The Story

Over the course of one night, Echoes takes you through the heartfelt journey of three generations of Vietnamese women rediscovering their identities with the help of some accidental edibles. As Bà Ngoại quietly cooks dinner, Mẹ and Con argue over the edibles Mẹ accidentally consumed from Con’s room. Later, Bà Ngoại tidies Con’s room and unknowingly consumes the same edibles before drifting off to sleep. In her dreams, she relives the wild aspirations and dreams of her youth. Mẹ and Con, now high, forget their argument and embrace the moment, sharing munchies. As Bà Ngoại’s dream evolves into a vision of a happy, united family, the emotional distance between the mother and daughter shrinks and all three women fall asleep together, their bond stronger than before.

In Amy Pham’s original song and music video, Echoes aims to show how the most unexpected circumstances can bridge generational and cultural gaps through shared laughter and vulnerability.

Director’s Statement 

As a Vietnamese daughter, it almost feels like a rite of passage to have a complicated relationship with your mom. The bond we share is deep, yet expressing it in a way that fully bridges our generational gap often feels impossible. My mom had a similarly complex relationship with her mother, and my grandmother with hers—a cycle of love mixed with unspoken expectations that have quietly passed down through generations. Yet the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild is different; it holds an intimacy and warmth that are rarely portrayed on screen. Echoes is my love letter not only to my mother, whose sacrifices never go unnoticed — but also to my grandmother, the quiet matriarch of our family, whose strength, resilience, and overlooked dreams reveal so much about the women in our lineage.

With “Echoes,” I aim to portray a genuine narrative that Vietnamese women can see themselves in, honoring the depth and nuances of these family ties. This story bridges traditional Vietnamese values with modern experiences, giving voice to the emotions that evolve as we come to understand our mothers and grandmothers. Food plays a vital role in our journey, not just as sustenance, but as a source of healing, a symbol of heritage, and a language of love. Cooking together is at the heart of our family, and through it, Echoes reveals how food binds us, bringing us together in moments of shared comfort and understanding.

This project is for those who have experienced chaotic relationships with their mothers, who find comfort in the rituals of food, and who wish to see their own complex stories reflected onscreen. I hope that “Echoes” not only resonates but also fosters empathy, offering a fresh perspective on the love, strength, and resilience shared across generations.

Characters

Con - child in Vietnamese (Female, 19) Sharp-witted, independent, and a bit of a firecracker, our youngest character has a knack for defying expectations. Resentful of her mother’s habit of talking down to her, she instead finds warmth and comfort with her grandmother, whose meals speak more than words ever could. Weed is her personal ritual—a quiet rebellion and a way to carve out space for herself.

Mẹ - mom in Vietnamese (Female, 40) The mother is a strong, pragmatic woman determined to reshape traditional Vietnamese expectations that depend on men. Despite her intentions, she mirrors her own mother in ways she doesn’t realize, frustrating herself and her daughter. Often authoritative, she accidentally takes an edible and enters a vulnerable, dreamlike state, gaining empathy that softens her approach to her daughter.

Bà Ngoại - grandmother (mom’s mom) in Vietnamese (Female, 60) The grandmother is the family’s heart—a devoted caretaker who treasures tradition and peace. Watching her daughter and granddaughter clash often leaves her feeling powerless, yet she hopes food can heal their bond. After mistakenly eating an edible, she enters a dreamlike journey back to her youth, finding a newfound appreciation for her family and self-care.

Lookbook/Moodboard

Echoes’s visuals will help us discover hard truths with a lighthearted touch. We want our film's world to feel inviting, vulnerable, and full of depth. Below, you can see what we’re envisioning and how we'll be bringing it to life.



Budget Breakdown

$6000 is our goal for making Echoes the best that it can be! All proceeds will go towards creating a high quality, cohesive, and authentic portrayal of our story—if you're curious to see where your money will be going towards directly, check out our budget breakdown below!

General Timeline

December 2024 - January 2025 — Crowdfunding campaign!

Late December 2024 - January 2025 — Pre-Production begins (location scouts, casting, rehearsals, camera prep, etc.)

Mid February 2025 — Echoes will enter its Production weekend! Wish us luck as we shoot :)

March 2025 — Post production (Editing, coloring, final mix)

April 2025 — Song + Music Video Release!

Our team is comprised of both current USC School of Cinematic Arts students who are going through their thesis semester, and recent USC grads who have extensive experience in production and the film/entertainment industry. This team of storytellers remains committed to the mission of bringing authentic and representative stories to the screen. All of that to say—we can't think of a better team to bring this important story to life!

Take the time to meet our core team below:

DIRECTOR

AMY PHAM is a multimedia creative from Wichita, Kansas, currently pursuing a B.A. in Media Arts + Practice at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She enjoys creating work that explores themes of intimacy, connection, and introspection and aims to harness the power of visual storytelling to drive social change and support community organizing. Her passion lies in uplifting, healing, and empowering the communities around me through art in all its forms.

PRODUCERS

MATT OFLAS, a Filipino American filmmaker from the Bay Area, CA, was born in the Philippines and has lived in Tokyo and San Francisco. Drawing upon his diverse upbringing, he aims to bring authentic, vulnerable stories about human connection to the screen. A 2023 graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, he served as president of the Asian Pacific Cinema Association, advocating for AAPI representation and supporting minority filmmakers in sharing their cultures and stories, and directed one of the CTPR 480 senior thesis films in his last semester. Since graduating, Matt has traveled all over Asia, lived with his grandparents in the Philippines for 6 months, and worked as an intern at Wong Fu Productions. 

AERIN OH is a senior at the University of Southern California studying Communication with a minor in the Entertainment Industry. South Korea-born and Chicagoland-raised, her passion lies in bringing underrepresented and unique stories into the world accurately and thoughtfully. On her path in creative development, her previous experiences include interning for CJ ENM America, Musa Productions, and SM & Kakao Entertainment America. Outside of school, you can find her on set, binge-watching a TV show, café-hopping, and enjoying live music.

We hope you can help us bring this important story to life. Make sure to follow us on Instagram (@echoesmv_usc) and to share this project with your friends and family. Every bit of support helps!