K Sister
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy
Abby, half-Korean and tired of being overlooked, concocts wild schemes with her best friend to make the stoic cashier at the Korean mart recognize her as Asian. K Sister, a culturally-rooted comedy, highlights visibility in the Korean diaspora and demanding space to exist without justification.
K Sister
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,575 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
43 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Abby, half-Korean and tired of being overlooked, concocts wild schemes with her best friend to make the stoic cashier at the Korean mart recognize her as Asian. K Sister, a culturally-rooted comedy, highlights visibility in the Korean diaspora and demanding space to exist without justification.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A mixed race woman’s search to be seen as herself spirals into a ridiculous quest for belonging.
K Sister is a silly, lighthearted love letter to the mixed experience and the joy that comes with being seen.
K Sister is born out of an experience Abby had while living across from a Korean-owned bodega in Brooklyn. Much like in the film, she semi-desperately tried to get noticed as Korean by the sweet shop owner. Which is embarrassing! Whatever! It was a product of her mid twenties identity crisis (I know you had one too!).
For Abby , it manifested as every person having a different, loud opinion on which ethnicity she belonged to and how she should be categorized. Constantly asked, “are you sure you’re Korean? You look ________."
After several years, lots of therapy, and surviving her Saturn Return, this period of her life is something she remembers fondly. She has slowly come to understand and accept what it is to exist in a mixed body: forever stuck between worlds but also with her feet firmly planted in each culture she’s so lucky to embody.
We’re making K Sister because we believe indie filmmaking is about finding your voice, understanding your multifaceted identity and honoring it, while having fun doing it.
...And who better to tell this story than Abby, our very own Writer and Main Actor who lived this exact experience every day of her life? Now more than ever, Korean culture and cinema are being spotlighted and given a platform with recent films like No Other Choice and 2020 Oscar Winner, Parasite. We believe this is the perfect time for a story like K-Sister!
Abby, a 32-year-old half-Korean woman, is frustrated that no one ever sees her as Asian. Alongside her Korean bestie Steve, she hatches increasingly ridiculous schemes to get recognition from the stoic H-Mart cashier. When her exasperation finally explodes, it’s her unfiltered “Korean rage” that makes the cashier see her for what she is. For the first time, Abby feels seen—not through performance, but by being herself.
Characters:
Style & Tone:
Look & Feel:
The Filmmakers:
Abby Awe and Simone Black are best, best friends and best collaborators!
Actors first, they both stood in solidarity during the 2023 SAG strike but also felt restless with no work or creative outlet during their hiatus. It was then, they decided to embark on their first filmmaking adventure, making Oh, Hi There (2024) together, with Simone making her directorial debut and Abby writing and starring in the short. Ever since, they've both been committed to improving their filmmaking skills and honing in on their creativity through more short films and eventually a feature! Inspired by their mixed race identities and life experiences, they want to tell more stories that highlight the complexity of a dual sided identity.
Our Current WIP:
So far, we have almost entire needed budget for Production and have cast our talent and Above the Line crew! We need your help to secure another $6000-$7000 for our Location Permit and much needed Insurance coverage, as well as for the most stellar Post Production team. We also hope that many audiences can enjoy this film and relate their own experiences to Abby's, so we need ample funds for film festival distribution. With your help, we believe we can create the best final product of K-Sister!
From our entire team, THANK YOU SO MUCH for learning about our project and your interest in helping us create this film. We're so excited to share our project with you and hope you enjoy the final product!
Follow us on our Facebook page to check out our updates on K-Sister, and share this page with your friends, family, and coworkers to get more eyes on our fundraiser and upcoming short film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor Fees
Costs $1,000
We need a stellar editor to finish this film and create an amazing viewing experience!
Sound Designer
Costs $600
We need a dynamic Sound Designer to bring our film to life, sonically!
Sound Mixer
Costs $600
With the film in its final stages, an excellent sound mixer deserves their pay! We need funds to ensure the best mixing for the big screen!
Festival Distribution
Costs $1,200
We want to make sure our short film gets seen by film festivals and audiences that will resonate with the story!
Contingency
Costs $2,000
We need funds to ensure we have a contingency for our Production and Post-Production!
Film Insurance
Costs $700
We need to make sure our film set is safe and insured! This costs money to make sure we get the right coverage!
Location Permit
Costs $900
We need to secure our film permit for our shooting in February! This location will bring our film to life!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Abby Awe is an LA based actor, writer and producer. She was most recently featured in Hacks, NCIS and many a commercial between football games. This is her second short film with her creative partner Simone Black and their production company Wash Day Productions. In her day to day, she’s a marathoner, audition coach, postpartum doula, and dog mom to an anxious, intersex pup named Athena! She is an east coast native and a believer that Philly pretzels are superior. She’s also a Leo. Which means, legally speaking, she must always disclose.
Simone in an LA based, Actor, writer, and producer. Before moving to LA she spent 8 years in New York doing theater.
As an actor Simone has worked with TBS, HBO Max, BET, Tyler Perry, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Lyric Theater, and more, but she is extremely excited to be on the other side of the camera for her second directorial project with K Sister. When not acting Simone can be found imitating Issa Rae, perfecting her dirty gin martini recipe, and pretending to dance backup for Beyonce.
