Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Ho

Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I guess it all really started by playing those imaginary games on my own and with friends. Crafting stories and characters, putting ourselves in incredibly ridiculous situations, fighting aliens or trying to escape a sinking ship… talking about sinking ships it probably was Titanic that was the film that sparked the interest in not just filmmaking but many other things as well. But filmmaking was probably the most prominent thing that it pulled out of me, a lot was my awe and curiosity in how they pulled it all off. But mostly it really was the story that I was incredibly engrossed in which filled me with many unrealistic expectations about romance and what “going to a real party” was supposed to be like. To a 7-year-old kid though it was magical, and I yearned to have those experiences (Minus the sinking part). And that’s when I realized just like the goofy imaginary games I played with friends, I could try telling stories. I could maybe recreate things I enjoy, relive moments, use video as a means to time travel, and a way to create magic.

One night I was bored, decided to grab the camcorder, and made a movie with my sister. Mostly what I wanted to do was test out the effect where you can make someone or an object disappear. I knew if I can record an object, stop the recording, remove that object, then record again, in theory when playing it back it’ll look like that object disappeared, magic! So, I came up with a story that would include that effect multiple times, showed my parents and it seemed to blow their minds. And that was it, that was the spark that ignited the fuse that would bring me all the way to film school at The School Of Visual Arts, and graduation in 2012 was the final explosion in a spectacular show of fireworks.

Since, it’s felt like I’ve just been wading through the aftermath of the explosion, trying to pick up the pieces and continue. But as with any filmmaker or artist in general, it’s incredibly difficult to get projects off the ground, to raise money, or continue staying above water. But like a drug I’m still trying, I’m still pushing forward despite my ship losing it sales, crafting together whatever I can to catch the little breeze that’s left. And I am grateful to still be able to do that. I currently have my 3rd award winning feature film Broken Pieces going around film festivals. Strung that film together with very little money, and it was all possible with the help of the cast and crew who really gave it their all. I’m so very thankful to my two producers James and Teddy Orfanos who help create a small spark in me again. I’m trying to surround myself again with other filmmakers, trying my best to overcome my social anxiety, self-deprecation. and loneliness. It’s small steps… hoping my film Broken Pieces screens at more places, hoping I can get my next film off the ground. For now I’m just happy I’ve re-ignited a small fire, I’m just hoping it may grow larger, hoping it’ll be big enough for many to see.

I’m not sure if links will work here, but here’s a link to watch my first film ever haha.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

As I’ve mentioned in the previous question, it has not been a smooth road at all haha. I stopped being able to see the road after graduating film school. The wilderness took over and I’ve felt as if I have been lost wondering around this dense forest, trying to make fires large enough for someone to see, for someone to notice… Much of the struggles has been with myself, I’ve come to realize how much success thrives on confidence, and unfortunately that’s been one of my many biggest weaknesses. Also, the struggle with loneliness has been making it hard to traverse this dense forest alone. But as with many artists I’ve been able to pour so much of my pain into my work, and it has been helpful with creating fires to help keep me warm, fires for others to hopefully see. But none large enough to make an impact.

Everything is a learning lesson, my previous feature, granted being an award-winning film, did not do very well in the festival circuit, only managing to get into 3 festivals. After more than three years of working on that film, I felt like I had wasted so much time and failed. However, that pain motivated me to keep learning and understand how to approach it better next time. I needed to be burned by my own fire to learn how to properly set up the next one. So in the end that film wasn’t a failure but a success, I am very grateful for that film, and now I can look back at it and really appreciate it. I poured a lot of my heart into it, as with any project, and I hope more people can possibly watch it. I put it up for free to watch on Vimeo it’s titled Minor Motion Picture.

I guess I wouldn’t be much of a struggling independent filmmaker if I didn’t also mention money. But yes, one of the biggest struggles is always money. Not much more I can say about that, as it’s common, and a struggle many artists have to deal with. And with making films gathering the budget is one of the biggest hurdles. I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have had the support of friends and family to be able to make my films with next to no money. And especially my most recent film Broken Pieces, which is currently going around festivals. I ended up shooting all of it on an iPhone which helped save a lot of money and time. It always feels like I have to find as many creative ways as possible to get a fire started when there’s no helpful fuel source around. I may not have a lighter, or a match, but I can maybe use the lenses in my glasses to focus the sunlight. Use the one disadvantage I have (Being the need to wear glasses) to create the ignition. And sure, having to film with the iPhone has many disadvantages, but also many advantages, especially with how I was trying to tell this story.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Well, for my own work I write, direct, shoot, and edit short and feature films. Unfortunately, because of a lack of money and resources I’ve had to learn how to wear multiple hats. I was fortunate enough to major in cinematography when I was in college, granted I have lost the passion I had for that, I’m grateful I learned a technical skillset which has helped greatly.

I have quite a bit of short films, my most recent two had a surprisingly great festival run both garnering up quite a bit of awards. Unfortunately, they both did their festival run during the pandemic, so didn’t get to enjoy many in person screenings as everything went virtual. That still frustrates me as they both managed to get into quite a lot, yet I was unable to really reap the benefits.

