Cú Nhảy - The Jump - Vietnamese Short Film
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
Support this heartfelt project to help a Viet-born American stuntman, who returned home after 20 years, bring his vision to life. By funding our post-production and feature development, you're preserving a cultural narrative that bridges generations and celebrates East Asian heritage.
Cú Nhảy - The Jump - Vietnamese Short Film
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
1 Campaigns | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,320 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
64 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Support this heartfelt project to help a Viet-born American stuntman, who returned home after 20 years, bring his vision to life. By funding our post-production and feature development, you're preserving a cultural narrative that bridges generations and celebrates East Asian heritage.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
These are the jumpers working with me. Learn more about them by clicking on the tab "The Team".
From left to right: David Cheung, Thang Ho. & Jenna Kanell.
We're developing a feature film in Vietnam. "Cú Nhảy" ("The Jump"), is about a young boy's obsession with action movies, specifically with Jackie Chan films. When he sees a particularly incredible stunt jump in the 80s classic Police Story, he dreams of recreating it himself using the construction site near his home.
Knowing this is a near-impossible challenge, he asks his father to allow him to take martial arts lessons.
Unfortunately, the only thing his family wants him to concentrate on is his school education. Even more unfortunately, he is NOT a good student...
Everything I have described so far, was exactly my personal story growing up. One day, I DID make that jump. My very first stunt jump. It was a literal and figurative leap of faith.
And somehow, I ended up in America working as a union stunt professional. I ended up getting to work in the film industry. I ended up doing all the things society told me I could not when I was a child.
So, this movie is:
- a self-reflection/exploration of what makes me who I am today
- an answer to everyone who believed in, and did NOT believe in me, as I was growing up
- a tribute to my late grandmother, who loved watching movies with me
- a snapshot of a very special time & place: early 90s in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a place of constant change and growth
I am always setting out to create, with the intention that it is okay to fail. I did that for this short film. In a way, my asking you guys to support my vision and my dream now, is just like the kid in the movie wanting to make the leap of faith to prove to his dad he can find his own way.
THE WHY
Even though I am a Vietnamese-born filmmaker, I've never been able to return to my home country since running away to the United States over 20 years ago.
Since then, I've studied film, worked as a stunt professional, directed viral shorts, and was selected as a finalist director on HBO’s Project Greenlight.
In order to become a better filmmaker, I also served in the US Army, collecting valuable stories and leadership experience along the way.
This year, I finally feel ready to confront my past and return to my place of birth. I want to create stories that are authentic and honest!
In June, at long last, 20 years after I left and never looked back, I went and bought a ticket from Los Angeles to Saigon, Vietnam.
I was able to film a short story taken straight from my childhood experiences. It was an incredibly therapeutic experience. The movie is about what it takes to find your own way amidst the pressures of what society / family expects of you, wrapped up in a 90s VHS-style nostalgia trip.
When I arrived in Vietnam, I was able to team up with incredible artists, cast, and crewmembers. It was a surreal experience getting to work with a passionate team to recreate experiences taken directly from my childhood!
I am now back in the United States for post-production. From one person's dream, this project has now grown into a full team spanning both American and Vietnamese filmmakers.
My team and I are looking for financing to complete the project and enter it into multiple film festivals!
MOST EXCITINGLY, we are developing a feature film to be produced in Vietnam afterwards...
The feature is tonally similar to the short, but is a brand-new story, following a Vietnamese schoolgirl going on a magical realism action fantasy adventure in 90s Saigon!
As part of this latest update, I am moving to Vietnam in August to be able to better dedicate my focus on the feature project.
Moving halfway across the world is stressful, and scary. But hey, that’s what the leap of faith is all about.
We thank you for being a part of my journey, and for supporting a new generation of Vietnamese artists and storytellers in letting our voices be heard across the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Post Production costs include: - Editing - Visual Effects - Original Score - Professional Sound Mix
Festival Circuit
Costs $2,000
Festivals are an important part of getting your independent short out there to the world! But they can be expensive...
Feature Development
Costs $3,000
We would love to pay our co-writers for working so hard on crafting the feature film screenplay!
Rent in Vietnam for the next 3 months
Costs $1,000
I am going back to Vietnam to live in-country while developing the feature, and to connect with more artists and crews!