Hailee Chu is a Korean-American, multi-hyphenate storyteller with a concentration in Producing and Directing. Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrants, she focuses on highlighting the dichotomy of her Korean and American identities and what bridges the two. She holds an extensive background in Creative Direction and Producing with six years spent in the Fashion and Digital Media industries prior to receiving her MFA in Film and TV Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She is enthusiastic to produce K-Sister, a story that feels close to home and educates audiences on the diverse Asian-American identity from the POV of women.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A mixed race woman’s search to be seen as herself spirals into a ridiculous quest for belonging.
K Sister is a silly, lighthearted love letter to the mixed experience and the joy that comes with being seen.
K Sister is born out of an experience Abby had while living across from a Korean-owned bodega in Brooklyn. Much like in the film, she semi-desperately tried to get noticed as Korean by the sweet shop owner. Which is embarrassing! Whatever! It was a product of her mid twenties identity crisis (I know you had one too!).
For Abby , it manifested as every person having a different, loud opinion on which ethnicity she belonged to and how she should be categorized. Constantly asked, “are you sure you’re Korean? You look ________."
After several years, lots of therapy, and surviving her Saturn Return, this period of her life is something she remembers fondly. She has slowly come to understand and accept what it is to exist in a mixed body: forever stuck between worlds but also with her feet firmly planted in each culture she’s so lucky to embody.
We’re making K Sister because we believe indie filmmaking is about finding your voice, understanding your multifaceted identity and honoring it, while having fun doing it.
...And who better to tell this story than Abby, our very own Writer and Main Actor who lived this exact experience every day of her life? Now more than ever, Korean culture and cinema are being spotlighted and given a platform with recent films like No Other Choice and 2020 Oscar Winner, Parasite. We believe this is the perfect time for a story like K-Sister!
Abby, a 32-year-old half-Korean woman, is frustrated that no one ever sees her as Asian. Alongside her Korean bestie Steve, she hatches increasingly ridiculous schemes to get recognition from the stoic H-Mart cashier. When her exasperation finally explodes, it’s her unfiltered “Korean rage” that makes the cashier see her for what she is. For the first time, Abby feels seen—not through performance, but by being herself.
Characters:
Style & Tone:
Look & Feel:
The Filmmakers:
Abby Awe and Simone Black are best, best friends and best collaborators!
Actors first, they both stood in solidarity during the 2023 SAG strike but also felt restless with no work or creative outlet during their hiatus. It was then, they decided to embark on their first filmmaking adventure, making Oh, Hi There (2024) together, with Simone making her directorial debut and Abby writing and starring in the short. Ever since, they've both been committed to improving their filmmaking skills and honing in on their creativity through more short films and eventually a feature! Inspired by their mixed race identities and life experiences, they want to tell more stories that highlight the complexity of a dual sided identity.
Our Current WIP:
So far, we have almost entire needed budget for Production and have cast our talent and Above the Line crew! We need your help to secure another $6000-$7000 for our Location Permit and much needed Insurance coverage, as well as for the most stellar Post Production team. We also hope that many audiences can enjoy this film and relate their own experiences to Abby's, so we need ample funds for film festival distribution. With your help, we believe we can create the best final product of K-Sister!
From our entire team, THANK YOU SO MUCH for learning about our project and your interest in helping us create this film. We're so excited to share our project with you and hope you enjoy the final product!
Follow us on our Facebook page to check out our updates on K-Sister, and share this page with your friends, family, and coworkers to get more eyes on our fundraiser and upcoming short film!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor Fees
Costs $1,000
We need a stellar editor to finish this film and create an amazing viewing experience!
Sound Designer
Costs $600
We need a dynamic Sound Designer to bring our film to life, sonically!
Sound Mixer
Costs $600
With the film in its final stages, an excellent sound mixer deserves their pay! We need funds to ensure the best mixing for the big screen!
Festival Distribution
Costs $1,200
We want to make sure our short film gets seen by film festivals and audiences that will resonate with the story!
Contingency
Costs $2,000
We need funds to ensure we have a contingency for our Production and Post-Production!
Film Insurance
Costs $700
We need to make sure our film set is safe and insured! This costs money to make sure we get the right coverage!
Location Permit
Costs $900
We need to secure our film permit for our shooting in February! This location will bring our film to life!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Abby Awe is an LA based actor, writer and producer. She was most recently featured in Hacks, NCIS and many a commercial between football games. This is her second short film with her creative partner Simone Black and their production company Wash Day Productions. In her day to day, she’s a marathoner, audition coach, postpartum doula, and dog mom to an anxious, intersex pup named Athena! She is an east coast native and a believer that Philly pretzels are superior. She’s also a Leo. Which means, legally speaking, she must always disclose.
Simone in an LA based, Actor, writer, and producer. Before moving to LA she spent 8 years in New York doing theater.
As an actor Simone has worked with TBS, HBO Max, BET, Tyler Perry, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Lyric Theater, and more, but she is extremely excited to be on the other side of the camera for her second directorial project with K Sister. When not acting Simone can be found imitating Issa Rae, perfecting her dirty gin martini recipe, and pretending to dance backup for Beyonce.
Hailee Chu is a Korean-American, multi-hyphenate storyteller with a concentration in Producing and Directing. Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrants, she focuses on highlighting the dichotomy of her Korean and American identities and what bridges the two. She holds an extensive background in Creative Direction and Producing with six years spent in the Fashion and Digital Media industries prior to receiving her MFA in Film and TV Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She is enthusiastic to produce K-Sister, a story that feels close to home and educates audiences on the diverse Asian-American identity from the POV of women.