Mila's zone

    Mila Xiong's Reel Edits Reels Edits · 1 min · 2023 Shot on location around Appleton for a film class at Lawrence University, this reel is an exercise in editing: turning raw location footage into a short piece with its own rhythm. It shows the skill I later used cutting trailers at Highland Film Group: knowing how much ten seconds can do.

When I Look At You Experimental Documentary · 15 min · 2024 When I Look At You began as a documentary about nightlife in China, featuring my friend Qiao Gui, then a dance and visual art student at Sarah Lawrence College. The more I filmed, the more the camera turned toward our friendship: how I came to be so close to her, and how I earned a VIP seat in her life. Shot in China in the summer of 2022 and in New York from that fall into early 2023, the film follows Qiao through my eyes, in a series of reflective scenes that hold the small moments of connection and understanding between us. It takes apart and reimagines the idea of intimacy, and invites the audience into that closeness. This page shows a 1:42 excerpt from the 15-minute film.

I believe that people who typically like my movies are those who are very fond of nightclub culture and subcultures. Vibrant scenes and crowds brimming with hormones are the best catalysts for my films. Especially those who love raves, they really enjoy my movies because there is already a very strong sense of identity in them. Therefore, the reviews tend to be quite polarized: those who like it really love it, and those who don't like it, don't. Ravers immediately recognize, 'Oh, this is about our own culture,' when they see my films. However, people who aren't into nightclub culture might not be very interested in my movies. But my ultimate goal is to achieve a good balance, so that everyone can find such works with strong cultural identity interesting and appreciate them.

Title:  When I Look At You Type of film: Experimental Documentary Name: Zhaomei Xiong (Mila) In my experimental documentary   When I Look At You , I aim to offer the audience a deeply personal and introspective exploration of the intimacy within my friendship with Qiao Gui. She is currently studying in Sarah Lawrence College as a Dance and Visual Art Major. Through a series of reflective views, I intend to provide viewers with a unique perspective, allowing them to see my friend through my eyes. I filmed all the footages over the summer in China, fall in 2022 and the beginning of 2023 in New York. Each scene is carefully crafted to convey the nuances of our relationship, highlighting the moments of connection, understanding, and shared experiences that define our bond. Initially envisioned as a documentary on nightlife in China featuring Qiao, the project evolved as I delved deeper into our friendship. The more I filmed, the more I reflected on our connection—how I came to be ...

Jun Togawa is a multifaceted Japanese musician, singer, and actress known for her distinctive and eclectic style. Born on March 31, 1961, in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Togawa has carved a unique niche in the Japanese music and entertainment industry. She emerged in the 1980s, a period when Japan's music scene was undergoing significant transformation, and quickly distinguished herself with her avant-garde approach and bold, unconventional performances. Her music blends a variety of genres, including new wave, pop, rock, and experimental music, often characterized by its theatricality and surreal, sometimes provocative lyrics. Her voice, both powerful and versatile, allows her to seamlessly transition from sweet, melodic tones to intense, almost operatic crescendos, adding depth and emotion to her work.  Throughout her career, Jun Togawa has been associated with numerous bands and musical projects. She started with the group Halmens before gaining significant attention with Guernica, a band k...

Second Update on the FINAL PROJECT Based on the structure of my first idea of Alice in Burping Land II, I'm going to set up the story background in College. I'm going to set up an actual story line instead of a basic introduction for the outlook for the world of my film. It's going called "The Sad Saxophone Burper". In the story this time, Alice reincarnated into a human being, and she meet up with Burping Angel who had also become a human being. While they are throwing out outside of the bar, they recognized each other through their ways of burping.  Here's the example of the script:  Alice: ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Imma gonna get so wasted! And I drunk so much before I even went to the bar, 1/3 of bottle of the discounted Malibu, and I only order 1 can of beer in the bar. I’m so proud of myself! Burping angel: Yeah bitch for real.  <3