The Reality of Making Your First Short Film

In this episode, we talk about Hai’s first short film, Dating Game.Dating Game explores modern dating through the perspective of a foreign woman living in Japan, where cultural differences, language barriers, and stereotypes add another layer of complexity to already fragile connections in the age of smartphones and dating apps.Hai explains why he wanted to try narrative work in the first place, and what it was like to produce and direct a short film for the first time. He talks honestly about the mistakes he made, the things he underestimated, working with actors, managing a set, and what surprised him most during the process.If you’re a filmmaker, creative, or someone thinking about making your first narrative project, we hope this episode is helpful.We talk aboutWhy Hai decided to make his first narrative short film, Dating GameProducing a short film independently and funding it personallyLearning screenwriting through books, friends, and researchMaking the film with a limited budget and relying on friendsMistakes and things that were underestimatedWorking with actors and directing performanceLessons learned and what he’d do differently next timeChapters00:00 Intro01:59 Why Hai made a short film15:50 From idea to production31:43 Mistakes and lessons37:53 Guerrilla shooting and limited control44:16 Creating the dating app51:54 Film festivals01:00:07 OutroWatch ‘‘Dating Game’’ herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkEMon9FmJcAbout Talking SensuTalking Sensu is a relaxed, long-form podcast hosted by Hai and Jeremy and produced by Sensu Studio. We have conversations with filmmakers, photographers, actors and other creative professionals working in Japan, focusing on personal journeys, creative work and the realities of building a career in the creative industry.SocialTalking SensuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingsensuHostsHai: https://www.instagram.com/timpas15/Jeremy: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyhannigan/Produced by Sensu StudioSensu Studio is a Tokyo-based creative production company specializing in video and photography that helps brands and organizations tell their stories, connect with audiences, and bring their vision to life through engaging content and rebranding projects.If you’re interested in working with us on future projects, check out our work at https://sensustudio.com/.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensustudioSubscribe for more conversations about creative life and work in Japan.