Person in the Mirror

Jiayi Wang 13842657

Logline

Driven by society's brutal beauty standards, a young woman seeking liposuction finds herself in an unexpected counselling session that challenges her perceptions and propels her on a journey towards self-acceptance and healing.

Synopsis

Person in the Mirror follows the harrowing journey of Susan, a young woman whose story of severe body image issues and unrealistic beauty standards is a battle against societal pressures. After a series of frustrating dieting experiences and the stress of facing cosmetic surgery, Susan finds herself undergoing a counselling session disguised as a liposuction consultation. Through a dialogue with psychologist Dr. Wang, Susan confronts the harsh realities of her self-perception and societal expectations. The story explores the psychological impact of body image on young women and the difficult path towards self-acceptance under social pressure.

Director

Short Biography of Jiayi Wang.

Jiayi Wang is a young director, writer and cinematographer who graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in June 2024 with a Bachelor of Media Arts and Production. As a first-time director, Jiayi Wang has made a name for herself in the film industry with her extensive knowledge, accessibility, and deep understanding of scripts. She focuses on communicating with her actors, respecting their insights, and creating an atmosphere of teamwork on set. With a passion for travelling and photography, she often uses her camera to record what she sees and experiences. She has been interested in film and television since she was a child, and particularly admires the hard work and talent of the people behind the scenes. In addition, she is good at communicating with people from different cultures, and by listening to and integrating their stories, she hopes to bring empathy and a sense of belonging to as many people as possible through her creations.

Director's Statement

As a new director, I have always believed that film and television are not only a display of art, but also a bridge to convey emotions and culture. I have been passionate about film and television since I was a child, and this passion has grown as I have learnt more about the behind-the-scenes production process. In my work, I strive to be true to the complexity and beauty of human nature and capture every nuance of emotion through detailed script analysis and in-depth interaction with the actors. I pay particular attention to drawing inspiration from different cultures, which not only enriches my creative vision, but also helps me build a diverse and inclusive narrative space. My goal is to create work that touches the heart and at the same time provokes the viewer to think, so that everyone can find resonance and strength in my stories. Through my lens, I hope to give voice to marginalized voices and bring inspiration and solace to a global audience.

Crew members

Director: Jiayi Wang

Director of photography: Shaolun Han

Editor: Shangshu Li

Production Designer: Peijing Fu

Producer: Jiani Han

Sound Designer: Ziyi Zhang

Cast members

Susan 1: Yuxuan Sun

Susan 2: xiyuan Hu

Dr. Tam:Keyu Li

Dr. Wang: songxian Zhou

Short bios of key HODs

Editor-Shangshu Li:

My name is Shangshu Li, I am the editor of the movie Person In The Mirror and I use Primiere Pro as my tool. My editing style focuses on narrative pacing and emotional expression. I love editing, and I pay attention to details, and I am good at maintaining efficient and high-quality output in a tight production cycle. I believe that good communication and teamwork is the key to a successful project, so I'm always motivated to stay in close contact with the director.

DOP-Shaolun Han:

Drawing from his extensive background in stage productions, Frank brings a wealth of experience to the table, particularly in orchestrating camera and lighting arrangements with precision. His keen eye for visual storytelling, coupled with a deep understanding of technical intricacies, renders him an ideal candidate for cinematography.

Sound designer-Ziyi Zhang:

Ziyi (Bella) Zhang-Sound designer
Bella is from China, studying at University of Technology Sydney, majoring in media arts & production. During her previous study, she has great interest and experience in photography and sound editing. Therefore, she takes the position of sound designer in this project.

Producer-Jiani Han:

My name is Jiani Han, I have worked on a number of student short films. In this project Person in the Mirror, I worked as a Producer and 1st AD. When I first learned about the script, I realized that this project reflects the anxiety of many Asian women about their body shape and looks. It's not just a story, it's an in-depth exploration of a real issue. In my role as Producer, I was responsible for a number of key tasks including casting, budget management and preparation of production documents.

Production designer-Peijing Fu:

My name is Peijing Fu, and I am the production designer in this project.When I first encountered the script of person in the mirror, I was attracted by the plot. Because I often worry about my body, I can relate to this story.
Being the production designer for this project is a very creative position for me. The set style and prop design of different scenes reflect different emotions.

Short bios of lead actors

Susan1-Yuxuan Sun

Yuxuan Sun is a newcomer to acting and this is her debut performance. She takes a proactive approach to acting, having experienced body anxiety in the past, and hopes to use her talents and this production to help more people understand and reject body anxiety.

Susan2-Xiyuan Hu

Xiyuan Hu is an experienced actress who often works pro bono on student productions to help them realize their artistic visions. She works hard and has a deep understanding of her characters, revealing their multi-dimensional personalities through her acting skills.

Dr.Wang-Songxian Zhou

Songxian Zhou is a veteran actor with experience in both China and Australia. He is well versed in lines, able to complete complex shoots without interruptions, and has great emotional control over his characters, able to accurately convey their changing moods.

Dr.Tam-Keyu Li

Keyu Li is a media student with a unique perspective on media works. On set, he is able to get into character quickly and work efficiently with the team. His performance was also well received by his peers, showing strong professionalism and potential.

Inspiration & Background

01.

Social and cultural pressures

An ideal image of the female body is often conveyed through the media, adverts and other social media methods, and this image is usually of a slim, well-proportioned body. This widely disseminated ideal image puts pressure on women to conform to this standard to be considered beautiful and successful.

02.

Influence of family or friends:

What family members or friends say or do may also influence a woman's body self-perception. If those around them frequently comment on or criticize their own or others' weight and appearance, this may increase women's dissatisfaction and anxiety about their bodies.

03.

Lifestyle changes:

Unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise in modern lifestyles may cause dissatisfaction and anxiety about body image.

04.

Competition or comparison:

The fast flow of social media and carefully selected and retouched photos on the internet may make women feel inferior thus creating anxiety.

05.

Psychological factors:

Body image disorders or other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, may also cause or exacerbate body image anxiety.

Personal experience:

The creative process also incorporates an adaptation of the director's personal experience.