-a Connecting Project-

INTRODUCTION

Story by Hanna Yoo @hannayoo_works

I

Director/Producer/Cinematographer

- Marlo Irani @marl.o

Photographer - Tessa Belle Dillman @tigglywinkler

AD - Aneli Garrido @aneligarrido

PA - Ella Belle Warner @ellabellewarner

Asia Smudde Tom @a_.si_.a

I

Talents

Anna Pinkas-@annapinkas

Bonam Kim-@bonamkimstudio

Dafne Ortiz-@by.dafne_

Hunter Mathews - @huntkats

Jonathan Benitez - @hispanic_spiderman_

Kiyomi Tanigawa-@brooklyn_misomaru

Story one :

Marlo Irani ‘ & ‘ Tessa Belle Dillman’

As the first story of the connecting project, “What Is in Your Hand,” I would love to introduce Marlo Irani and Tessa Belle Dillman.

Through this project, they have created beautiful images and a genuine story through their lens.

I met Tessa and Marlo during a photo shoot and later invited them to my studio. Their bright eyes and the excitement they carry for their work reminded me of the time when I first began my own journey in fashion.

Tessa’s quiet observation and Marlo’s delicate intuition are expressed through their camera lens. It is always a special experience to meet someone who truly understands your work and intention—and who can visualize it with a deeper interpretation.

I believe there is always a reason why we meet and connect, and that these connections leave meaningful and lasting traces in our steps.

I’m very happy to share the story of Marlo and Tessa, who created all the images for this project, as an introduction to each talent.

BTS_Project ‘What is in your hand’, Tessa(Photographer), Bonam(Sculptor), Marlo(Cinematographer), at the ROOM, 2026

I asked them a few questions.

The answers are written in their own voices.

Question.

Could you introduce yourself and your work to the audience of this project? What message is most important to you in what you create?

Marlo Irani: I’m Marlo, a New York based filmmaker. I focus on humanity, our condition, and the conflicts and joys that arise from life. The message is whatever you want to take from this project – there are a lot of them, but beneath everything is the individual and their energy.

Tessa Belle Dillman: Hi, I’m Tessa Dillman and my work centers around intimacy and closeness. I always have the desire to get closer, to see into the parts of people that we don’t access through conversation alone.

Question.

What drew you to connect with Hanna, and what have you discovered through this project?

Marlo Irani: Hanna met with Tessa and I on another shoot, and during the interview, I found her energy contagious. Hanna has a love for people, for relationships, and for reality – and showcasing that was very important going into this. We didn’t want models, we wanted real people. Every piece is created for a person or from a memory, and capturing that essence of individuality was a must. Through the simplicity of this project, I found that we were able to capture something both unique and universal.

Tessa Belle Dillman: Hanna is just wonderful all around, her work and her outlook on art and collaboration align with mine. She leads with care and creates from a genuine, intuitive place which made the process feel natural from the beginning. Through this project I’ve realized how important it is to center process, intimacy, and connection when working with others. When all of these elements are combined good work seems like a byproduct, something that naturally exists rather than being forced.

Question.

What do you carry in your hand right now—physically or emotionally?

Marlo Irani: I’ve been holding onto a lot of fire lately. I’m extremely driven by my goals to create, but the fact is there is so much to do for each project. I worry the fire will burn too hot too fast! I try to remember to cool down, breath fresh air, and allow that creative energy to flow easily.

Tessa Belle Dillman: My answer right now revolves around the physicality of my hands. My hands carry a lot for me. I am an athlete as well as a photographer and I love how those two things show up on my hands.

My fingers are bent in ways that don’t feel conventional, the palms of my hands are often ripped or healing from a tear, and the veins in my hands run up my fingers and there are two that sit parallel to each other running up both thumbs.

I like how strong my hands are.

Question.

What might be your next step, and what do you hope for in your professional journey?

Marlo Irani: I’m currently writing an indie feature that I’m going to direct guerrilla style this summer. I also have a billion other small jobs coming up, but that is the one I’m most excited about! I try to stay present in my professional journey; I know my drive will push me further, so I’m along for the ride of life.

Tessa Belle Dillman : All I want in this life is to take pictures for a living. My next endeavor is to continue working hard enough to make that a reality and to ultimately feel as though my work reflects my vision and intention. I don’t want my work to feel as though it is mashed into the digital slop that we scroll past everyday. I want to keep shooting from the heart.

“I’d rather eat crab grass than work at something I didn’t love.” - Sally Mann