Private Project

Still Waters

When a recent breakup awakens a nightmare from his past, a fractured man struggles to hold onto his sanity after a mysterious boy appears in his home.

  • Steven Fong
    Director
  • Steven Fong
    Writer
  • Steven Fong
    Producer
  • Yi-Chien Lee
    Producer
    TaiL
  • Zhei Xie
    Producer
  • Steven Fong
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
  • Evan Chung
    Key Cast
    "The Boy"
    Beef
  • Michael C. Liu
    Key Cast
    "Father"
  • Lizzie Nguyen
    Key Cast
    "Lily"
  • Yushi Li
    Director of Photography
    Kill Me
  • Yunong Li
    Production Designer
  • Jing Shen
    Makeup & Wardrobe Designer
  • Charles Stacy
    Composer
    Dead-Enders
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Psychological, Thriller, Drama
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    17,446 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Emerson College
Director Biography - Steven Fong

Steven Fong is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker from Seattle, WA whose stories focus on the exploration of mental health, Asian American identity, and intergenerational trauma. His Emerson MFA thesis film, Still Waters, is a culmination of his own personal mental health journey and serves as an attempt to bring some resolution to the wounds of an old family tragedy left unhealed. The connection between our ancestors' experiences and how they are passed down to our current generation continues to inspire Steven to tell stories that hope to help others develop a deeper level of empathy and understanding for themselves, their families, and for others.

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Director Statement

As an Asian American filmmaker, much of my interest lies in how our past experiences and traumas affect our relationships with others and with ourselves. Drawing from my own family history, I strive to tell stories that show the complex and often painful nature of Asian American immigrant experiences. The struggles and sacrifices that many of our families faced live on through us, not just in how we were raised, but in the physical changes to our genes as well. It’s not uncommon for stories of tragedy and trauma to be brushed under the rug and hidden from view, especially in the Asian American community, leaving later generations in the dark about their past and how it might be affecting them. It is my hope that in bringing these stories to life on screen we can encourage vulnerability, understanding, and empathy for ourselves, our community, and the generations before us.