A scene from RECKLESS SPIRITS
Hua
Despite the ongoing closure of the historic Egyptian Theatre, the film community on Capitol Hill continues to flourish and create as local community figure and filmmaker Vee Hua launches short film Reckless Spirits.
This “metaphysical, multilingual POC best friend comedy,” also serves as proof-of-concept and first 12 minutes of a proposed full-length feature film. Hua and their team are in the throes of crowdfunding for the project, with hopes to raise $100,000 by December 22nd.
The film is a “hilarious, trippy ride,” said Hua, Director, Co-writer, and Producer of the project. Incorporating inspiration from media like “Broad City” and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the film follows a pair of best friends who are led into “swirl-world,” of “ancestor spirits, physics, and a cult leader”, according to the project’s kickstarter page.
The main characters are “a gender-fluid Latine performance artist and a neurotic Asian American therapist,” inspired by the co-writers, Hua and Lisa Sanaye Dring. “We wanted to see characters that we felt related to us and offer representation that we haven’t seen haven’t seen on-screen before,” said Hua.
The film has “anti-colonial, anti-capitalist undercurrents” and explores themes of spirituality, particularly the tension between belief and the capitalist messaging that comes with modern, commercialized spirituality, said Hua.
BIPOC and queer filmmakers haven’t had opportunities to make higher-budget feature films, Hua said
“I want to make a point and show that it can be done,” said Hua.
Hua is also a longtime community organizer who previously led 12th Ave’s Northwest Film Forum, and is eager to create opportunities for marginalized local artists to get involved in the film scene. “This project is not just a way to tell a story that needs to be told, but also a means to employ people in a time where local artists really need work.”
Reckless Spirits has been supported by several production companies, nonprofits, and other organizations such as Hillman Grad, Open Television, Washington Filmworks, 4Culture, Artist Trust, San Francisco Transgender Film Festival’s Dream Commision Grant, and others.
The project is also being boosted by Northwest Film Forum in its support of regional projects like Reckless Spirits through fiscal sponsorship, lending their venue for fundraising events, and serving as a community hub.
Alongside co-writers Hua and Dring, Reckless Spirits was produced by Yessica Hernandez, Lisa Van Dam-Bates, and Adolfo Portillo. This Reckless Spirits team sets itself apart, not only for the film’s genre-bending nature and never-before-seen representation, but for their ethical and sustainable filmmaking practices.
“I’m serious about incorporating what [they] know about Indigenous values of reciprocity, taking care of your team, and environmental practices into the set,” said Hua.
Partnering with Blue Daisi Consulting, Reckless Spirits will have a Sustainability Coordinator who will help pursue a zero-waste set within the means of the film’s budget. “We want to be able to share these practices so that other people can replicate and learn from what we learned and the mistakes we made,” said Hua.
The Reckless Spirits campaign continues through December 22nd, and community members can reach out to Vee Hua at [email protected] to learn more about other ways to contribute.
While crowdfunding can be arduous, it is also rewarding. It’s an opportunity to “count on your community for a story that you believe in,” said Hua.
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