Family First

Having grown up as a gay-Chinese American, I’m interested in the topics of anti-blackness and homophobia specific to my community because of the blatant racism and homophobic comments made at dinner tables, parties, and family gatherings I noticed from childhood. “Family” and “tradition,” words that are meant to empower, but instead posed barriers on communities around me. Childhood memories of being bombarded by heteronormative traditions, importance of family, and anti-blackness impact the Chinese-American community as a whole. My parents’ dedication to ensure I have an education and focus on discipline created an emotional gap in our home. Not understanding my own identity and feeling shame for having same-sex attractions, I developed serious mental health issues as a result. However, overcoming these struggles have helped me in the film industry and bring underrepresented issues and perspectives to the screen. I hope to signify that while this short film will be emotionally draining for some audiences who have gone through similar things, there can be room for education/growth in this unspoken topic. Looking forward, I believe this project will serve as one of the turning points in my professional and personal development as a filmmaker and director. I hope to use what I’ve learned these past three years to tell an impressionistic, compelling story that inspires an audience to fight for justice and become activists/allies for issues like the ones I am focusing on.