Jordan Clark is a Canadian writer and filmmaker[1] best known for his 2011 film The Aswang Phenomenon, and for The Aswang Project, a website he first created in 2006 while doing research for the film, as a research resource for those interest in Philippine mythology and folklore.[2][3] His other films include Bangkok Girl (2005, also known as "Falang: Behind Bangkok's Smile"),[4][5] Somnius (2013), and Nighthawks (2012). In 2021, The Aswang Project also published a dual-launguage (Spanish and English) edition of Ferdinand Blumentritt's Diccionario Mitológico De Filipinas (Dictionary of Philippine Mythology), with Clark as the editor, working with Ralph Angelo B. Reyes as Illustrator.[6]
Bangkok Girl
editClark first travelled to Southeast Asia as a tourist in 2000, visiting Bangkok[7] and the Philippines.[8] It was while traveling as a tourist that he first met and struck a friendship with a young Thai woman named Pla on Sukhumvit road.[7] Fascinated by Pla's story, Clark received permission to make a documentary of her life.[7] The documentary short was filmed in 2002,[7] and after Clark founded High Banks Entertainment in 2003,[9] it aired on Canada's CBC Television in November 2005.[10]
Aswang: A Journey Into Myth
editAfter the success of the Bangkok Girl documentary,[7] Clark next wanted to make a horror film.[2] Wanting the film to feature a foreign monster, he became interested in the Philippine mythological creature known as the Aswang,[2] which which featured in the 1994 Sundance Film Festival film Aswang.[8]
After doing research on the subject, he created an improvised docu-drama titled "Aswang: A Journey Into Myth," starring debut actress Janice Santos Valdez and featuring an original song by prominent Philippine singer-songwriter Kitchie Nadal.[11]
However, Clark has expressed dissatisfaction about the limited exploration "A Journey Into Myth" could do on the subject, prompting him to create web series on the topic after the docu-drama was released.[2]
Personal life
editClark describes himself on the AswangProject website as "a Canadian born descendant of Scottish settlers."[12]
References
edit- ^ Capundan, Joel (October 21, 2008). Written at Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines. "Canadian filmmaker to bring Aswang Festival to Canada". The News Today. Iloilo City: TNT Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b c d Houlahan, Randy. "Chasing Monsters in the Philippines". Circus Living. Archived from the original on 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2021-03-13 suggested (help) - ^ Barrientos, Giselle (2019-04-05). "The Aswang Project is working on a Philippine Mythology reference book". Scout Magazine. Makati City, Philippines: Hinge Inquirer Publications Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ "Bangkok Girl". DVD Verdict. February 8, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ Jason Buchanan. "Bangkok Girl (2005)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- ^ "Arts & Culture (11/17/21)". BusinessWorld. 2021-11-16. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b c d e "Jordan Clark Interview: Director of Bangkok Girl Documentary". The Thailand Life. 2013-01-30. Archived from the original on 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ a b "The Aswang Phenomenon: 2011, MYSTERY". topdocumentaryfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ http://highbanks.ca
- ^ "Film Review For The CBC Documentary "Bangkok Girl" (2005)". Vanitytours.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- ^ https://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/7865/Aswang--A-Journey-Into-Myth
- ^ https://www.aswangproject.com/canadian-aswang-documentary/