TRISTEN HUANG TALKS MELT MY HEART THIS CHRISTMAS
"These films bring loved ones together"
Daniel John
With the genre's signature blend of festive charm and heartfelt romance at the helm, this is one romantic–drama that truly embraces the heart of the holiday. What melted your heart about being a part of it?
First and foremost, I feel grateful to be a part of any project that would have me! As a relative-newcomer in this competitive industry, I’m always excited at the idea of working with different people and within different genres. Every new audition, callback and booking is a big win. That being said, I was particularly excited to be a part of 'Melt My Heart This Christmas' for several reasons. For one it’s not often the protagonist is a glassblower, and this was a unique premise for the genre. The beautiful pieces of glasswork showcased, the cheeky characters, and the representation of an underappreciated artform made for an interesting story. I also enjoy being a part of holiday films, because I know that they will be uplifting and cozy, and what more do you want around the holiday-season? One of the reasons I got into the industry was to bring happiness and an escape to those watching, and I’m sure many other actors would say the same. 'Melt My Heart This Christmas' is a warm, lovely story that will no doubt bring Christmas warmth to all those watching, and that is plenty of reason to want to be a part of this project!
How did you see Kenzie, and her role in the story?
Kenzie is the only person who outright puts down Bianca Bonhomme’s work. No one would criticize Bianca Bonhomme to her face, but Kenzie’s blissful ignorance allowed a painful but important piece of truth to slip through to the strained artist. It was quite a comical part, and I enjoyed living out an incredibly awkward fantasy in the controlled environment of a film set. Bianca’s artistic journey was in a rough patch due to her own insecurities and the scrutiny of others, and Holly ultimately opened her eyes to the value of her previous work. However, Kenzie bluntly assessed that her work, though sleek and modern, is pandering and uninspired. I feel that Kenzie was a spark plug, a catalyst for this eventual change. Though Kenzie does not reappear at the end of the film, I like to imagine that she would be thrilled to see the classic, colourful Bianca Bonhomme style make a comeback!
So many people love to watch these Christmas movies, what do you believe that the seemingly timeless charm of them are?
I know folks who, around Christmas, will turn on the holiday movie-channel and keep it running all day, watching with their family. Others have told me that they plan movie nights with friends and family to revisit old classics as well as discover the new holiday stories the year brings. It’s clear that there is something special about these films in their ability to soothe the soul and bring loved ones together. At a time of year when many of us try to wind down, count our blessings, and seek a small reprieve from the anxiety of everyday existence in our tumultuous world, holiday films are one thing that fill that need. Critics call holiday films “cheesy”, and to that I say, maybe that is the point! There's only so many days in a year we can tolerate the tension and psychological challenges of heavy dramas and thrillers, or maybe just life. Isn’t there something wonderful about knowing that at the end of the day, at the end of the film, everything will be okay? This assurance, after all, is not a luxury we are often afforded in life. Holiday films are fun, joyous and, oftentimes, unabashedly cheesy. Let them be so!
A different writer on this one but last year you were also in one of the ‘Unwrapping Christmas’ films, helmed by the same director, Amy. What do you think having a recurring creative collaboration brings to the relationship between actor and director?
As an actor it’s a gratifying experience to have the same director, studio and casting-director audition and book you on another project. In most film projects there is hardly time for individual feedback or sometimes even another take. But when I am given an opportunity to collaborate once again with the same creatives, it’s an affirmation that I left a positive impression on the previous set. It was doubly rewarding that I was brought back for a bigger part. Being directed by Amy Force again was wonderful, and it was also very special to see some familiar crew members, many of whom remembered me from the previous year. Of special note, a filmmaker by the name of Paul Persic was the second unit director of photography for 'Melt My Heart This Christmas'. Paul is a wonderful indie director and cinematographer whom I have had the privilege of working with many times. I met him in late 2022 on a short film and will also be appearing in his upcoming debut feature 'Trapped'. Most recently we made our upcoming short film 'Noodles', which I wrote and starred in, and Paul directed. He’s become a close friend, and our personal and creative relationship has developed and matured over many collaborative rehearsal, shooting, and writing sessions. We understand each other's stylistic preferences and creative motivations, and naturally we have a strong working-relationship, where we are receptive to feedback in both directions. This bond of trust allows us as actor and director to supportively question each other’s choices, understand our capabilities, and to push each other creatively. Though I am a relative newcomer, I am very lucky to have such a relationship with Paul. And I hope to make many more such relationships in the industry.
