“go find your tail.”
A Japanese psychedelic rock musician, who had ceased to age since the release of his debut album in the 90s, encounters an estranged lover.
synopsis
Koji is a retired psychedelic rock musician who made his debut in the late 90s Tokyo City. The story begins in a recording studio with a band of younger rock musicians, led by Taito. Taito is the son of Koji’s old bandmate Rei, and the two retired bandmates are helping the young artists record their new album.
After the session, Koji performs at an underground concert and Taito attends with a girl, Kiko, who works at the venue and whom Koji finds very familiar. He returns home after the show and encounters Todo, a ten year old boy in Karate uniform in courtyard of his apartment complex.
Koji spends time with Todo, who is waiting for his mother, and arrives at a revelation about his past and his immortality through this new relationship.
"I hope our paths cross again."
Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, tailbone explores the concept of beauty and its ephemerality.
This film further investigates the mortal attempt to immortalize all our experiences and emotions in defiance of its fleeting nature. More specifically in Tailbone, the feeling of our longing towards someone out of reach, and the comfort we find dwelling in nostalgia.
hengyoü jen. director
hengyoü jen is a 21 year-old filmmaker from Taipei, Taiwan and is now based in New York. En route to completing his final semester at NYU Tisch studying Film & Television, his work consists of short films, documentaries, fashion, and photography. His documentary film "new york archive - a Daniel Arnold interview" (2024) has recently been added to Director's Library and could be accessed in their permanent collection through their website.
team
ethan wen
from Beijing, China
based in New York
ethan is a cinematographer currently based in New York. He completed his education in Film & Television at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Over the years, he’s shot more than 50 projects, from commercials with Kevin Hart and Kai Cenat to music videos for artists like Ashley Kutcher, Fresco Trey as well as short films including one that just finished production in Argentina. He is a recipient of the 2024 ARRI Volker Bahnemann Cinematography Award.
julie chen
from Beijing, China
based in New York
julie produces and is finishing her final year in the BS/BFA Stern-Tisch Dual Degree Program. Most recently, her collaboration with Lucas Manuel-Scheibe, “Terra Natal”, was apart of NFFTY’s closing night showcase and won Best New Talent.
Previously she’s worked in sales and tracking at Cinetic Media, theatrical distribution at NeonRated, and TV development at NBCUniversal. She will be joining United Talent Agency after she graduates.
kailynne chiu
from Taipei, Taiwan
based in New York
kailynne is currently a first-year creative producing MFA candidate at Columbia University. She graduated from NYU Tisch in December of 2023 with a BFA in FTV Production.
She is a recipient of the Akhtar-Bhutta 2023-2024 Production Award for Producers and is recognized for her contributions in award-winning projects—JESA 제사 (2024), nothing, except everything (2023), Bentobox (2022), and Secrets (2020). Most recently, her collaboration with Charles Barrett, Century Egg 皮蛋, was shortlisted at the Taipei Golden Short Film Awards and Sundance Film Asia: Taipei.
TAILBONE
prologue
This is a pre-visualization of the film, a prologue to the story of Koji in tailbone.
mission
We need you to help realize this story.
We are reaching out to you to fundraise for the film tailbone. A donation of any amount would truly be of great help to reach our goal.
director's statement
The name and symbol of "tailbone" came to me during my term in military service over the Summer. I spent a lot of time thinking, observing, and dreaming, and this story of a deeply melancholic character's mental and physical stasis in an earlier time, slowly emerged above the surface. He depicts a longing and fondness rooting from a meaningful relationship that signified a time of youth, balance, discord, and love.
I see this film as an instrument of history. Through history we find a connection with the past that help us find peace with ourselves in the present. And that is what I aspire this film could be for you, that through Koji's story you could also find your balance. You can also find your Tail.
All contributors will be credited in the final film. We are also offering the title of Executive Producer to patrons who donate above or equivalent to the amount of 1500 USD for our cause.
Thank you for reading about our mission, and please reach out if you’d like to learn more and get involved with our fundraising efforts.
our most humble gratitude for your patronage.
contacts
@tailbone.online