H-AIR Monthly Report - August / MOON Sujin
I am currently writing from Korea.
Before heading home, I went to the grocery store I often visited to buy gifts for my family. I mostly picked out things I enjoyed eating while living in Hiroshima, and as I did, I realized I was finally getting used to life here. The thought of leaving now makes me feel a bit sad. While I could come back for a short trip or some event, like a vacation, I don't think I'll ever live here again like I did for the past three months. That makes me feel a bit down. However, just like how a game map expands when the main character enters a new area, I’m happy that Hiroshima's charming neighborhoods are now etched into the map of my heart. With all these thoughts running through my head, I ended up shopping so much that both my hands were full.
It’s something I often said with Britt and Daniel, who also participated in the residency, but the three months really flew by in the blink of an eye.
August, in particular, disappeared much faster than June or July.
August was also the time for the main event—the Hiroshima Film Festival. I held an exhibition here, worked as a judge, and enjoyed the festival to the fullest.
I was worried about whether I was qualified to give an award to anyone, but as soon as the program started in the theater, I became absorbed in it as a regular audience member. Each film was full of individuality and had excellent quality and messages. Knowing that animation is born from persistent patience, I was deeply moved by the time and effort hidden behind each film.
The film festival, held from August 14th to 18th, was enriching and exciting every day, and I had enjoyable conversations with people who share a common interest in animation.
I was so absorbed in the film festival that my own work took a backseat, but I still made time to focus whenever I could. One of the key ideas for composing the visuals in my film was the contrast created by sunlight, so I tried to take as many reference photos as possible. Fortunately, the sunlight in Hiroshima was stronger than in Korea, providing the perfect conditions.
As I fiddled with the camera, I studied exposure, experimenting in the same location to decide whether to let light wash things out or hide them in shadows. Once the story is developed,
I plan to make the final decision while reviewing the storyboard.
As for the script, I took time to reconsider the theme while editing to fit a runtime of around 10 minutes. The thought, "Could I express this more honestly?" kept lingering in my mind, leading me to delve deeper into the theme. While the overall flow of the story will likely remain the same, the narration and dialogue are expected to change.
I’ve started sketching to finalize a concrete image for the male protagonist. (I'm drawing him for now, but he looks too cheesy, so I want to change that.)
In this project, I want to accurately portray the softness of the human body, so I'm studying how muscles change when the body moves and how they react under pressure. Though I still have a long way to go, I’m excited as the work is gradually becoming more concrete.
After the Hiroshima Film Festival ended, I gave myself a summer break and went to Okinawa. 
I had heard that Okinawa is also a very hot place, so I was excited, hoping the strong contrasts and refreshing colors might inspire some new ideas.
The sunlight was intense, and the entire island was lush with nature, giving off a refreshing vibe. I think it would be a good idea to use the color palette from this time when the male protagonist appears in the project.
With Okinawa as the final stop, my time in Japan has come to an end.
I met many people, adapted to new environments, and learned a great deal. Although I gained so much, the greatest achievement by far was solidifying the direction of my work.
After distributing my graduation project, I went through a period of great uncertainty about what kind of work I wanted to pursue in the future. However, reflecting on what I’ve learned from this recent experience, I now feel confident that I can move forward with clear standards, without wavering.
As the summer of 2024 comes to an end, I feel that my period of uncertainty has also come to a close, at least to some extent. I’m sure there will be times of uncertainty again in the future, but having gone through it once, I believe I’ll be able to handle it more flexibly and wisely next time.
After returning to Korea, my friends asked me, "What has changed?" I casually replied,
"It's pretty much the same as before I left." But the perspective on my work that solidified in Hiroshima will likely change who I am moving forward.
I’m excited for who I’ll be tomorrow.
I send my love to all the staff members in Hiroshima festival who took care of me, and to Britt and Daniel, who became good friends while living together in an unfamiliar place.
THANK YOU!