Abstract
This paper examines the making of A Wayfarer, a personal film that explores themes of identity, cultural belonging, and the experience of being a third-culture individual. The character Boaty represents the complexities of navigating multiple identities, as the film blends visual and sound design to convey the feeling of being "lost-in-culture." As part of my graduate thesis at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the film blends visual and sound design to convey the feeling of being "lost-in-culture." The paper discusses the creative choices behind the shift from humor to vulnerability, the challenges of depicting family dynamics, and the process of creating a soundtrack. Feedback from family and its selection in queer and Asian film festivals influenced my understanding of my evolving identity as a filmmaker. Ultimately, A Wayfarer serves as a case study in visual storytelling, offering insights of process driven filmmaking for aspiring filmmakers and cross-cultural researchers into the process of filmmaking while exploring the universal search for identity and belonging. The paper concludes by examining how the film reflects both personal growth and broader cultural themes, contributing to the ongoing dialogue between identity, culture, and the cinematic medium.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Motion pictures--Authorship; Motion pictures--Production and direction; Experimental films; Documentary films; Identity (Psychology)--Drama; Group identity--Drama; Acculturation--Drama
Publication Date
2-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Film and Animation (MFA)
Department, Program, or Center
Film and Animation, School of
College
College of Art and Design
Advisor
Vashti Anderson
Advisor/Committee Member
Amy Adrion
Advisor/Committee Member
Christine Banna
Recommended Citation
Zhao, Roselyle Hang, "A Wayfarer" (2025). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/12036
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
FILMAN-MFA
