This month audiences can stream Unidentifiable Eye Disorder on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated by Planet Classroom.
Unidentifiable Eye Disorder is a short film about director Ejun Hong’s journey to animation. Hong describes her experience being diagnosed with an “unidentifiable eye disorder” that eventually forced her to end her academic path and pursue a new medium: art.
This film highlights the value of animation to Hong, and how she was able to utilize it in order to make sense of her new path, to showcase her ability to overcome, and to bring attention to the struggles of those around her.
The Global Search for Education welcomes Director Ejun Hong.
Ejun, welcome back! Why did you choose to make this personal story of yours the central topic of your short film?
I created this film as the final project for my video class at the University of Pennsylvania. For the final project, I wanted to produce a narrative based cinema and decided to tell my personal story: the time when I put an end to my academic journey due to an unidentifiable eye disorder and how I overcame my personal struggles through the power of animation.
Can you speak about your choice to animate your stories? What is it about animation you like most and who inspires your creative approach?
Since I was ten years old, I struggled with an unidentifiable eye disorder that threatened my academic journey. However, as I watched various animated films, I was inspired by the power of animation; how animation conveys universal messages and delivers hope, happiness, and inspiration to people around the globe. Therefore, I started using animation as the medium to address my personal difficulties, my family’s hardships, and the struggles of others.
Can you talk about the choice of using a projector to depict the scenery you were describing? Why did you choose to do that as opposed to showing these clips in a regular viewing format?
Since this film is about how I overcame my personal struggles, I wanted to depict the interaction I had with my struggles and with the world around me. Therefore, I decided to use a projector to show both myself and the scenery I was describing and to visually show the interaction I had with the world.
In this film, you spoke about having to leave your academic journey and pursue a new path. What advice would you give someone who may have to rethink the plan/path they had in mind due to uncontrollable circumstances?
When I took a gap year due to an unidentifiable eye disorder, I had to rethink and put a hold on the plan I had in mind. Therefore, I was deeply concerned about falling behind my peers and stressed about my health.
I moved to a new place, Bratislava, Slovakia. I felt like I had started a whole new chapter of my life filled with uncertainty. I was afraid of the uncertainty and what the future held for me. However, the new unpredictable experiences I had in Slovakia had a huge impact on my life. For instance, during my gap year, new experiences and environment inspired me to create two animated films – Mother and A Broken Star – that address my personal issues, my family’s hardships, and the struggles of others.
Working on these films helped me feel much better about myself and regain my lost confidence. Also, my films received great recognition from film festivals around the world. This made me realize the power of animation and encouraged me to continue pursuing my dream of becoming an animation director. In addition, I experienced various cultures of Eastern European countries, and I was able to broaden my perspective of the world. Those unexpected experiences during my gap year shaped me into the person I am today and inspired me in so many ways.
Therefore, for those who may have to rethink the plan they had in mind due to uncontrollable circumstances, I would like to tell them not to be afraid of the uncertainty, but rather try to think of it as an opportunity to try anything they want. I believe life filled with uncertainty is the synonym for life without any limits.
Thank you Ejun!
C.M. Rubin and Ejun Hong
Don’t Miss Unidentifiable Eye Disorder, now streaming on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by Planet Classroom.
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