Competition “Sleepwalker”
 
Interview with Oxide Pang (Director)

 
Creating a universally appealing story, and expressing fear that lies deep within the human soul through horror.
 
Excluding the fact that it is shot in 3D, “Sleepwalker” is an ordinary Oxide Pang film. This is most likely due to the fact that the main character of this horror film is played by Lee Sin Je (Angelica Lee), who starred in Pang’s hits, “The Eye” and “Re-Cycle.” Raised in Hong Kong and after moving in Thailand, Pang created many horror films, some of which were collaborations with his brother. He then relocated to Hollywood, where he directed “Ghost House.” The following is the interview with Oxide Pang:
 
— Because your wife, Lee Sin Je, is starring in the film, it appeared to me like a third installment after “The Eye” and “Re-Cycle.” The common factors of these films are that the leading female character faces her fears, her limitations and finds truth after overcoming all of the obstacles.
 
Director Oxide Pang (Pang): That was not my intention, but that’s what’s interesting about films. When people view my films that way, I start wondering if that could be true. I believe stories are extremely important even for horror films. I try to include my true life experience as much as possible and I also love to observe other people process their own experience. For example, when you read a newspaper article about murder, it involves a murderer and a victim. Most people will only think of these two individuals, but I also like to create the in-between and fill in the gaps in my head. The reason why the murderer decided to kill, why the victim was actually killed… The story then would gradually grow.

 
— Do you ask Lee Sin Je for comments regarding your storyline?
 
Pang: Yes, I often ask her when I am in the process of writing the script. But this time, she only commented on the dialogues. We were shooting in Mandarin, but I speak Cantonese, so I needed her advice on Mandarin.
 
— The film appeared too realistic for a male director to express the pain of a mother who lost her child? Did you know someone who experienced a similar situation?
 
Pang: I didn’t have a chance to speak with anybody who experience that, but I read it on newspapers and watched documentaries. I think the worst thing that can ever happen to anyone would be losing someone close to you. There isn’t much of a difference between men and women in how they feel. If you felt that my film was realistic, I guess that means this film is a success.
 
— For all three films, the heroin struggles between what seems to be real and not, and her delusions are truly frightening. In the film, she wonders if she sleepwalks, and pours white powder around her bed. The next morning, footprints are left on the powder, and it made me have the chills. How did you come up with such a scary idea?
 
Pang: She wonders if she’s a sleepwalker so I think her actions are rather normal (laugh). It also works like a game with the audience. As she tries other options, the audience will begin to wonder as well. I’m now curious about you. What would you do if you suspect that you might be a sleepwalker?

 
— I would go straight to the hospital (laugh).
 
Pang: But if you have no symptoms, you wouldn’t go to the hospital. The character finds a cup that wasn’t there the night before and that scene can create fear. And once you create that fear, the film finally becomes a horror film.
 
— I think you are a genius in creating visually stunning images. There were many scenes in “The Eye” that frightened me, and the extraterrestrial world in “Re-Cycle” was so beautiful. How did you create it?
 
Pang: Everybody talks about my visual effects but I didn’t do anything special. I go to the set and begin by positioning my camera. Just the usual. I’ve received many appraisals for my visually “cool” or “scary” scenes, so I want to now start changing things up a bit, and focus more on improving my stories. I purposely used less terror and added kindness and morality.
 
— I heard you got the idea of this film from a dream you have been having for the past 10 years.
 
Pang: I’ve had a dream about a corps that was buried in a deserted land, not every day but quite often. I knew that I didn’t kill anybody, but as I had the same dream repeatedly, I began to doubt myself if I’m related to the murderer. I think it’s natural for someone to experience insomnia after murdering someone, and that triggered the idea of this movie.
 
— Are you satisfied with using 3D technology?
 
Pang: 3D is just one of the many techniques in filmmaking, and I didn’t alter anything because of it. When zoom was developed, everybody was excited and curious as to why the filmmaker utilized the technique. I do admit some enhancements were made due to the fact that I used 3D. Horror films tend to create fear in a confined space, and by using 3D, the audience will be able to feel as if they are actually in a confined, locked chamber and share the oppressive feeling with the character.
 
Interviewed by Miyuki Natsume (Film critic, Writer)