Experiencing Interruptions?

Stay Positive

When the Kaohsiung Health Department clears him from isolation, a man must decide whether to return to the outside world or stay forever in lockdown with his secret lover.

  • Hungyu Kuo
    Director
  • Hungyu Kuo
    Writer
  • Hungyu Kuo
    Producer
  • Hungyu Kuo
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Romance
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 10, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Taiwan
  • Country of Filming:
    Taiwan
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Hungyu Kuo

Born in Taoyuan and raised in Kaohsiung, Hungyu Kuo began his creative journey while studying English literature and linguistics at National Kaohsiung Normal University. There, he produced, wrote, and directed works including "Overact," a musical that premiered at the Kaohsiung Cultural Center in 2019. In 2022, His short film "Stay Positive" captures 7 days of solitude in a quarantine hotel during the pandemic.

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Director Statement

"Stay Positive" is a horror-romance short that explores the theme of solitude. The COVID-19 pandemic caused deep social and economic disruption worldwide, isolating many from their families, loved ones, and communities. As social creatures, we were suddenly forced to confront ourselves alone.

I wrote and used my iPhone to film this movie during my seven-day quarantine in Taiwan in 2022, expressing the strange and conflicting emotions that surfaced during isolation. Entering quarantine was frightening, but so was the idea of leaving. In life, staying positive is often the best choice, even when it's difficult.

I still remember the day I went into quarantine; dark thoughts about my relationship kept creeping in. To make sense of them, I wrote "Stay Positive," a story about a man who falls in love with a pillow. To me, it felt strangely real. In an age where optimism seems outdated, I still choose to believe in it, perhaps stubbornly. But someone has to keep the tradition alive, even if it means risking everything for it.

--- Hungyu Kuo