I technically have made 5 feature films, but 3 of them I’m more willing to mention haha. My thesis film for college was a feature and also managed to get into a bit of festivals and won several awards. It’s about multiple characters in NYC, their relationships, and how they all connect with each other. It’s currently available to watch on Amazon Prime (USA and UK only unfortunately) it’s titled Placebo.

My second feature, as I mentioned in previous questions, I made right after college. It’s titled Minor Motion Picture, and it was essentially my farewell to childhood. I focused a lot on how my childhood was like making movies with my friends. It’s about a character trying to piece together the purpose of life in order to cope with the death of her sister. Her memories drift back and forth between childhood and adulthood where she eventually stumbles upon love. This film is free to watch on Vimeo.

My current feature as I’ve mentioned in previous questions is Broken Pieces, it’s currently going around film festivals, and as of writing this it was a runner up for best feature at the Coney Island Film Festival and won Best Romantic Feature at the Manhattan Film Festival. It has gotten into two more fests, and I’m hoping more by the time this is published haha. It’s similar to my thesis film in that it follows multiple characters throughout NYC. But it’s a lot more focused and takes place in one day. The lives of five people cross paths with each other in unexpected ways, revealing the subtle yet important interconnectedness of their lives as they grapple with their own issues and try to make sense of the chaos that surrounds them. Love is a complicated and messy thing, and sometimes it takes being broken to find the pieces that fit.

It’s hard for me to figure out what I’m most proud of, every film is different. All has taken so much out of me. I guess if there’s any pride that I have… perhaps it’s that I’m somehow still trying, there are many times I’ve considered giving up, but I still find myself clinging to this cliff refusing to let go. Just need to find creative ways of pushing forward, filming a feature on an iPhone is one of them, and sure, I guess I’d say I’m proud of that, I’m also very proud of that film in general. If anything, it’s perseverance.

For work I’ve just been doing editing. Besides editing my own films I’ve been freelance editing since 2016. Editing short films, features, documentaries, sizzle reels… you name it. I often find it funny, I went into film school initially wanting to major in Directing, I ended up majoring in Cinematography, and now for work I edit. It feels as if there’s nothing all that unique about me that I can think of that’ll set me apart from others. That being said technically there’s something unique about everyone. But there’s so many it’s hard to see the individual snowflakes from the massive piles of snow. I’m just one individual buried underneath.

It’s hard for me to think about what sets me apart from others simply being how subjective my experience is. But we’re all unique regardless, and every artist shares a part of themselves in their work. I guess you’ll have to watch my films to maybe figure that out. I’ve had many tell me how my films have their own distinct feeling, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you what that is being it’s my own work. I only know how my pain feels, I can only observe others.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?

From what I’ve seen in many older videos it seems I was much more active, excited and optimistic as a child haha. I originally was very into science and space, went through many of the usual childhood fazes of interest. Was a huge Star Trek and Star Wars fan which got me very much into anything space related. And that only accelerated with my love of the film Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind and Aliens. I was always a loner of sorts as a kid, often preferring to play games by myself. I used to stay in my room, pretending I was on the bridge of the enterprise, and act out every character, creating my own Star Trek episodes as I played haha. Granted I did have friends despite my preference to be on my own. I used to be known amongst my friends group as the “Smart science kid” I recall playing many imaginary games with my friends pretending we were fighting Aliens. When it came to my filmmaking obsession we ended up making hundreds of terrible films together.

I went through a faze where I was fascinated with weather, mostly Tornadoes. I really wanted to become a tornado chaser when I got older, and the film Twister conveniently came out right at the peak of my tornado obsession. I drew thousands of tornado drawings, still have a box full of them somewhere. And I would watch hours of tornado footage on VHS tapes. There was I time I truly really wanted to become a meteorologist.

But soon the weather would push me into a new direction, right into an iceberg. And after watching Titanic my next obsession began. The thousands of drawings of tornadoes turned into thousands of drawings of the Titanic. I became a Titanic nerd, and wanted to learn all I could about it, how it was built, how it sank, the science behind it all. In the end what all of these interests have in common was that they were started up because of a film. That’s how powerful movies were on me. Which makes sense in the end and why I ended up attempting to make movies as my career, despite my initial direction being something science related.

I do ponder very often about what my life would be like if I went with science over filmmaking… I probably wouldn’t be here writing this up that’s for sure haha. Although I probably would have had a much more stable career… and maybe, just maybe I would be married, or at least in a relationship… Thinking about this alternate reality is also similar to what I’d often do as a child. I would daydream and ponder about my future, about what I’d be doing, about who I’d be with… Many alternate realities with many possibilities. And that’s one of the best things about filmmaking, being able to create your own reality, I’m just continuing what I enjoyed doing and thinking about as a child. Because there’s no way of ever knowing the future, all I can do is go along for the ride, and I’m trying to learn how to just enjoy as much as this ride as possible. But with making a film, I have control over that ride.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/justinjohnho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjho8/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinjohnho
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MinorMotionPicture/videos
• Other: https://linktr.ee/justinjohnho?utm_source=linktree_admin_share