CRESCENDO, 17min., South Korea
Directed by Ryan Park
Having to immigrate to the U.S. from South Korea with a widowed mother and two siblings as a teenager, a songwriter Gretchen Lee has a struggling childhood trying to pursue her dream – music. While doing her internship at a music post production house, she finds that she has hearing problems. After going through many ear surgeries, she only realizes that she is going deaf. “Crescendo” is a 16-minute documentary that follows her travel in which she demonstrates gratitude for her ability to write & play music despite hearing loss. It explores the connection between sound, music, mind, and the body as she takes her instruments to go on a road trip.