In this coming-of-age dramedy, a Chinese American boy named Justin is humiliated on the first day of Chinese class when his white classmate impresses everyone with fluent Mandarin. Struggling with shame and identity, Justin confronts his mother about never learning the language, only to uncover the quiet sacrifices she made to help him fit in. Through a heartfelt moment over a simple family dinner, Justin receives a long-kept Chinese name — Wu Ming — and begins to reclaim a culture he thought he’d lost.

Director Brandon Woo

Brandon Woo is a director and storyteller based in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area, passionate about capturing emotional nuance and authenticity on screen. Currently studying Film and Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Brandon blends personal experiences with a strong visual style to explore themes of identity, grief, and cultural connection.