The people at The Fern Grove Fair in ‘Melt My Heart This Christmas’ sets out to showcase their artistic abilities, and perhaps even make a name for themselves. How do you look back on your own journey of putting yourself out there?
Many people experienced a dramatic life shift during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some got a cat, others got a dog, and some started a new career. I did all three. In early 2021 I was in my third year of university at the time, studying marketing. I questioned whether I would genuinely be happy with the direction in which I was heading, and by luck I stumbled across some friends posting on Instagram about doing background acting and short films. From them, I got started with student films, and fueled by nothing but exuberant self-confidence, I grabbed any opportunity available and found an agent who pushed me to get real training, because did I really think I could get by with no training? I found my way into some great studios in Toronto and I really started to appreciate and practice the art of acting. In my few years in the industry, I’ve realized many things about this journey. It’s a marathon, not a race. Incredible patience is required to continually train and lie in wait for the next audition, all the while dropping video files down a well and oftentimes never hear it hit the water. Sometimes all you can do is to believe in the work you’ve put in, and continue to expand on your creative process, whether that is in producing, writing, or some other artistic endeavor entirely. The most incredible part of acting is the community. I am blessed to have met and formed relationships with so many amazing people, and so much of my career has been propelled by these unexpected interactions. You can never predict how a stranger can become a big part of your life and change your worldview forever. All my acting instructors have changed my perception of the industry and deepened my perspective on finding truth in our work. So many new faces on set have become recurring partners in creative endeavors, and truly, artists support each other. This is the rocky little road I’ve chosen, and I would not give it up for anything.
Based in both New York and Toronto, do you find any differences in navigating the industry in those places?
In truth, I have only been in New York for a little over a year and am currently without a work visa. I moved here with my husband for his work, and it was a little difficult for me to “leave behind” the film community and connections I had built in Toronto. It’s not truly goodbye though as I continue to audition for Canadian productions and I drop by frequently to my acting teachers and keep my presence in Toronto alive. Toronto has a strong film scene, that is bolstered by the many American projects that shoot there. While there are also many film projects in New York, it is the world’s beating heart of theatre, besides London of course. As someone who is new to theatre, I’m taking opportunities to explore this new world through training and any opportunities that come my way. The NYC–industry is definitely trickier to navigate, as there is just more of everything, more casting directors, agents, projects, acting studios and so on. Navigating the industry in both cities is certainly challenging, but as I strive towards gaining work eligibility, I can feel myself growing deeper roots in New York with the wonderful professional and personal community I have built in my short time here. I’m excited to see what my next year in the city will bring!
Might there be any other recent and or upcoming work you’re excited for audiences to get to see?
Absolutely! As mentioned previously, the short film I wrote and starred in, 'Noodles', is starting its festival run. As its name suggests it is about food, a topic as near to my heart as acting is. It’s a very personal story and mirrors my mothers experiences when immigrating from China to Canada in the mid-2000’s and features a type of hand-pulled noodle that is commonly eaten in her home province, Qinghai. It is a heartfelt and comedic short that my family all pitched in for, my husband handled the catering and all food props, and my mother and mother-in-law appear in the flashback sequences, which were filmed at my husband’s family home near Toronto. The tremendous energy of making the film with the wonderful crew that we had definitely translated into the final product and I'm so excited for audiences to get to know 'Noodles'.
