Mary Duong, writer of Viv’s Silly Mango, delves into the relationships between her central characters – Viv, Nikki, and Esther – shaped by self-acceptance and cultural backgrounds. Mary reflects on how her lived experience molded the film, the importance of chosen family, and the role of music in driving both the story and characters forward.

How did you develop the complex relationships between Viv, Nikki, and Esther, and what inspired you to explore the theme while showing the trio’s journey to reclaim what’s theirs? What are you hoping to convey about the nature of friendships and rivalries through their interactions?

Inspired by our experiences growing up Asian in Australia, our key team – [co-producer and co-writer] Rae Choi, [director] Rachel Maxine Anderson, and I – developed the relationships between Viv, Nikki, and Esther by drawing on our friendships, from childhood through to now. With themes of self-acceptance and personal agency, we wanted to make sure young people were at the centre of our storytelling process so tried to invite them in when we could. For example, we ran focus groups and feedback sessions with high school students of Asian descent during development and post-production.

Our goal was to tell a story about friendship and agency, especially for young Asian folks. Our director, Rachel Maxine Anderson, worked closely with our main cast – Hami Pham, Ainslie Ryan, and Ixara Dorizac – to make sure their characters’ friendships felt real and lived-in. We wanted to show how friendships can shift and evolve, how friends can surprise you, and how they can be a part of your self-discovery journey — if you let them in.

Vietnamese culture often emphasizes community and familial bonds. How are these elements reflected in the relationships between Viv, Nikki, and Esther, especially as they navigate their challenges together?

Viv, Nikki, and Esther become each other’s chosen family. We made a very deliberate choice not to include any parental characters to emphasise the bond between our characters and give them room to figure things out on their own.

Viv feels a disconnect from her Vietnamese family and culture—her parents are too busy so can’t, or won’t, provide her with the tools to understand herself and where she comes from. This makes her hesitant to fully open up to others, including her best friend Esther, especially about her queerness.

However, when Nikki arrives and shakes things up, Viv learns that community and family can take different forms. Nikki helps Viv see that it’s okay to lean on her friends and embrace the parts of herself that she’s been hiding. Their band’s journey is a celebration of how [a] chosen family can provide support and understanding that might be missing elsewhere.

Can you share any behind-the-scenes anecdotes or stories that highlight the creative process or the bond between the cast and crew? What moments stand out to you as particularly special or inspiring?

Working with our cast and crew felt like being part of a big family – everyone was so creative, committed, and lovely! One of the most special [behind-the-scenes] moments actually shifted our film in a big way. During a break between filming scenes, Ixara Dorizac, who plays Nikki, started playing her guitar and singing an original song she wrote called “Scuffed My Shoes” while Hami Pham (Viv) listened, tapping her foot. One of our writer/producers, Rae, filmed it and showed me and Rachel. Ixara’s energy was so infectious and her musical talent was just undeniable. Rachel pitched that we should rewrite a scene to include the song and Ixara was keen on the idea. Filming it was super special – the entire crew sat in awe and listened as Ixara performed the song live on set. I think this story really captures the collaborative spirit of our team and it’s honestly my favourite part of the film.

Music and childhood are two big concepts in the film. Did you bring any personal love for music and childhood nostalgia into the project, and if so, how did they manifest into the film’s creation?

Absolutely, this film had huge childhood nostalgia vibes for us! For our key team, music has always been a big part of our lives—whether it was music lessons in primary school (clarinet for me, drums for Rae) or discovering alternative music as in our teens and finding comfort and relief in song lyrics. I was particularly infatuated with riot grrrl music as a teenager. Bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney provided an escape as I struggled with my sexuality. The revolutionary energy of 90s riot grrrls inspired us to weave a punk ethos into the film’s fabric. Rae, who dropped piano for drums as a teenager (much to her parents’ dismay), has always been inspired by the power and playfulness of music, especially in exploring identity and connections.

This love for music naturally flowed into the project. We brought on our friend Kate Dillon of Full Flower Moon Band to write original music, capturing that punk spirit while amplifying our characters and story. We also worked with Music Supervisor Tyler McLoughlan, who sourced incredible songs from local artists, creating a soundtrack that’s as distinctive and catchy as the story itself. Music became the heartbeat of Viv’s Silly Mango, helping us connect back to those formative childhood experiences.

What were some of the key visual and artistic choices you made in the film, and how do they enhance the storytelling? Were there any specific inspirations for the film’s aesthetic and style?

We really wanted our visuals to match the energy and heart of the story, so Rachel’s vision was all about making it feel bold, raw, vibrant, and alive. We went for a tactile punk DIY-style, inspired by riot grrrl – especially in our graphics by designer Cornelia Van Rijswijk and stunning art direction by production designer Marcel Lim. 

We incorporated heightened fantasy sequences to bring Viv’s daydreams to life. Working with our cinematographer Brian Loewe, these moments are highlighted with stylised lighting and slow motion, and filmed on vintage lenses, to create a contrast between Viv’s inner world and reality. 

Our film’s inspirations included the riot grrrl movement, bands like The Linda Lindas and Emily’s Sassy Lime, and films and shows like The Half of It, We Are Lady Parts, and PEN15. These helped us and our team craft a look and feel that’s playful yet powerful, visually capturing feelings of growing up, finding yourself, and embracing who you are.

Viv’s Silly Mango will play on Viet Film Fest 2024’s virtual platform in the short film sets “Crossing Generations” (U.S. version), “In Her Shoes” (U.S. version), and “With Pride” (available only in North America). It will be shown at the in-person screenings of “Crossing Generations” on Friday, October 11 at 10 AM and 12:45 PM at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California.

Interviewer: Alena Nguyen

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VIET FILM FEST 2024

October 5 to 20, 2024

Program Schedule and Tickets: 

https://vietfilmfest2024.eventive.org/schedule

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