Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou, the duo behind popular video essay series EVERY FRAME A PAINTING, were early pioneers of the film analysis/video essay genre on YouTube. In 2014, they published their first video about Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER and the use of telephoto profile shots. With Tony responsible for principal research, writing, and editing, and Taylor responsible for building the thesis, reviewing film clips, and watching and editing every draft (she’s been described as the “editor’s editor”), they’ve created many engaging and approachable video essays that focus on film form.
In late 2017, Taylor and Tony announced the end of EVERY FRAME A PAINTING. Since then, they’ve made video essays for The Criterion Channel, worked on indie and animated projects, and directed 3 episodes of Netflix series VOIR. But after 8 years, much to people’s excitement, they’re back on YouTube with a limited series of video essays and have written and directed a short film, THE SECOND, starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Ethan Hwang.
HIFF Programming Associate Kristy Miki Munakata had the opportunity to ask them a few questions about their journey:
Congratulations on the premiere of THE SECOND! What was the process of making this film like and what did you learn during this process?
“It started as a single sentence written on a scrap of paper, which was then expanded into a script. Then Taylor went and storyboarded the entire thing and Tony edited it into a 15-minute animatic. That animatic was what we showed people to bring them onboard.
After that, we went to Toronto to shoot the film before heading back to Vancouver/LA for 2nd unit and post. We spent many months bothering our composer Sean Williams, who created the beautiful score for the film.
What we learned: There is never enough time & money. You have to be your project’s biggest champion.”
Both of you have made great film analyses on EVERY FRAME A PAINTING. After directing THE SECOND, how would you describe your own style and approach to filmmaking?
“In terms of style, we try to let the project dictate the style. This film is about a very traditional, rigid patriarch, so the style is quite conservative & locked-down.
But our approach seems to be to plan as meticulously as possible and then be prepared to throw it all away.”
Many people (myself included) are excited for your limited series on EVERY FRAME A PAINTING! How does it feel to be back on YouTube after 8 years?
“First, thanks for watching! We are happy to hear people are excited about the series!
As for YouTube, it’s a bit odd. It simultaneously feels like yesterday that we were making videos on the platform, but also a lifetime ago. A lot has changed on the website; the entire interface is much more complicated and tries to get you to optimize everything.
We’re very grateful, however, that people stayed subscribed to the channel for 8 years. We figured everyone had forgotten about it, but the response after the first video essay has been quite nice.”
What is your advice to people who are interested in entering the film industry in some way, whether it’s directing, editing, film analysis, etc?
“First, we cannot give you 100% for-sure, concrete advice, because we’ve never met two people who entered this industry in the same way.
Having said that, if there’s a job you want to do, like editor, then you can go to school for editing, or start working on local shows as an entry-level PA, or you can just learn to edit from YouTube and start editing film clips together to see what happens. But to be an editor, you have to edit. To be an animator you have to animate. Work begets work.”
Just for fun, what are some films that you love and/or inspire your own work?
“Taylor: PORCO ROSSO, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995)
Tony: IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, F FOR FAKE, TAMPOPO, THE APARTMENT
Ones that inspired this particular short: THERE WILL BE BLOOD & BARRY LYNDON”
Make sure to check out their limited series on Youtube, EVERY FRAME A PAINTING, and their short film, THE SECOND, which will be playing as part of the STRANGE FUTURES Shorts Program on October 9th, 8:30 PM at Consolidated Theatres Kahala. A Q&A with Taylor and Tony will follow. They will also be hosting an exclusive lecture about the making of their short, the “one for us, one of them” ethos, and how they’ve charted their careers.
Kristy Miki Munakata is a Uchinaanchu, Japanese, and Chinese artist from Kapolei, O‘ahu. She is currently working as a Programming Associate for HIFF Fall 2024. A recent graduate from the UH Mānoa School of Cinematic Arts, she is passionate about films with nonlinear narratives and stories told from an intersectional feminist and decolonial lens.
