Based on a true story:

Josh, an aspiring Chinese-American photographer, struggles to find peace in the wake of his mother's death. Roger, his elderly father, wants Josh to succeed, but because Josh struggles to make money off his photography, he often questions his son's career choice.

In an attempt to repair their strained relationship, Roger takes Josh on a camping trip. Events take a turn for the stranger when the two accidentally eat magic mushrooms. In their psychedelic state, father and son journey through the forest, discovering new emotional connections and healing old wounds.

I am One Pine, and the film One Pine symbolizes the growth of both me and my parents from independence to thriving independently. It is a story of the beginning of a fruitful partnership between me and my dad sparked by the realization that we have more in common than we may think.

This is not a story about what magic mushrooms can reveal, but rather this is a story about a commitment to love and legacy which is hidden behind the trauma of loss and isolation. It is a story which points to a breakdown in connection common in many immigrant families where parents who unknowingly experience loss of power in America encourage their children to pursue their dreams by themselves.

One Pine should be watched by both immigrant parents and their children to gain insight on their common family values, notice where communication may be ineffective, and be inspired to be in partnership. 

As many of us know and have experienced, the intergenerational divide in AAPI immigrant families is especially apparent when it comes to expressing love and affection. This truth is illustrated in the relationship between Roger and Josh, especially with relation to Josh’s career as a photographer. Though with good intention, Roger urges Josh to do something more “stable,” inevitably pushing Josh away in the process. 

Though not based on my life, there are several aspects of One Pine that are inextricably linked to my own experiences as a first generation Asian-American. As an aspiring artist who has yet to find financial stability on her own, I empathize with Josh’s shame at not being able to make a living off his art (a big “no no” in Asian culture). His desire for his father’s approval is what drives him, and his repressed anger at not living up to his father’s expectations is what I believe makes him a compelling protagonist.

In writing and directing this story, I hope not only to bring a chapter in Henry’s life--well--to life, but to infuse a bit of hope into this aspect of the AAPI experience. One Pine is the story of a father and son reconnecting over their shared grief--with a little help from magic mushrooms. Though psychedelics may or may not be involved in every attempt to bridge the AAPI parent/child divide, my wish is that open, honest communication, empathy, and genuine love are a good place to start working through intergenerational trauma in our community.

As children of immigrants and POC creatives, we aspire to see our stories represented on the big screen. We are looking to raise $15,000 to help us towards production. Your contribution, big or small, makes a huge impact on helping us making it to production. With your help, together we can: 

• Amplify AAPI Voices - support the team of diverse filmmakers and the stories that represent us 
• Fairly pay our crew and cast - artists who deserve to be paid 
• Secure Equipment - in order to make this top of the line film, we need your help getting top of the line camera and lighting equipment. 
• Catering and Crafty - Happy crew = Amazing Movie. Help us feed our amazing creatives during our weekend-long shoot. 
• SAFETY - Help us keep our crew/cast safe on set with proper PPE and COVID protocol 
• Other production costs: Travel costs, Props, insurance, and any surprises that might arise.

Every contribution helps us get a bit closer to our dream of making this film a reality. With your help, we’ll be able to film in LA by the end of October!

The shifts in Josh & Rogers’ relationship will be represented by the juxtaposition of color, framing and composition. It combines cinematic elements from film and television shows with a naturalistic style, like the films of Lulu Wang (The Farewell, Posthumous).

The colors begin monotone, but become more vibrant and saturated as the film progresses to reflect the changes in their relationship as father and son. Handheld movements during the beginning of the film will show the turbulence in Josh and Rogers’ relationship, while tripod and dolly movements show calmness. Since the film involves a psychedelic experience, I will also use a SnorriCam to visually show Josh & Rogers POV during their mushroom trip. The purpose is to draw the viewer into Josh’s world and to show Josh’s initial state of isolation and his eventual reconnection with Roger.