Fissures
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Running Time 12 minutes 41 seconds
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Genre Drama -Thriller
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Language English
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Completed October 2, 2024, United States
Gemma, a young Asian woman, becomes a model for a celebrated White artist. She adopts a geisha persona, complete with traditional kimono and makeup, in order to fit his vision of the perfect oriental muse. As the artist's demands escalate, Gemma finds herself trapped in a nightmarish spiral, plagued by unsettling visions of a woman who bears an eerie resemblance to her. When she is thrust into the unforgiving spotlight at a gallery exhibition, Gemma uncovers a chilling truth that binds her to the fates of the artist’s previous muses, revealing a dark legacy that threatens to consume her entirely.
Project Type: Short
Genres:Drama, Experimental, Horror, Thriller, Art
Runtime: 12 minutes 41 seconds
Completion Date: October 2, 2024
Country of Origin: United States
Country of Filming: United States, United States
Language: English
Shooting Format: Digital
Film Color: Color
Director
Maya Marzuki Peters
Writer
Kai Sun
Producers
Makayla Leilua
Alan He
Cast
Margaret Lee
Anthony TrainaKey
Claire BaeKey
Director of Photography
Ethan Wen
Editor
Donovan Kidd
Composer
Allan X. Chen
Sound Designer & Mixer
Jade Dickey
Production Designer
Danis Zhang
Casting Director
Peter Xiao
About the director
Maya is an Irish-Indonesian director based in NYC. With a background in production design, she seeks to explore the complexities of personal identity through stories that intertwine artistic design with deeply personal storytelling. Her works have featured in ELLE China, SHOWStudio, and the CFDA, as well as various international film festivals.
As a mixed race filmmaker, I am driven by a desire to explore the rich tapestry of identity and belonging through my work. “Fissures” is a deeply personal project that confronts the complex dynamics of race and desire, particularly in the context of female Asian diasporic experiences. The story resonates with my own journey and the journeys of those around me, highlighting the often invisible horrors women of color must face.
Through this film, I aim to illuminate the terrors of racial fetishization and the space it takes up in both our professional and intimate lives. The haunting journey of Gemma shows us the damaging consequences and psychological toll of trying to fit into another person’s idea of who you should be and what version of yourself holds value.