful group of women in Dunbar community centre. Each individual had their unique personality and traits that individually stood out, with a long history of experiences that were awaited to be told. The common theme discovered during the production of this documentary is the value of nature in a lot of these individuals. The strong connection and need to be with nature, and how its spiritual guidance has such a potent influence in the way we interact and behave in society. That we have to work and co-exist with nature, and immerse ourselves with the long year ancestral grounding that these soils on the ground have witnessed before our eyes. Though early in the production phase, it is certain that there are more to be discovered in each subject. What is the relationship between weaving and nature? What connects these individuals deeper that makes them want to come together? A lot of questions are yet to be answered, but in discovery of finding so.
My involvement with VACS as the Cinematographer and Editor for the projects Hidden Flowers and Weaving Our Way has brought excitement and new challenges to my film journey. Initially unfamiliar with the concept of co-creation, I’ve embraced the opportunity to unlearn hierarchical systems and understand the value of collaboration and process. Through these projects, I have not only developed as a filmmaker but also as a person, approaching each interaction with a beginner’s mindset. Although many questions remain, my curiosity and passion for filmmaking continue to drive my exploration and discovery in these projects.
The Colloquium 