Entry 2: This Is Sera Trailer
The trailer is out.
This Is Sera, Official Poster (Borderless)
What a nerve wrecking week this has been. Not just keeping the project under wraps but refining every little detail down to the last thing. From making last minute tweaks and edits to the trailer to putting the finishing touches on the website, it has been a constant juggle of numerous hats for both Sera and myself.
Now that the trailer is out, I think we both can breathe a sigh of relief. We really hope you enjoy it. This will be our first trailer for the project with a few more being released over the coming months as we finish future episodes. I think the trailer does a good job of balancing the light hearted nature of the film with some of the more emotional, reflective moments that happen throughout. And it leaves a bit of mystery to what will happen.
For this post, I want to talk briefly about the direction and style of the film.
At the onset of the project, Sera mentioned how she’s been portrayed publicly in the past. Like they only wanted to focus on the sad aspects of her life. Keeping that in mind, I wanted to deviate away from what’s been done before. Though it’s my first documentary(really my first film truly), I’m quite familiar with the genre and have always leaned toward documentaries that are just honest and real. Not the over the top, exaggerated tellings of someone’s story. Or the one’s filled with a ton of drama like your typical reality tv show. I think if there’s a good story there, it doesn’t need to rely on gimmicks, manufactured drama, or a lot of flash. Being authentic is a good thing and what I’m looking for as a director.
While there’s a lot of intrigue about past events in Sera’s life, I want people to connect with her in the present as well. Meet her where she is. I think you’ll be intrigued by her personality. I can honestly say, you’ve never seen her this candid and open before. She has complete freedom to be unrehearsed, unfiltered, and uninhibited in expressing herself.
Regarding the pace of the film, I love a good slow burn. Over the years, fans(myself included), have wondered why Sera’s never publicly spoken about certain events in her life. So now that she’s willing to talk about these things in such a revealing format, the least I can do is give her all the room she needs to speak freely.
Speaking of, there are a lot of great conversations throughout the film and I always hate to cut them short in editing. So sometimes, I’ll let scenes breathe and go for a bit. I don’t mind a long take if what’s on screen is engaging.
You will hear my voice throughout the film as I ask questions and chat back and forth with Sera. The tone of the film is very relaxed and casual like two friends hanging out, having a fun conversation. Yet it’s this feel that I think really sets the film apart and makes it such a unique experience to both watch and film. It has a vibe to it that I love, so we want to keep that tone throughout.
Visually there will be a lot of color in the film. But given my love of black-and-white photography, expect to see some segments without color if only for dramatic effect. Imagine if I cut the entire film in black-and-white?! *writes down in idea book
We’ll be traveling a lot for the film, so I want people to also feel like they’re right there with us. They’re walking through the crowds, they’re in the car, going to odd places, having interesting experiences with us.
Lastly, sound will play a huge role. Given that Sera’s background is music, I’d be remise if we didn’t focus on her musical side. I think her talent and music are underappreciated so I’d like to highlight both when I can. Her music will underscore the film and I would really love to do a soundtrack for the project. If we can hit some of our fundraising goals, maybe!
I don’t want to give too many things away because we have to keep some mystery, but I hope this post gives you somewhat of an idea of what to expect.
As mentioned in the last post, I’ll be leaving for Seoul to resume filming on May 14th. So no new posts until I arrive in Korea. I need to focus on the filming ahead, pack properly, and be sure to get plenty of rest before departure.
Welcome to This Is Sera.
Jamiya
#teamsera
So I did some research and wrote an outline for a story that sounded pretty solid. I planned to reach out to her in January 2025, but soon as I was about to, she announced her engagement. Bad timing. So I waited several months and was about to reach out again. Then she announced she’d just gotten married. Bad timing. I was starting to think it wasn’t meant to be.
Then in July, I was having dinner with a friend and I told her about the idea. She loved it. We’re sitting in this restaurant and she’s all animated, “You should tell her! You have to do this! It’s such a cool idea!”. So after some convincing I reached out to Sera and told her about it. We set up a Zoom call. I did some planning, put together a presentation and the rest is history.
Here I am writing this post on the eve of us publicly announcing the project. The trailer will go up and people will be able to see what we’ve been working on. Excited? Yeah. Nervous? A little.
I still think she’s insane for doing this. But that’s just who she is. She’s a risk taker. This is totally a Sera thing to do as you’ll learn as you get to know her.
But what if you’re not into KPop? KPop is a big part of Sera’s life story, but I think she’s just as interesting outside of her musical talent. She has a very unique manner in how she thinks, behaves, observes, and interacts with the world. Interesting philosophical takes. A spontaneous, adventurous spirit despite her introverted nature. I think she and her story could be inspiring to people looking to connect with someone who has dealt with similar struggles and hardships, yet has proven resilient while keeping their integrity and dignity. I’m excited to introduce her to you.
The Journal
Now that we’re all comfortable, let me explain the journal. The journal will be more like a live diary for myself, the director, chronicling my time and experience will working on the film. Sera will pop in occassionally to share her thoughts or whatever she likes. Outside of our social media pages, this will be the best place to get regular content for the film. I like this format as well. Writing is cathartic and really helps with my creative process. And I think it’s good to read articles. Lock in with the words and not just listen passively to a podcast or video with a million cuts.
Sorry, tangent.
Yeah, so keep up with the journal. I’ll be posting behind the scenes images, writing about the week’s filming, or just musing about any interesting events or ideas in my head.
This week, I’ll be traveling to Seoul on May 14th to resume filming on our third episode, 9Muses: 1 of 9. Work never stops! Expect to see more images from Seoul and regular updates during production. We’ll have some really cool things to share!
Stay tuned.
Jamiya
#teamsera
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