HI LISTNOOK<3 I'm Katarina Zhu, writer/director/lead actress of Bunnylovr. Ask me anything!

This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Katarina will be back tomorrow Friday 4/3 at around 1:30 PM ET to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)

What drove the main character in your film? Because that's a giant question mark in a sea of entirely transactional relationships.

Hello! What drew you the subject matter of camgirls for your directorial debut? Also how were you around the bunnies on shoot lol Thank you!

Hey Katarina! Caught this film at Sundance and it made it's way into my top ten from last year. Really, really loved your take on the weirdness of internet spaces and how they intersect with reality and interact with personal identity. Given the subject matter, I'm assuming you grew up with the internet. I wanted to ask your take on "life" in digital spaces, and if you feel that personal fulfillment is achievable in digital spaces. In that same vein, can digital spaces replace physical ones in your eyes, especially as the world becomes more challenging for mostly everyone? I've been writing about this lately and I feel like you may have a good answer.

What's your favourite logline you've come up with that hasn't (yet) been turned into a film?

Did you do any research into cam culture?

As sex work becomes more culturally visible in the U.S. (though still lacking meaningful legal protections) films like *Bunnylovr* play a real role in shaping public perception. What responsibility do you feel to the community you’re portraying? And how do you balance telling a compelling story with avoiding harm, stereotyping, or commodifying those lived experiences?

Hi Katarina! Saw your film at Sundance and so happy the rest of the world will finally see it. Your story’s focus on our relationship with the internet space and how it can trick you into searching for answers in the easy spaces instead of the right ones felt really fresh and exciting. Could you talk about from a writing perspective what you found the relationship was between a messy character study and their place engulfed in the internet vortex that created a compelling story?

Congrats for the movie! Could you tell us a bit about your jump from directing short films to working on a full-fledged feature film? The indie landscape changed so much in the past decade, feels like there's no "right path" for filmmakers anymore. Can't wait to watch Bunnylovr!

Who is your favourite bunny/rabbit? I'm going Roger Rabbit

CONGRATS!! Premiered at Sundance and is in theatres God bless you that’s amazing!!! I’m Mike Gonzàlez a Miami filmmaker, my short Oliva Speí won a couple local awards but to do what you did wow so proud of you!! Tell us advice on how to get to those heights in your career! 

Hey Katarina! I saw your film at Sundance last year. Could you a speak a bit about the journey of getting an independent film made and distributed?

Is that t-shirt from the Dracula movie from early 90s featuring Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman? Also, as a relatively break out role, what's your comfort level like in an intimate role? Do you have a good support system from fellow actors?

Hi Katrina! Hope to check out your movie! My question is: what do you when youre feeling burnt out during the writing process and need some inspiration/creativity?

Hey Katarina! I am curious to know your experience on getting this movie made as a young Asian women in the industry, especially when the story revolves around sex work. What roadblocks did you run into as a producer getting this made and what advice would you have for Asian actresses and other women of color who want to follow in your courageous footsteps and direct/write/produce and lead in their own feature film one day! I mean, it’s hard enough for ANY woman to do this in this day and age and get a theatrical release, so I’m really thrilled for you!

Dream project? Either as director or actor?

What did you get out of going to all those film festivals in person?

Congratulations on the upcoming release! I have a couple questions: 1) Could you talk about how you got the movie made after you wrote it? Did you find your producers/did they find you? 2) I haven't seen it yet, but I'm curious how you feel Bunnylovr is an Asian American story if at all (it's mentioned in the logline). Did you feel it either helped or hurt in getting it made?

Heya Katarina. Can you talk about what it took to get the movie off the ground? How were you able to get people to look at the script, how long did it take, that kind of thing.

how did u break into the industry? did you take a leap of faith? did u risk anything? was it worth it? do you have anything planned for the future of your career?

Love this film I saw it at sundance! Its such a unique beautiful film anyone who gets a chance to see it in theater is very lucky! Congrats on your movie excited to see what you do next!

Congratulations on your film..and doing so much work ain't easy...tell us the story... I mean what inspired you to make this story and act as well.. and what were your learnings from this

Hi Katarina, thanks for joining us :) Can you tell us a bit about how it was like premiering at Sundance? Any cool highlights/moments from that? Super cool to have your debut film premiere at a major fest like that I image. Look forward to the film!

Hi Katarina, I love your shirt!

Sometimes you don't think it be but it do. Why?

Thanks—SO looking forward to Bunnylovr. 1.) Any chance you'll bring it to Hong Kong? If there are no plans now, can I put you in touch with some film screening folks here? Would absolutely love to see it on the big screen. 2.) Do you have any history with the Bunnicula books?

Thoughts on the matrix?

Did you have fun making the movie?

Did you write the script knowing you wanted to be the director and lead as well? What were the biggest challenges of taking on so many creative positions, and what were some takeaways from the experience?

If you could only bring 3 movies with you on a deserted island to watch for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Favorite movie theater snacks?

Question from /u/bogdanka644 in /r/Cinema: > what scene in bunnylovr best captures the whole movie for you in one hit always love hearing what the filmmaker thinks is the dna sample of their own work

Would you want to do a sequel to this film or 31 Candles?

How do you get the financing to make this film? Was it through Crowd Funding, Private Equity, or Crowd Equity?

What was most surprising or stood out to you when researching about camming/sex work online when writing for the movie as well as the main inspiration for the character.

Writing, directing, and starring in a cam-girl grief spiral is either genius or self-sabotage, maybe both.

Hello & congrats Katarina for Bunnylovr, i'm am an aspiring filmmker, many people tell me u have to have atleast somebody as big producer-writer-or somebody related with this industry or any big studio to get even considered & later nominated or winning, which is a real pain point for me as whenever i start writing & pour my heart into it, i get demotivated, since your film debuted in Sundance & now coming in theater which is really worth praise, i wanna know is it true or just myth?

What advice do you have for me? I'm a young actress, writer and director.

Hi, I'm actually an APIDA actor myself and I love seeing this. What's your inspiration for making this film? Also, what's the best way to reach out to you?