This month, we invite Jo Chim 詹翠珊 to curate a collection of content celebrating stage actors who have taken the leap to film.
Catch Jo on stage this season as Wu Shiliang in Salesman in China. Link to Jo's bio here.

One Small Visit
The tagline for my film, One Small Visit reads "From space, you see the borders that divide us don’t exist." Set in 1969 about an Indian American family who happens to land on the doorstep of Neil Armstrong’s parental home months after the moon landing, it’s ultimately a story about curiosity, kindness, and connection. It’s a very similar theme to Salesman in China--witnessing different cultures come together and discover their shared humanity.
I didn’t write this true story with the intention of directing it myself, but once I decided to, I remembered how my most fulfilling acting experiences were usually in the theatre. I love the rehearsal process and I wanted to replicate that sense of communal collaboration as much as possible before we got on set as we only had six days to shoot it. How thrilled was I when all my cast except for the toddler turned out to have theatre roots. They brought so much of themselves, their craft and their sense of play. True muses and partners to me as a director, elevating my words to a level I never imagined as a writer. Many of my favourite moments are non-verbal, watching these gifted actors infuse them with so much humour or tenderness. I’ve watched the film a gazillion times and there are still scenes that make me giggle, tickle me pink, or move me immensely. We all loved the story and each other so much and I truly believe that comes across the screen. 
 
You're Never Alone, Coriolanus and King John
I’m very honoured to work with the great Tom McCamus as Arthur Miller in Salesman in China. It’s fun to see his range here, from the web series You’re Never Alone to Robert Lepage’s Coriolanus and King John. They say on screen, actors need to act with their eyes. On stage age, it’s their voice. That’s why I find his choice of voice for King John, especially interesting, because it’s quite different to his usual deep and richly resonant voice.
 
Richard II
Castmate Sarah Orenstein plays Inge Morath, Arthur Miller’s wife in Salesman in China. She’s so good at playing strong, intelligent women and I really enjoyed her strategizing in this production of Richard II. I also liked how this play was filmed. It felt cinematic. Often I find it hard to film plays but the crew found very cool angles. I loved the many top-down shots of the stage. The lighting was dramatic, the dancing and movement very dynamic, the costumes were exquisite and the hot tub scene was very creatively staged.
 
Just Short of Reality
I love dance and it was wonderful to see the different short films in Just Short of Reality with the very talented Stratford dancers shot around the town. I liked how the characters had shadows who danced alongside but differently from them. Really unique and expressive.
 
Seed
I’m always impressed when actors can not only write and direct a film but also act in it.  I know how much focus it needs to direct, keeping track of the multitude of tasks and decisions to make every minute. To do that and then jump in front of the camera to perform, switching to a totally different mode is quite a feat. Nelson Lee does just that in Seed, a short film with a very intriguing premise. His performance felt very natural and easy. I can’t imagine all he had to do once he had to jump back behind the camera.