Experiencing Interruptions?

Moments Fleeting

Two strangers who share the same daily commute spend a tantalizing night together wandering around the city streets of Hong Kong.

  • Justin Li
    Director
    Formulation, Never Last, Room 313
  • Justin Li
    Writer
    Formulation, Never Last, Room 313
  • Justin Li
    Producer
    Formulation, Never Last, Room 313
  • Benjamin Cheng
    Producer
  • Nok Chan
    Producer
  • Joyce Fung
    Key Cast
    "Fung Joi Yan"
  • Jayden Cheung
    Key Cast
    "Cheung Yat Lam"
  • Jeffrey Daijiro Taylor
    Original Score
    Never Last
  • Jeffrey Daijiro Taylor
    Sound Design & Sound Mix
    Never Last
  • Nisham Limbu
    Stylist & Costume Design
  • Candy Chung
    Make-Up Artist
  • Justin Li
    Director of Photography
    Formulation, Never Last, Room 313
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 23, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Hong Kong
  • Language:
    Yue Chinese (Cantonese)
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Ithaca College
Director Biography - Justin Li

Justin Li is a highly acclaimed Chinese American film director and photographer based in Los Angeles. His independent films, including "Formulation" (2019) and "Moments Fleeting" (2021), have received critical acclaim and numerous awards. Notably, his talent was recognized with the 2021 Directors Guild of America (DGA) Student Film Award. With a keen eye for capturing meaningful moments and exploring themes of identity and culture, Justin continues to establish himself as a rising talent in the industry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The idea for this project came from my observation of Hong Kong when I was spending my gap semester during the pandemic. I noticed how lonely most people felt while being in such a crowded city and how many people shared the same daily commute on the MTR, yet it rarely sparked any real, meaningful relationships.

So, I wanted to tell a story about what would happen if two strangers who shared the same daily commute spent a tantalizing night together, wandering around the city streets of Hong Kong. How beautiful would that be?

I am very intrigued by the idea of human connection because of the isolating experience I had during the pandemic. Additionally, I fell in love with Wong Kar-Wai’s films: Chungking Express (1994), Fallen Angels (1995), and In the Mood for Love (2000), during quarantine. Since I had the great opportunity to spend my gap semester in Hong Kong, I decided to create a modern-day Wong Kar-Wai film for my college thesis project in 2020. It just felt like something I had to do.

Other inspirations came from Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (1995) for the concept of two strangers spending only one night together. Also, in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land (2016), I want to present Hong Kong in a similar way to how Los Angeles is portrayed in that film, almost as if the city itself is one of the main characters.

I hope the audience will experience an emotional journey of a beautiful but fleeting friendship between two strangers who see each other every day. I want them to feel a sense of warmth and comfort during these uncertain times.