Island Soul
These are differences we can use to celebrate or punish each other.
ABOUT
Darren, a Taiwanese native, and Maria, a Polish native, navigate their daily routine while discussing the challenges they face as parents raising biracial children in Taiwan. Although Darren’s family is very close knit, he shares the same concerns with Kalf, a laid back divorced Scottish biker who has lived in Taiwan for over ten years, on raising children in Taiwan’s educational system.
The conversation inevitably transitions to cram schools and the shifting reputations surrounding it. Alongside the two families, interviewees from various backgrounds shed light on the complexities that come with toxic cram school culture, including excessive student workloads and discriminatory hiring practices.
YEAR 2024
RUN TIME 19:58 Min
EMAIL ryanwoo650@gmail.com Website: https://www.innerwoostudios.com
-CAST & CREW CREDITS
DIRECTOR-PRODUCER Ryan Woo
CINEMATOGRAPHER Ryan Woo
1st ASSISTANT CAMERA Chih Hua
COMPOSER Mulang Zhu
EDITOR Ryan Woo
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS Ivy Wang
PARTICIPANTS
Darren | Maria | Franek | Lili | Kalf | Jay | Shirley | Evelyn | Tzuchi | Yu-Hsuan Huang
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Island Soul is a film of pure commitment and honesty. While shooting and editing the film, the constant concern of granting myself approval in telling these people’s stories always loomed over my head.
As a Taiwanese American born in California, I’ve always felt my dual identities are at odds with one another. Being “too Asian” for American public schools but not “Asian enough” for rigorous Chinese cram schools led to many questions on where I belong.
This film is the story and understanding of how a generational shift in perception thrives and existing within multiple spaces is possible. Placing an identity in one sole category is a thing of the past.
DIRECTOR BIO
Ryan Woo is an editor, cinematographer, photographer, and drone pilot with a passion for filming documentaries. Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, he attended undergrad at San Francisco State University with a major in film and will obtain his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in May 2024. Although an introvert, his commitment to documentary filmmaking inspires him to become a better interviewer. Some of his notable works include CHPAA 2020, a short documentary shot in Cambodia, and Island Soul, a documentary shot in Taiwan. His recent endeavors include quadcopter building and FPV drone cinematography.
INTERVIEWS
FILM AND PRODUCTION STILLS
AWARDS
FULL FILM
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Ryan Woo is an editor, cinematographer, photographer, and drone pilot with a passion for filming documentaries. Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, he attended undergrad at San Francisco State University with a major in film and will obtain his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in May 2024. Although an introvert, his commitment to documentary filmmaking inspires him to become a better interviewer. Some of his notable works include CHPAA 2020, a short documentary shot in Cambodia, and Island Soul, a documentary shot in Taiwan. His recent endeavors include quadcopter building and FPV drone cinematography.
(Update provided in April 2024)