Private Project

A Man and a Man

A young gay couple confronts their problems of living together and fights for the control of their relationship.

  • Justin Chor Yu Liu
    Director
  • Justin Chor Yu Liu
    Writer
  • Leyi Dai
    Producer
    Long Night's Search for the Day, Connection
  • Achim Mendoza
    Director of Photography
    Connection, Long Night's Search for the Day
  • Kai Gaines Fink
    Key Cast
    "Andy"
  • Gil Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Michael"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 14, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
Director Biography - Justin Chor Yu Liu

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Justin Chor Yu Liu (廖楚瑜) is an aspiring writer/director/editor and first-year candidate for an MFA in Film and TV Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He recently received his BA from Northwestern University, where he majored in radio/television/film and minored in gender and sexuality studies and Asian humanities. He wants to tell LGBTQ+ romantic stories from an Asian point of view. His favorite movies are Yi Yi, Moonlight, Weekend (2011), and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and his biggest influence is Hirokazu Kore-eda.

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Director Statement

Contrary to what you see on screen, the origins of this film are emotional places familial, not romantic. As a filmmaker from the great city of Hong Kong, I was inspired by the reality of living in today’s highly divided, fragmented world, as reflected in my relationship with my parents. Since the summer of 2019, Beijing’s crackdowns on human rights in Hong Kong have pushed HongKongers’ political views to the furthest extremes. In my case, differences between my parents’ views and mine have inevitably emerged—albeit under a cordial appearance—but a family is not readily separable.

This conflict made me realize the complicated nuances of our world. As much as we might believe in our views, we cannot easily break away from or break up with those who don’t believe in them. Instead, today’s world asks us to live with differences, even if we don’t and shouldn’t accept them. It might make us feel uncomfortable, but we have to become comfortable with this discomfort. Only then can the work for a better relationship or world commence.