DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHTYue Hua
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Trace on My Body explores themes of the female gaze and self-acceptance through your personal experience. How did this journey shape your artistic vision and the way you relate to your body?
Trace on My Body is a film rooted in self-reflection, focusing on subjectivity and the societal expectations placed on women’s bodies. For much of my life, I struggled with self-acceptance, influenced by identity challenges, rigid beauty standards, and a lack of agency. A turning point was dealing with a physical illness in spring 2023, which forced me to confront how these external pressures and reclaim ownership of my body. It's not an easy journey and it ended up shaping my artistic vision. As someone who grew up in China, where these topics are less openly discussed, this journey has been especially transformative. I want to use my work to spark dialogue and question and empower others, especially women, to express themselves and make art freely.
Trace on My Body is a film rooted in self-reflection, focusing on subjectivity and the societal expectations placed on women’s bodies. For much of my life, I struggled with self-acceptance, influenced by identity challenges, rigid beauty standards, and a lack of agency. A turning point was dealing with a physical illness in spring 2023, which forced me to confront how these external pressures and reclaim ownership of my body. It's not an easy journey and it ended up shaping my artistic vision. As someone who grew up in China, where these topics are less openly discussed, this journey has been especially transformative. I want to use my work to spark dialogue and question and empower others, especially women, to express themselves and make art freely.
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You chose to work with 16mm film and animation for this project. What drew you to this medium, and how does its tactile nature enhance the story you're telling?
Being able to have a physical and hands-on connection to the medium is incredibly powerful. The tactile process—scratching, painting, and directly manipulating film—gave me the freedom to experiment and embrace imperfections. My journey into analog film was kind of personal. After losing my passion for painting due to the rigid structure of Chinese art education, I rediscovered joy through the immersive and unpredictable nature of analog filmmaking. This process parallels my personal journey of accepting myself as a flawed yet authentic individual. The spontaneity and rawness of this medium allow me to express myself in a way that feels both genuine and unfiltered. |
How does your cross-cultural identity as a Chinese-American influence your exploration of femininity, identity, and self-perception in Trace on My Body?
To clarify, I identify as Chinese, but my time in the U.S. has deeply influenced my perspective. Growing up in a conservative, traditional family in a small Chinese city, I was surrounded by patriarchal values and societal expectations for women. These pressures shaped my childhood and continued well into my early adult years. In my first undergraduate film class in China, a professor told us, “Girls aren’t fit for this industry; they should just marry well.” Despite the fact that 80% of the class were women, everyone laughed. I laughed too, but deep inside my heart, it's full of frustration and anger that nowhere I can express.
When I moved to the U.S. at 25, I encountered a culture that encouraged self-expression and exploration. This sudden freedom was both liberating and disorienting, as it clashed with the expectations ingrained in me for over two decades. Trace on My Body emerged from this inner conflict, reflecting my struggles with femininity, identity, and self-perception during this transformative time.
To clarify, I identify as Chinese, but my time in the U.S. has deeply influenced my perspective. Growing up in a conservative, traditional family in a small Chinese city, I was surrounded by patriarchal values and societal expectations for women. These pressures shaped my childhood and continued well into my early adult years. In my first undergraduate film class in China, a professor told us, “Girls aren’t fit for this industry; they should just marry well.” Despite the fact that 80% of the class were women, everyone laughed. I laughed too, but deep inside my heart, it's full of frustration and anger that nowhere I can express.
When I moved to the U.S. at 25, I encountered a culture that encouraged self-expression and exploration. This sudden freedom was both liberating and disorienting, as it clashed with the expectations ingrained in me for over two decades. Trace on My Body emerged from this inner conflict, reflecting my struggles with femininity, identity, and self-perception during this transformative time.
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What has been the most rewarding or challenging part of making your latest film?
The process of making Trace on My Body was both emotionally and mentally taxing. It required me to confront deeply personal trauma and present my body and vulnerability on screen. Sharing the film publicly was even harder—I worried it might come across as too “psycho” or expose parts of myself I wasn’t ready to share. However, the most rewarding part has been pushing myself to discuss and screen the film despite these fears. Through this process, I’ve received a range of feedback—some kind and some misogynous—but it’s allowed me to connect with women facing similar struggles and see these experiences from new perspectives. |
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Shooting on film can be unpredictable. Did any unexpected moments during the filming or development process lead to creative breakthroughs?
Yes, of course. That’s a great question and thank you for asking. Actually, Trace on My Body involved some "happy accident". I originally shot this film on one roll of Double X black-and-white negative and one roll of color negative. When I sent the film to Cinelab for processing, they mistakenly created a color-positive print of the black-and-white roll, resulting in a strong warm orange hue. This unexpected effect resonated deeply with me, reflecting the intense emotions I was experiencing at the time—like something burning within me. This orange hue contrasted beautifully with the cooler tones of the color negative. It almost forms a visual metaphor for my mental state. I ended up embracing this “mistake” and integrating it into the final film, which became a key element of its aesthetic.
Yes, of course. That’s a great question and thank you for asking. Actually, Trace on My Body involved some "happy accident". I originally shot this film on one roll of Double X black-and-white negative and one roll of color negative. When I sent the film to Cinelab for processing, they mistakenly created a color-positive print of the black-and-white roll, resulting in a strong warm orange hue. This unexpected effect resonated deeply with me, reflecting the intense emotions I was experiencing at the time—like something burning within me. This orange hue contrasted beautifully with the cooler tones of the color negative. It almost forms a visual metaphor for my mental state. I ended up embracing this “mistake” and integrating it into the final film, which became a key element of its aesthetic.
What advice would you give to other filmmakers who want to experiment with analog film but are hesitant about the challenges it presents?
Start with a plan—time management and budgeting, once you’ve prepared, there’s not much to be scared of. But also keep an open mind and embrace whatever comes your way. Mistakes are not setbacks but stepping stones on the path to success.
Finding community is important, either find people from film school or from the artist community. Everything is full of challenges. But when you embrace challenges, reward follows. Most importantly, taking risks in artmaking is always worthwhile.
Start with a plan—time management and budgeting, once you’ve prepared, there’s not much to be scared of. But also keep an open mind and embrace whatever comes your way. Mistakes are not setbacks but stepping stones on the path to success.
Finding community is important, either find people from film school or from the artist community. Everything is full of challenges. But when you embrace challenges, reward follows. Most importantly, taking risks in artmaking is always worthwhile.
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Yue Hua/华越 is an filmmaker and multimedia artist, born and raised in China, currently based in Boston, MA. Yue’s art explores themes like spirit-body relationships, searching for belonging, and the female perspective. She teaches 16mm film production at Emerson College and is a member of the AgX film collective.
You can find more about her work at : https://yuehua.co |
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