Now and then, our actions lead to irreversible consequences that trap us in a prison we build within ourselves. Unable to absolve ourselves from the guilt, we spiral further and let it swallow us whole. 23:59 (午夜前的最後一晚) is a short film that follows one man’s attempt to escape this guilt when confronted by a hallucination over his stay in a mysterious hotel. We speak to Sonder Film from Taiwan, the crew behind the story that won Sony Asia Pacific’s World of Film 2021 filmmaking challenge to take a glimpse behind the scenes.

Assembling a story in visuals

In the film, a successful author checks into a gloomy hotel for an award presentation the next day, only to find himself stuck in a painful time loop of how he lost someone important to him in his pursuit of success. Apart from crafting a chilling plot, Sonder Film breathed life into their film through captivating cinematic visuals and sound, supported by nifty framing techniques that drove their narrative forward.

As with every film production, the crew at Sonder Film found themselves fraught with various challenges. Having to film in a cramped space, they adapted by filming with two Alpha 7S III cameras to speed up the process. Their primary camera, mounted on a tripod, had various attachments, including two additional monitors and an extra battery. Their second camera was a run-and-gun camera for more dynamic close-ups.

Not only did the Alpha 7S III provide the crew with a more compact filming system, but it also gave them greater freedom in composition, especially from lower angles. This variety of perspectives pulls an audience into the story.

Of course, no film would be complete without a strong line-up of lenses to turn every detail on set into cinematic imagery. Previously, the crew would pack an assortment of lenses for different scenes. Now with the versatile SEL2470GM2 and SEL70200GM2, they managed to lighten their load whilst enjoying a smoother filming operation and seamless autofocus.

Setting the scene

As the title goes, 23:59 is set just before midnight in a dimly lit hotel. The Alpha 7S III’s sensitivity and low-light shooting capabilities allowed the team to build the atmosphere for the film.

“The Alpha 7S III’s dual sensor captured footage in incredible quality, even in low light,”explained Gong Qui Rong, executive producer and director of 23:59. “Even though we bumped our ISO up to 12800, there was no noise in the footage captured. The clear footage you saw in the film shows just how sensitive the camera is.”

Working in perfect tandem with the Alpha 7SIII were the SEL2470GM2 andSEL70200GM2 lenses, which minimised flare and harsh shadows when shooting in backlit conditions for smoother visuals.

The ups and downs of telling a story through film

As exciting as it is to develop a story and watch it come to life, Sonder Film had to cut down scenes from their initial storyboard due to time constraints. Thankfully, with the help of the Alpha 7S III’s precise autofocus, the crew captured their footage with further precision, speeding up their process and saving their film from further cuts.

When asked how it felt to chip away at their original idea to complete their filming quickly, Qui Rong answered, “As you come up with a plot, you will be excited at all the possibilities you can pursue. When putting pen to paper, however, you will be confronted with considerations such as restrictions, budgeting and staffing. These details may leave a dent in your creativity but help to shape your film. You will feel a sense of fulfilment seeing what you have envisioned take a life of its own.”

Despite the many challenges faced, Sonder Film tied up every loose end for their final entry, marking the end of their World of Film journey. Although every wrap-up is bittersweet, Qui Rong and the rest of the crew at Sonder Film look back at their fulfilling experience as one that allowed them to have fun while developing their creative voice.

“The Sony Asia Pacific World of Film filmmaking challenge gave us a lot of freedom as there were no specific themes or a set direction for the ideas we came up with,” said Qui Rong. “This gave us more room to explore various creative possibilities.”

Qui Rong also encourages aspiring filmmakers to seize every film project as an opportunity to find their creative voice. “Many little things in life inspire you, no matter how insignificant they may seem,” she said. “There is always a story you can weave from there. You don’t have to seek a deeper meaning to the story you are telling as long as you remain loyal to your film’s message and encourage your fellow filmmakers along the way.”

Do you have a creative idea that you wish to bring to life? No matter your level of expertise, we want your stories heard. Share your most daring film ideas with us in this year’s World of Film filmmaking audition and stand a chance to showcase your creative flair!

To learn more about the Sony Asia Pacific World of Film filmmaking challenge, visit https://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/world-of-film/.

Find out more about Sonder Film’s creative process with these behind-the-scenes videos: