Private Project

Be Water, My Friend

Be Water, My Friend is a satire that follows Zhiyi, a first-generation Chinese immigrant struggling to find his way in America.

  • Jerry Yi-Hang Zou
    Key Cast
    "Zhiyi"
  • Amy Shu
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
  • Patrick Ip
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Giorgia Renosto
    Key Cast
    "Statue of Liberty"
  • Sean Yang
    Director
  • Matias Montemayor
    Producer
  • Aaron Menzo
    Writer
  • Nicole Loika Wong
    Writer
  • Qianyu David Zhang
    Director of Photography
  • Shannon Fan
    Editor
  • Jessica Ning
    Production Design
  • Cecily De Leon
    Costume Design
  • Vanessa Hu
    Makeup & Hair
  • Adam Jamal
    Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Satire
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Mandarin Chinese
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Chapman Dodge
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Sean Yang

"Zheyu (Sean) Yang is an emerging film director with a distinctive multicultural lens born and raised in China. In 2020 Sean moved to America and enrolled in Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Art where he is currently majoring in film production with an emphasis in directing.

Growing up, he was deeply influenced by both Chinese cinema and Hollywood blockbusters. This fusion of cultures is evident in his upcoming project, a thesis short film that intertwines Chinese martial arts with traditional folklore. When Sean isn't crafting cinematic stories, he's probably trying to convince his friends that his version of 'Kung Fu Panda' would've had more dramatic sword fights and epic folklore twists.  His passion for the art is evident in every frame he directs.

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