Making 'Traps' (1994)

This "Making of" documentary is an exemplary sample of the genre, observing the ideas and experiences involved in making the feature film, TRAPS, directed by Pauline Chan. TRAPS was Pauline's first feature after several award-winning short films, and expectations were high among her backers, including the Japanese distributor-producer Hara Masato who had backed many films by Kurosawa and other giants of world cinema. Apart from the personal pressure of those expectations,TRAPS was one of the first Western films to be shot in Vietnam after the War, and the production involved numerous logistic and political challenges. There were also difficult personal dynamics to contend with, almost inevitable in a very tightly budgeted film. Given these elements, the decision was made by the Australian distributor of the feature to follow the course of the production as a stand-alone documentary.