Producer/Director/Editor Kit-Yin Snyder discusses the similarities between filmmaking and visual artistry and the advantages of “being older.”

What do you hope to achieve with this film?

DOUBLE EXPOSURE is my first film. Through this film, I had hoped to tell my story through a collection of abstract video landscapes interwoven with cinema verité footage. I had wanted to be able to use this documentary to portray both past memories and present realities and perceptions. In the documentary, I present the conflicts and contradictions from the point of view of a woman with two cultures: Chinese and American.

The independent film business is a difficult one. What keeps you motivated?

I have been working as a visual artist most of my life, and I am accustomed to being in this type of “difficult” and competitive business. I do not believe that the motivation required for independent film is that different than which is needed for creating sculpture. Further, for both practical and professional reasons, I realized that I needed to use the narrative and visual medium of film in order to explore and further my vision.

Why did you choose to present your film on public television?

I believe that public television gives me the opportunity to have my film viewed by a far broader and more varied audience than I would find at a film festival. As well, I believe this film has the potential to appeal to a very broad audience, as it speaks to issues that are central to coming to terms having lived a life that incorporated two very different cultures.

What was the hardest part about making your first film at the age of 68?

Other than purely physical restraints, such as filming on location, I do not think that my age was any sort of draw back in making the film. In fact, I believe that there are many advantages to my being older. I am motivated. I waste less time. I am more patient and realistic with the world. I also have more realistic expectations of myself and need less affirmation from others.

What will your next film be about?

My next film will also explore the theme of cultural differences. The working title is Me & Marco Polo.

What didn’t you get done when you were making your film?

Making a film is more than a full-time job. So, the things that didn’t get done had mostly to do with my day-to-day household needs, such as getting a new refrigerator, renovating my bathroom, etc.

If you weren’t a filmmaker, what kind of work do you think you’d be doing?

I would always be working as an artist and would be continuing with my former work in public art.

What do you think is the greatest inspiration for making independent film?

Independent film gave me the opportunity to experiment in a new media without any need to comply with commercial restrictions. For me, making this film was like learning to speak a new language.

What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?

To have one’s own vision and persevere.

What sparks your creativity?

Having an open and inquiring mind. When I keep working on an idea even when I don’t feel inspired, it helps my overall creative process. Keeping my head clear of restraint or what I fear people may think gives me the freedom to simply concentrate on what I want to do and work toward a way of using the medium to express myself.

What are your three favorite films?

Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria, Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love and Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca.