Fish Eye
New York City, New York | Film Short
Family, Drama
"Fish Eye" follows Piper, the eldest daughter of a Chinese-Canadian family, as she returns home for Thanksgiving to care for her dying grandmother. Amid sibling tensions and unspoken grief, Piper confronts her place in the family, exploring themes of grief, jealousy, and homecoming.
Fish Eye
New York City, New York | Film Short
Family, Drama
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,166 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
26 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
"Fish Eye" follows Piper, the eldest daughter of a Chinese-Canadian family, as she returns home for Thanksgiving to care for her dying grandmother. Amid sibling tensions and unspoken grief, Piper confronts her place in the family, exploring themes of grief, jealousy, and homecoming.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
FISH EYE
When Piper Tan reluctantly returns to her childhood home for a tense Thanksgiving gathering, she’s forced to confront the complexities of her Chinese-Canadian family. At the centre of it all is Nai Nai, her grandmother, whose declining health casts a shadow of preemptive grief over the entire family. Piper struggles to stay present, knowing this limited time with Nai Nai is fleeting, while also grappling with the inevitable loss that looms ahead.
As the eldest daughter, Piper carries the weight of responsibility but has distanced herself from her family in recent years, leaving behind the burdens she once shouldered. Her absence has created a vacuum now filled by her ex, Juna, who is the perfect “eldest daughter” substitute. Sibling dynamics lie at the heart of this story, with Piper's younger brother, Kenny, struggling to pick up the pieces left behind in her absence. The family must navigate what happens when the eldest abandons the family—leaving others to redefine their roles under the strain of collective yet isolated grief.
Through moments of tension, miscommunication, and fleeting tenderness, Fish Eye captures the heightened stakes of preemptive grief—how families strive to work together yet process loss individually. Piper’s interactions with Nai Nai are bittersweet; she savours each fleeting moment, tainted by the knowledge of what’s to come. Ultimately, the film explores how families cope with the burdens of love and responsibility, questioning what happens to the ties that bind when one sibling steps away, leaving others to shoulder the weight.
WHY THIS FILM?
Rooted in the director’s personal experiences of loss, Fish Eye is a poignant meditation on family, diaspora, generational responsibility, and the messy realities of love, grief, and self-discovery. We are an AAPI-led team focused on telling stories of family, diaspora, and generational responsibility. Fish Eye aims to explore the often-overlooked side of the eldest sibling’s journey, reminding us of our enduring duty to our elders and the impact of leaving family behind.
CAST
Piper Tan — The Unprodigal Daughter
Piper is 24, emotionally volatile, and the eldest child from her two immigrant parents. Having grown up as the Tan family guinea pig, she couldn’t wait to move far, far away from it all when she turned eighteen. She acts on the heat of the moment and her words always aim to kill. She understood at a very young age that being a therapist for your parents was not normal and set her boundaries then and there. Although she does her best to emotionally distance herself from them, all she wants is to just exist as their daughter - loved for who she is and not what she can provide. Expressing that, however, is harder for her than other people. Though she has gotten the independence she craved all her life, she realises that she’s lost her place in her family.
Kenny Tan — Youngest Sibling, Eldest Son
As the eldest son, Kenny stepped in when Piper stepped out. Pragmatic and dutiful, he carries the weight of responsibility with a quiet resentment toward Piper.
Marie Tan — Mother Knows Best
The mother of the Tan family, Marie is a woman of few words when it comes to emotions. Her inability to express grief openly adds tension to her relationships, particularly with Piper, whose departure she sees as both a betrayal and a personal failure.
Randall Tan — Accepting An Imperfect Dad…
Randall is the emotionally distant patriarch of the Tan family, present but detached. He views life through a lens of practicality, often sidestepping difficult conversations.
Nai Nai — The Matriarch
The matriarch of the Tan family, Nai Nai is the anchor around whom everything revolves. Fiercely proud and loving, her health’s decline is both the catalyst for the family’s grief and a reminder of their shared history. Her presence looms large, even when she’s absent from a scene.
Juna Zhao — Perfect Chinese Daughter
Piper’s ex and the embodiment of the “perfect Chinese daughter,” Juna is poised, accomplished, and seemingly everything Piper was expected to be.
BUDGET
Now for everyone's favourite part... budget! We need your help to raise at least 5k for production. Here you'll see a chart delineating funds allocation.
Our funds will go towards critical production expenses that ensure a safe, efficient, and creative working environment for our cast and crew. A significant portion of our budget is allocated to transportation, lodging, and food—essentials for maintaining morale and fostering a supportive set culture.
The art department will also need a substantial allocation to authentically bring the Tan family’s world to life, creating spaces that feel lived-in and emotionally resonant. Additional funds would go toward camera and equipment rentals, as well as production supplies like media drives, cleaning materials, and other practical necessities to keep production running smoothly.
Your support will help us prioritise the well-being of our team and the quality of our film, allowing us to focus on telling this story with the care and dedication it deserves! If we surpass 100% funding, our stretch goal is 8k to alleviate stress on personal funds that will also be going towards this project!
HOW TO SUPPORT US:
Your pledge now will support us through the remainder of pre-production through to the end of shooting for Fish Eye.
FOLLOW US!
Be sure to follow our Seed&Spark page and our Instagram @fisheyeshort! Send our page to your friends, family, that girl you've been talking to, the neighbour you run into in the elevator on Tuesdays... this film can be for all of them!
CONTRIBUTE AND PLEDGE!
In order for us to receive any of the funds we raise, we need to reach at least 80% of our goal. No amount is too small, we promise! Feel free to check out our incentives list to see what benefits come from which donation amounts.
SHARE US WITH YOUR PEOPLE!
Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates! And to make it even easier, here’s a quick post to copy and paste:
Support independent AAPI filmmakers by spreading the word about @fisheyeshort and #fisheyeshortfilm on @seedandspark! Join them here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/fish-eye#story
WHAT'S NEXT?
Fish Eye goes into production in early March 2025, with post-production slated to be complete by September 2025. Make sure to follow our project on Seed&Spark and keep an eye out for updates from our page!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Lodging
Costs $1,500
So our cast and crew can rest between shoot days!
Food
Costs $1,000
This is a Thanksgiving film, after all—we need our cast/crew to eat well!
Production Design
Costs $1,000
To bring the Tan's home to life!
Camera Rentals
Costs $1,000
We want to capture this story in the most beautiful way we can! Help out our DP here:)
Transportation
Costs $500
We've got to get everyone (and everything) to location safely!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our crew is led by AAPI creatives who, in one way or another, resonate with this story of family, homecoming, and the struggle to find one's place. We're all so excited to be working with Vivian (who is for most of us, not just a collaborator, but a friend) on this very special film.
Vivian Zhang is a Chinese-Canadian writer and filmmaker with a strong background in production design. She often delves into stories about homecoming and identity, reconciling her upbringing with everything she’s learned thus far.
Mir Lien is a New York City-based producer whose work strives to bring familial and cultural stories to the screen. They are committed to fostering inclusive and supportive spaces where the voices, talents, and dreams of everyone involved can thrive. Informed and inspired by her own experiences, Mir is drawn to projects that explore the nuances of community and identity. She is honoured to work with a team of cherished collaborators on a project so close to home.
Winona Lu is a cinematographer based in New York City. They are drawn to stories of women, queerness, and Asian diaspora, and thus they are incredibly proud to be a part of this project. Born in Australia and raised by Chinese immigrant parents, Winona has always understood that, though our differences may make us, our common humanity binds us. Her work aims to honour others’ and her own heritage through the creation of poetic images.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
FISH EYE
When Piper Tan reluctantly returns to her childhood home for a tense Thanksgiving gathering, she’s forced to confront the complexities of her Chinese-Canadian family. At the centre of it all is Nai Nai, her grandmother, whose declining health casts a shadow of preemptive grief over the entire family. Piper struggles to stay present, knowing this limited time with Nai Nai is fleeting, while also grappling with the inevitable loss that looms ahead.
As the eldest daughter, Piper carries the weight of responsibility but has distanced herself from her family in recent years, leaving behind the burdens she once shouldered. Her absence has created a vacuum now filled by her ex, Juna, who is the perfect “eldest daughter” substitute. Sibling dynamics lie at the heart of this story, with Piper's younger brother, Kenny, struggling to pick up the pieces left behind in her absence. The family must navigate what happens when the eldest abandons the family—leaving others to redefine their roles under the strain of collective yet isolated grief.
Through moments of tension, miscommunication, and fleeting tenderness, Fish Eye captures the heightened stakes of preemptive grief—how families strive to work together yet process loss individually. Piper’s interactions with Nai Nai are bittersweet; she savours each fleeting moment, tainted by the knowledge of what’s to come. Ultimately, the film explores how families cope with the burdens of love and responsibility, questioning what happens to the ties that bind when one sibling steps away, leaving others to shoulder the weight.
WHY THIS FILM?
Rooted in the director’s personal experiences of loss, Fish Eye is a poignant meditation on family, diaspora, generational responsibility, and the messy realities of love, grief, and self-discovery. We are an AAPI-led team focused on telling stories of family, diaspora, and generational responsibility. Fish Eye aims to explore the often-overlooked side of the eldest sibling’s journey, reminding us of our enduring duty to our elders and the impact of leaving family behind.
CAST
Piper Tan — The Unprodigal Daughter
Piper is 24, emotionally volatile, and the eldest child from her two immigrant parents. Having grown up as the Tan family guinea pig, she couldn’t wait to move far, far away from it all when she turned eighteen. She acts on the heat of the moment and her words always aim to kill. She understood at a very young age that being a therapist for your parents was not normal and set her boundaries then and there. Although she does her best to emotionally distance herself from them, all she wants is to just exist as their daughter - loved for who she is and not what she can provide. Expressing that, however, is harder for her than other people. Though she has gotten the independence she craved all her life, she realises that she’s lost her place in her family.
Kenny Tan — Youngest Sibling, Eldest Son
As the eldest son, Kenny stepped in when Piper stepped out. Pragmatic and dutiful, he carries the weight of responsibility with a quiet resentment toward Piper.
Marie Tan — Mother Knows Best
The mother of the Tan family, Marie is a woman of few words when it comes to emotions. Her inability to express grief openly adds tension to her relationships, particularly with Piper, whose departure she sees as both a betrayal and a personal failure.
Randall Tan — Accepting An Imperfect Dad…
Randall is the emotionally distant patriarch of the Tan family, present but detached. He views life through a lens of practicality, often sidestepping difficult conversations.
Nai Nai — The Matriarch
The matriarch of the Tan family, Nai Nai is the anchor around whom everything revolves. Fiercely proud and loving, her health’s decline is both the catalyst for the family’s grief and a reminder of their shared history. Her presence looms large, even when she’s absent from a scene.
Juna Zhao — Perfect Chinese Daughter
Piper’s ex and the embodiment of the “perfect Chinese daughter,” Juna is poised, accomplished, and seemingly everything Piper was expected to be.
BUDGET
Now for everyone's favourite part... budget! We need your help to raise at least 5k for production. Here you'll see a chart delineating funds allocation.
Our funds will go towards critical production expenses that ensure a safe, efficient, and creative working environment for our cast and crew. A significant portion of our budget is allocated to transportation, lodging, and food—essentials for maintaining morale and fostering a supportive set culture.
The art department will also need a substantial allocation to authentically bring the Tan family’s world to life, creating spaces that feel lived-in and emotionally resonant. Additional funds would go toward camera and equipment rentals, as well as production supplies like media drives, cleaning materials, and other practical necessities to keep production running smoothly.
Your support will help us prioritise the well-being of our team and the quality of our film, allowing us to focus on telling this story with the care and dedication it deserves! If we surpass 100% funding, our stretch goal is 8k to alleviate stress on personal funds that will also be going towards this project!
HOW TO SUPPORT US:
Your pledge now will support us through the remainder of pre-production through to the end of shooting for Fish Eye.
FOLLOW US!
Be sure to follow our Seed&Spark page and our Instagram @fisheyeshort! Send our page to your friends, family, that girl you've been talking to, the neighbour you run into in the elevator on Tuesdays... this film can be for all of them!
CONTRIBUTE AND PLEDGE!
In order for us to receive any of the funds we raise, we need to reach at least 80% of our goal. No amount is too small, we promise! Feel free to check out our incentives list to see what benefits come from which donation amounts.
SHARE US WITH YOUR PEOPLE!
Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates! And to make it even easier, here’s a quick post to copy and paste:
Support independent AAPI filmmakers by spreading the word about @fisheyeshort and #fisheyeshortfilm on @seedandspark! Join them here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/fish-eye#story
WHAT'S NEXT?
Fish Eye goes into production in early March 2025, with post-production slated to be complete by September 2025. Make sure to follow our project on Seed&Spark and keep an eye out for updates from our page!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Lodging
Costs $1,500
So our cast and crew can rest between shoot days!
Food
Costs $1,000
This is a Thanksgiving film, after all—we need our cast/crew to eat well!
Production Design
Costs $1,000
To bring the Tan's home to life!
Camera Rentals
Costs $1,000
We want to capture this story in the most beautiful way we can! Help out our DP here:)
Transportation
Costs $500
We've got to get everyone (and everything) to location safely!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our crew is led by AAPI creatives who, in one way or another, resonate with this story of family, homecoming, and the struggle to find one's place. We're all so excited to be working with Vivian (who is for most of us, not just a collaborator, but a friend) on this very special film.
Vivian Zhang is a Chinese-Canadian writer and filmmaker with a strong background in production design. She often delves into stories about homecoming and identity, reconciling her upbringing with everything she’s learned thus far.
Mir Lien is a New York City-based producer whose work strives to bring familial and cultural stories to the screen. They are committed to fostering inclusive and supportive spaces where the voices, talents, and dreams of everyone involved can thrive. Informed and inspired by her own experiences, Mir is drawn to projects that explore the nuances of community and identity. She is honoured to work with a team of cherished collaborators on a project so close to home.
Winona Lu is a cinematographer based in New York City. They are drawn to stories of women, queerness, and Asian diaspora, and thus they are incredibly proud to be a part of this project. Born in Australia and raised by Chinese immigrant parents, Winona has always understood that, though our differences may make us, our common humanity binds us. Her work aims to honour others’ and her own heritage through the creation of poetic images.