Hooked — festival recognition

Hooked directed by Stuart Howe, received the Best Drama Award at the 7th The Smalls International Film Festival in London in 2012. The film also received the festival’s Grand Prize, which included marketing and distribution support provided by Emerse and Videoseeding.

I worked on the film as director of photography. The recognition marked an important moment for the project and for everyone involved in its production.

The film

Hooked follows Jaeseung, a man dealing with loss and emotional disconnection. The story unfolds during a single evening and gradually exposes the tension between memory, denial, and longing. Rather than explaining the character’s past, the film relies on mood and restraint to guide the narrative.

Stuart Howe approached the story with a strong focus on inner states. As a result, the film stays close to the character and allows space for ambiguity.

Cinematography approach

My work on Hooked focused on proximity and atmosphere. I used controlled framing and limited camera movement to remain close to Jaeseung without pushing emotion to the foreground. Light and composition played a central role, especially in moments where silence carried more weight than dialogue.

The goal was to support the story quietly and to let performance and pacing lead the experience.

Festival response

In addition to its awards at The Smalls International Film Festival, Hooked screened at several international events, including Hollywood Shorts and the Vimeo Awards. These screenings helped the film reach different audiences and contexts.

The Grand Prize at The Smalls provided further visibility through targeted online promotion. However, the most valuable aspect remained the response from viewers who connected with the film’s tone and restraint.

Collaboration

Hooked was produced by Jucho Park and developed by a small, focused team. Sound design by Jusuk Lee and editing by Stuart Howe played a key role in shaping the film’s rhythm.

The project relied on close collaboration rather than scale. Each decision supported the same intent: to keep the film precise and grounded.

Looking back

Hooked reinforced my interest in character-driven storytelling and in using cinematography as a form of observation rather than emphasis. The film’s reception confirmed that a restrained approach can resonate when all elements work together with clarity and care.