OLD FOX | Rodeo Screening Room Q&A Recap

SCREENING REPORT

Old Fox

Project Title: Old Fox

Market: Los Angeles

Screening Date: November 17, 2024

Location: Rodeo Screening Room

Scheduled Screening Start Time: 4:00 PM PT

Actual Screening Start Time: 4:10 PM PT

Room Capacity: 49

Actual Attendees Total:  21 (3 AMPAS)

Applause at the end? If so, how many seconds? 6 seconds

Q&A RECAP

Moderator:

Anthony D'Alessandro (Deadline)

Panelists: 

Hsiao Ya-Chuan ( Director and Screenwriter)

Davis Chang (Translator)

Anthony begins the panel by asking Director Hsiao if there has been anyone in his life who is like the "Old Fox." Director Hsiao answers how half of the Old Fox character was fictional, while the other half was inspired by his experience entering the commercial industry. For him, he learned how many were solely focused on numbers and money, something that contrasted with the teachings of his mother who taught him to put kindness first. He describes how he feels blessed to be taught by his mother, who emphasizes the need to not only be "successful," but to be good to others. Overall, the film is a response to Director Hsiao's children's questions on whether there is justice and fairness in the world.

When filming, Director Hsiao discusses how he did not have a rehearsal process, but had a lot of conversations with the actors regarding the script in the lead up to shooting. For the actor of Liao Jie, Director Hsiao praises the young child actor and how he was able to film the crying scene in one take. He dedicates the success of the film to the young, gifted actor. Regarding the color palette, Director Hsiao talks about his art background and how he brings different interpretations into color. For instance, red is used for one of the characters to symbolize her power/confidence that allows her to step into male dominated spaces. 

When opening up to audience questions, an audience member asks about the set dressing that was used which she felt was incredibly accurate to the time period in which she grew up in Taiwan. Director Hsiao explains how he found locations that were more suburban. However, a lot of set decoration had to be worked on through construction or borrowing from collectors as many things could no longer be found. The next question is in regards to one of the climaxes of the film that merges the different story lines.

The director explains how an incident during Taiwan's history in which the stock market crashed was the inspiration for that moment. For him, he wanted all three plots to converge on that day to demonstrate the unhealthy relationships that existed in each story. Another audience member asks whether the film answered the director's children's questions. For the director, the answer is yes.

The film is his expression that the world is not black and white, and that we all are able to make our own choices that dictate the person we become and the future we will lead.

The final question from the audience touches on the wide range of emotions that were explored. Director Hsiao remarks on his intent of expressing the different emotions and backgrounds of his characters, and how he wanted to show how real each person was in the film.