What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1276496
complex to tell. There were so many different layers to all the different stories — the American Dream story, the rags- to-riches story, the David and Goliath story, the next generation story — and we very much tried to prep accordingly to cover ourselves in telling Ted Ngoy's story in a rich and robust way. What really became more prominent in the edit was the next generation story, the legacy story. I loved the perspective of what I called, "Donut 2.0," and all the modernity, innovation and American thought that went into revamping their parents' businesses. Q. The use of animation oftentimes can make or break a documentary when it comes to assisting in the storytelling. Can you explain why you felt it was essential for "The Donut King?" Gu: Animation was essential for "The Donut King." Ted's life was and still is, larger than life. Due to war and how expensive photography was at the time, there was very, very little personal archive. Ted's stories were so filled with detail that I knew the only way we could achieve this visually was through animation. I really longed to find a Cambodian artist, and when I learned of the work of Andrew Hem, I just knew instantly that it had to be his artwork setting our look. Andrew went to Pasadena Art Center, is a prolific fine artist, and is a "doughnut kid" himself. One of my great joys (and challenges) was trying to get all the details right. Q. "The Donut King" was awarded a Special Jury Prize from SXSW this year. As a filmmaker introducing her very first feature length film into the world — and then having the expected film festival tour of various cities and audiences thwarted to an extent and then re-imagined on the fly — did that award maybe take on an even greater significance in buoying you for the next steps in that journey? Gu: This year has been quite the ride, and it's not over yet! It's difficult to find the words to express all the emotions of the year. We were ecstatic to get into SXSW, gutted to have it canceled, and just ecstatic again upon winning the Special Jury Prize. I'm very proud of the award and so grateful to the team at SXSW for running the competition in spite of the festival being canceled. I think the award has certainly been helpful in getting the film a bit more on the radar. Our biggest fear was for "The Donut King" to end up a "ghost film" that would never be seen or thought of again. To know that we will be participating at the Bentonville Film Festival brings great joy to myself and the team. *Visit the online version of this story to read more from the filmmakers. Questions were selected for the filmmakers by John Wildman, a filmmaker himself. Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! This week's prize: New contest each week! facebook.com/BestBranson LIKE our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, August 11, to be entered to win 2 Tickets to Branson Beyond The Lens! 40 WHAT'S UP! AUGUST 9-15, 2020 PRESIDENT Brent Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn DESIGNER Deb Harvell 479-872-5029 REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com WHAT'S What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. ON THE COVER Wilma Lea Blevins, American Dairy Princess 1964, rides in the Rodeo of the Ozarks Parade on July 2, 1964, in Springdale. A new exhibit at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History looks at being "Queen for a Day." (SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY/ SPRINGDALE NEWS COLLECTION (SN PRE-65-31)) BFF Continued From Page 37 FEATURE