Share this update!
About This Team
Leo Kei Angelos
Vetnamese-born American film director. Stuntman. US Army Tanker. Cat dad. Finally in touch with his past, making movies for self-therapy, desiring to inspire the world.
Thang Ho
Hồ Anh Thắng (Thang Ho), originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, transitioned into filmmaking in 2017 after earning his business degree. His unique approach blends old Hollywood charm with modern sensibilities, captivating audiences with both whimsical worlds and heartfelt narratives.
Ho’s work has earned him significant accolades, including a DGA award for Best African American Film for The Last Black Dinosaur and an Emmy for Best Music Video for Noah by Halie Loren. His notable productions include Aurinko in Adagio (Tribeca), The Last Black Dinosaur (Atlanta Film Festival, DGA award), and the psychological thriller Anemoia (Seattle International Film Festival, LA Shorts). Additionally, he produced Spray Bottle, executive produced by Jason Reitman and directed by Jenna Kanell, his partner at HOCA Studio.
Collaborating with industry names like Lena Waithe and Gideon Amir, as well as the VMA-award winning Tre Native, Ho’s dynamic and innovative filmmaking continues to impact the industry. Thang Ho’s vision, deeply rooted in his heritage and driven by the pursuit of the American dream, uniquely carves his path in cinema.
David Cheung
is a producer, actor, and stunt performer. His recent credits include being the first Asian beach Barbie, and Star Wars Andor.
He joined Leo's team after discovering their shared experiences growing up and being obsessed with Jackie Chan films. He is major part of the development for Leo's upcoming feature film project.
Jenna Kanell
As an action actor, Jenna Kanell has performed while riding motorcycles, stunt driving cars, airborne in harnesses, underwater, hanging from a helicopter, with weapons, and in countless fight scenes.
Recent credits include "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," the Nicolas Cage Dracula film "Renfield," and Marvel's "WandaVision." Horror fans will also know Jenna as the starring role in the original cult classic "Terrifier."
Jenna delivered a TEDx Talk on the experience of stepping behind the camera alongside her neurodivergent brother. She has since written, assistant directed, and produced features, directed and edited fundraising videos, and written and directed numerous award-winning short films with worldwide festival runs.
After knowing Leo for years, Jenna's thrilled to be a part of bringing his unique vision to life. The short film rough cut made her laugh and cry and left her inspired, and she can't wait for the world to see both it and a similarly fantastic feature film.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
These are the jumpers working with me. Learn more about them by clicking on the tab "The Team".
From left to right: David Cheung, Thang Ho. & Jenna Kanell.
We're developing a feature film in Vietnam. "Cú Nhảy" ("The Jump"), is about a young boy's obsession with action movies, specifically with Jackie Chan films. When he sees a particularly incredible stunt jump in the 80s classic Police Story, he dreams of recreating it himself using the construction site near his home.
Knowing this is a near-impossible challenge, he asks his father to allow him to take martial arts lessons.
Unfortunately, the only thing his family wants him to concentrate on is his school education. Even more unfortunately, he is NOT a good student...
Everything I have described so far, was exactly my personal story growing up. One day, I DID make that jump. My very first stunt jump. It was a literal and figurative leap of faith.
And somehow, I ended up in America working as a union stunt professional. I ended up getting to work in the film industry. I ended up doing all the things society told me I could not when I was a child.
So, this movie is:
- a self-reflection/exploration of what makes me who I am today
- an answer to everyone who believed in, and did NOT believe in me, as I was growing up
- a tribute to my late grandmother, who loved watching movies with me
- a snapshot of a very special time & place: early 90s in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a place of constant change and growth
I am always setting out to create, with the intention that it is okay to fail. I did that for this short film. In a way, my asking you guys to support my vision and my dream now, is just like the kid in the movie wanting to make the leap of faith to prove to his dad he can find his own way.
THE WHY
Even though I am a Vietnamese-born filmmaker, I've never been able to return to my home country since running away to the United States over 20 years ago.
Since then, I've studied film, worked as a stunt professional, directed viral shorts, and was selected as a finalist director on HBO’s Project Greenlight.
In order to become a better filmmaker, I also served in the US Army, collecting valuable stories and leadership experience along the way.
