Production Designer Xiaoyu Jiang Explores Inner World of Non-Binary Character in Short Film, “Marla”

When Production Designer Xiaoyu Jiang was given the challenge of presenting the inner world of Marla, a non-binary lead character in a short film, she had to spend some fruitful pre-production conversations with director Allysa Lisbon.

As a PD, whose job is to create immersive worlds that connect with audiences, Xiaoyu has worked on several short films (Marla, Best Eyes, Fowl Play) that have earned Official Selections at international film festivals. The short film Marla, however, presented some specific challenges.

The main character Marla works at a museum in security, but can’t resist the urge to touch the exhibits. After finally deciding to break the rules, she enters the tactile space within the artwork—and ends up feeling completely at ease inside the space.

So, with this short film, Marla, Xiaoyu explains the process of presenting the lead character’s inner journey in visuals: “From the very beginning, director Allysa Lisbon and I agreed that we didn’t want the main character to be flat or formulaic—but it was incredibly difficult to give the audience a real sense of her identity in such a short span of time. We spent extra time in pre-production discussing what this inner world should feel like and, more importantly, how to make it executable.”

Indeed, Xiaoyu was in charge of the set design and participated in most of the construction process. She continues, “The core art team was only about 3 to 4 people, and every added texture or color required extra planning and budget. That meant I had to work very closely with the team and carefully plan out our workload each day. It was a fun and experimental experience—translating abstract concepts into something the team could understand and build.”

The finished short, Marla, is brilliant with a kaleidoscope of colors and textures as the main character enters the world of the art pieces. And, the short was selected for the Imagine This Women’s Film Festival in 2024, suggesting to Xiaoyu that the film had the chance to be seen by more non-binary individuals and women. She delightedly says, “I’m really grateful for a platform like this—it opens up so many possibilities for our creative voices.”

Unexpected audience reception

One unexpected and surprise reaction to Xiaoyu’s work in Marla provided her reinforcement for all the hard work she puts in. Xiaoyu explains:

“Unexpectedly, a friend gave me some feedback that really stayed with me. She saw the piece at a film festival and didn’t realize at first that I had worked on it. But she said that the moment when the protagonist enters the inner world really moved her, offering, ‘It was a real moment. A rare, transcendent, personal escape from reality and routine.’ That kind of feedback was both surprising and encouraging. I guess that’s what I hope for when I work on something—that the audience can experience a moment like that.”

Inspired to “build worlds” about queer identities

Xiaoyo finds inspiration in her own childhood, explaining:

“I’m part of the LGBTQ+ and non-binary (not exclusively male or female) community myself. I grew up in a very conservative environment, so for a long time, I felt confused about who I was. There was a period when I even hated my own gender. But after becoming an adult and receiving an education, I gradually began to accept myself. Now, I’m drawn to stories about feminism and queer identities, and I hope to explore more of these themes in my future work. I want those who feel isolated or out of place to see these stories and find something of themselves in them—something that inspires or empowers them. Although there aren’t many stories like this in the current world of commercial short-form dramas, and most narratives still hold outdated views on gender and identity, I believe that’s starting to change. As part of a creative team, I hope to see more protagonists who are proactive—who have the courage to explore their identities and desires—rather than waiting around to be rescued like a traditional princess.”

As for the future, she suggests, “Everyone may have different values, but for me, what matters most is whether the work I’m doing creates something meaningful—and whether I’ve actually said what I want to say. I feel like that kind of expression is essential, that’s what being human is about, right?”

Check out Xiaoyu “Mo” Jiang on Instagram.