Growing up in Oakland’s hip-hop culture, Eng struggles with her Chinese American identity. To her high school basketball team, she’s just that girl who sits on the bench; but to the Asian kids she’s "Americanized." As her sophomore year of high school comes to an end, Eng tries to find a sense of belonging within the two worlds that don't accept her.

MEET THE FILMMAKER: ERICA ENG

Erica is a fifth-generation Chinese American director based out of Los Angeles. Her film “POISON” won Best SHOUT Film at the Sidewalk Film Festival, while her other works screened at such festivals as the New Orleans Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. Erica was handpicked for SHOOT Magazine's New Directors Showcase, and a commercial directing fellowship partnered with the Directors Guild of America. Most recently, Erica wrote and directed her first narrative short, “Americanized.” The film based on her experiences growing up playing high school basketball was filmed in her hometown - Oakland, CA. Erica is inspired by her Oakland roots and creates work that reflects the diverse community in which she grew up. Through the lens of analyzing her own cultural identity, Erica’s visual storytelling explores themes of cross-cultural relationships, acceptance, and self-discovery. Amongst her many strengths, Erica focuses on creating emboldened characters with inner conflicts that stem away from social stereotypes.