This year, I finally feel ready to confront my past and return to my place of birth. I want to create stories that are authentic and honest!
In June, at long last, 20 years after I left and never looked back, I went and bought a ticket from Los Angeles to Saigon, Vietnam.
I was able to film a short story taken straight from my childhood experiences. It was an incredibly therapeutic experience. The movie is about what it takes to find your own way amidst the pressures of what society / family expects of you, wrapped up in a 90s VHS-style nostalgia trip.
When I arrived in Vietnam, I was able to team up with incredible artists, cast, and crewmembers. It was a surreal experience getting to work with a passionate team to recreate experiences taken directly from my childhood!
I am now back in the United States for post-production. From one person's dream, this project has now grown into a full team spanning both American and Vietnamese filmmakers.
My team and I are looking for financing to complete the project and enter it into multiple film festivals!
MOST EXCITINGLY, we are developing a feature film to be produced in Vietnam afterwards...
The feature is tonally similar to the short, but is a brand-new story, following a Vietnamese schoolgirl going on a magical realism action fantasy adventure in 90s Saigon!
As part of this latest update, I am moving to Vietnam in August to be able to better dedicate my focus on the feature project.
Moving halfway across the world is stressful, and scary. But hey, that’s what the leap of faith is all about.
We thank you for being a part of my journey, and for supporting a new generation of Vietnamese artists and storytellers in letting our voices be heard across the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
Post Production costs include: - Editing - Visual Effects - Original Score - Professional Sound Mix
Festival Circuit
Costs $2,000
Festivals are an important part of getting your independent short out there to the world! But they can be expensive...
Feature Development
Costs $3,000
We would love to pay our co-writers for working so hard on crafting the feature film screenplay!
Rent in Vietnam for the next 3 months
Costs $1,000
I am going back to Vietnam to live in-country while developing the feature, and to connect with more artists and crews!
Share this update!
About This Team
Leo Kei Angelos
Vetnamese-born American film director. Stuntman. US Army Tanker. Cat dad. Finally in touch with his past, making movies for self-therapy, desiring to inspire the world.
Thang Ho
Hồ Anh Thắng (Thang Ho), originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, transitioned into filmmaking in 2017 after earning his business degree. His unique approach blends old Hollywood charm with modern sensibilities, captivating audiences with both whimsical worlds and heartfelt narratives.
Ho’s work has earned him significant accolades, including a DGA award for Best African American Film for The Last Black Dinosaur and an Emmy for Best Music Video for Noah by Halie Loren. His notable productions include Aurinko in Adagio (Tribeca), The Last Black Dinosaur (Atlanta Film Festival, DGA award), and the psychological thriller Anemoia (Seattle International Film Festival, LA Shorts). Additionally, he produced Spray Bottle, executive produced by Jason Reitman and directed by Jenna Kanell, his partner at HOCA Studio.
Collaborating with industry names like Lena Waithe and Gideon Amir, as well as the VMA-award winning Tre Native, Ho’s dynamic and innovative filmmaking continues to impact the industry. Thang Ho’s vision, deeply rooted in his heritage and driven by the pursuit of the American dream, uniquely carves his path in cinema.
David Cheung
is a producer, actor, and stunt performer. His recent credits include being the first Asian beach Barbie, and Star Wars Andor.
He joined Leo's team after discovering their shared experiences growing up and being obsessed with Jackie Chan films. He is major part of the development for Leo's upcoming feature film project.
Jenna Kanell
As an action actor, Jenna Kanell has performed while riding motorcycles, stunt driving cars, airborne in harnesses, underwater, hanging from a helicopter, with weapons, and in countless fight scenes.
Recent credits include "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," the Nicolas Cage Dracula film "Renfield," and Marvel's "WandaVision." Horror fans will also know Jenna as the starring role in the original cult classic "Terrifier."
Jenna delivered a TEDx Talk on the experience of stepping behind the camera alongside her neurodivergent brother. She has since written, assistant directed, and produced features, directed and edited fundraising videos, and written and directed numerous award-winning short films with worldwide festival runs.
After knowing Leo for years, Jenna's thrilled to be a part of bringing his unique vision to life. The short film rough cut made her laugh and cry and left her inspired, and she can't wait for the world to see both it and a similarly fantastic feature film.