‘Hunter’: ‘The BFC Presents’ Q+A with Director Michelle Tang

Michelle Tang is a 17-year-old Metuchen High School student, well on her way to a promising future in film. She has won several awards for her work, including the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for "What's the Scoop?", in the commercial category as an editor on the Metuchen HS team, as well as awards for her independent films from festivals all over the country. We were impressed with Michelle's film ‘Hunter’, which deals with domestic violence and the reverberations within the family unit and how it affects individual family members. We hope to see many more films from Michelle and wish her all the best in college and her pursuits in film.

[Q] HUNTER was quite an impressive student film, taking on a very serious subject matter. As the writer, director, and producer, how did you connect with and shape the characters in your film?

[A] Because one of my childhood best friends was a victim of domestic abuse, many of my films depict young children stuck in the midst of such conflict. I am inspired by their ability to persist even in such ordeals. Children, of course, are naive and easily influenced by those around them, and I wanted to make that evident through HUNTER. Beyond outside experiences, I also write what I know. Like many, I often felt lonely and helpless as a young child, and I really wanted to grow up and gain freedom. A lot of the games and crafts that Hunter works on are things that my sister and I did when we were younger. To connect with HUNTER, I drew from my own experiences as a child. For the adult characters, I did more research on the effects of neglect and domestic abuse and drew from what I’ve heard from others in order to craft their lines.

[Q] How did you become interested in filmmaking, and who were your influences?

[A] I was always captivated by Disney shows and movies on the big screen as a kid and would create my own skits. One day, I decided I wanted to try making a film. My parents are into STEM, and my school doesn’t have filmmaking classes, so I was a little hesitant to get started. Then, I ran into a young lady in my town who created a feature film. She told me how she made her first film at my age and encouraged me to give it a try. That got the gears turning. That night, my friend and I began teaching ourselves filmmaking and planning our first film.

A film that really moved me was The Florida Project as it allowed me to see the world from a new point of view and changed my perspective. It showed me the power of cinema to bring about change and has greatly influenced me to tell stories from diverse perspectives.

[Q] What messages do you hope to convey with HUNTER?

[A] While the gun and the abusive father are the driving force of the conflict, at its core, Hunter is about the bond that siblings exhibit when faced with such abuse. Watching other films, I was always touched when such a bond arose and impressed, but also saddened by how quickly such children must mature. I wanted to highlight this enormous strength these children have as they live through such experiences. I also wanted to raise awareness for children living in abusive situations. For Hunter, his family is stuck in this situation, and the conflict is difficult to escape. And within all that, he feels helpless, affecting him developmentally and emotionally. Because these children are so often silenced, I believe it is important for others to be aware of such situations.

[Q] Tell us about your plans for the future. Do you have any film projects in the works?

[A] Yes! I plan on making a film over the summer and am currently in the research process. The film will be about a young foster child who opens up to her foster parent after years of shutting down. Since this is my last high school film, I’m taking it as an opportunity to try new things and will include a bit of animation and fantastical elements. In the past, I’ve been more fixated on making a good film in the eyes of viewers, rather than growing as a filmmaker. As a student, I don’t have to worry about outside influence, so my goal is to step out of my comfort zone and learn more than ever before with this next film.

[Q] Please share your thoughts on the challenges you and your team may have faced as filmmakers during the pandemic.

[A] We had to move our filmmaking from December of 2020 to June 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19. Testing was also involved when we eventually did shoot, and we all wore masks. The need to postpone was certainly annoying, but it helped get me extra time to plan for my film. Other than that, the pandemic did not greatly affect production.

[Q] Your film HUNTER won 1st Place in our student film category amongst some tough competition this year. What does this win mean for your future in filmmaking?

[A] I live in a town where there aren’t many filmmakers, so I don’t get feedback often from filmmakers themselves. A win like this is super encouraging, as it shows that people who are knowledgeable about filmmaking were impressed with my film. It has shown me that you can learn and achieve success in anything with hard work, and certainly boosts my confidence for the future.

[Q] Michelle, is there anything additional you would like to share with us?

[A] I’d just like to thank my actors and my crew, Reid, Cameron, Hanna, James, Rose, and Ben, for their enthusiasm and hard work. Each actor found ways to weave their own creative ideas into the film, going above and beyond. I’d also like to thank my parents for their ongoing support. This film wouldn’t have been made without their help.