Private Project

Pianissimo

A hard-of-hearing Chinese-American adolescent is forced to learn piano by his mother. On the eve of his piano exam to be accepted into a private institution, he is pitted between his mother and father as he decides his own future.

  • Andrew Yuen
    Director
    PROJECT: KLB2, Synchros
  • Andrew Yuen
    Writer
    PROJECT: KLB2, Synchros
  • Briar Chung
    Producer
    Marvin is Sorry
  • Karen Han
    Producer
  • Joseph Lee
    Key Cast
    "Aiden"
    Ān-dé-lǔ
  • Tommy Z
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Wang"
  • Jennifer Jang
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Wang"
  • Jane Ford
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Barkleys"
  • Sydney Elliot Speltz
    Key Cast
    "Interviewer"
  • Macarena Bernava
    Key Cast
    "Receptionist"
  • Kevin Gao
    Director of Photography
  • Briar Chung
    Casting Director
    Marvin is Sorry
  • Andrew Yuen
    Editor
    PROJECT: KLB2, Synchros
  • Cleo Garibay
    Assistant Director
  • Lucy Tian
    Gaffer
  • Olivia Sheng
    Grip
    Rebel
  • Cecil Yang
    Production Designer
  • Tess McNulty
    Apartment Owner
  • Derek Yu
    Car Owner
  • Tracy Jing
    Car Owner
  • Tess McNulty
    ASL Consultant
  • Allen Yuen
    Mandarin Translator
  • Alice Chang
    Mandarin Translator
  • Briar Chung
    Sound Designer
    Marvin is Sorry
  • Angela Kwak
    Colorist
  • Briar Chung
    Music Supervisor
    Marvin is Sorry
  • Andy Taylor
    Festival Manager
    PROJECT: KLB2
  • Michelle Lee
    Special Thanks
  • Alan He
    Special Thanks
    Ān-dé-lǔ
  • Matt Troy
    Special Thanks
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 6, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    American Sign Language, English, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    5:4
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York University
Director Biography - Andrew Yuen

Andrew is a NYC / Bay Area-based filmmaker currently studying at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He's worked on films such as "Project: KLB2" which screened at festivals such as Cinequest and won Best Narrative Short at the Harlem International Film Festival Youth. He focuses on telling striking empathetic stories which challenge traditional views on societal norms.

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Director Statement

One of the biggest and yet most unspoken phenomena that I've noticed among my Asian-American community is the heavy stigmatization of disabilities, specifically among parental figures. Particularly as it pertains to their own children, Asian culture has always deemed self-worth around stability and personal accomplishment. The biggest example of this is the piano, a tired trope of Asian culture that yet many of us can relate to. Aiden Wang is that child, and yet his hearing loss puts him right at the crossroads of his parent's wishes. How they choose to act and respond to him is a product of a culture so engrained in misunderstanding and yet, none of it matters. In the end, it is Aiden's decision to fight for his own future.