Greetings from the Rue Morgue

'Til Death Do Us Part is a short film about a 77 year old retired factory worker whose husband passes away. Meanwhile, the landlord raises her rent, which she cannot afford. As his body decays inside of their apartment, she believes that he's still alive until an unlikely stranger helps her to face reality.

Mary Anne wakes up like it’s any other morning. A regular conversation goes awry when she realizes that her husband of forty years, Frank, has passed away in the middle of the night. In a fit of panic, she loses her wits and believes that he’s still alive. When she steps out of her apartment, her landlord tells her that he has raised her rent, which she cannot afford. In the following days, she cooks dinner for him – his favorite meatloaf, kisses him before bed, buys him french fries, and takes him for a jaunt, without ever realizing that he is dead. Or does she? Alone and grasping for connection, she meets a bouncer who lights her appetite to dance. Going out to a nightclub by herself, at the ripe age of 77, she meets a strange child who reminds her a lot of her younger self. 

Director's Statement

I love senior citizens. They're wise, funny, honest, and sometimes, a bit steely. I was raised by my grandparents, so I have always seen the elderly as superheroes. My 60-year-old grandmother was as spritely as any teenager. It wasn't until I grew older that I realized just how vulnerable senior citizens can be. When my grandmother passed away, I was overcome with grief. I felt angry, sad, guilty, and overwhelmed. More than anything, I wished that I could sit next to her again. I didn't know how to honor her memory and move on with my life. This is the genesis of 'Til Death Do Us Part. 

As a filmmaker, I am constantly making films about characters who are on the margins of society. Having grown up in China and Texas, I've felt like a leper for most of my life. It's important to me that senior citizens are taken care of and that there are resources to help them to thrive within our society. As such, I believe that there should be more films and tv shows about senior citizens. In the 80's and 90's, there were progressive tv shows like The Golden Girls and Matlock. But as the baby boomer generation ages, there are less tv shows about them! 'Til Death Do Us Part is my way of increasing representation for a group of people that are not represented in mainstream media. 

The style references and tones for my short film are a mix of the grittiness in Requiem for a Dream, Enter the Void, and Ash is Purest White mixed with the otherworldliness and dreaminess of Twin Peaks topped with the sweetness and heart of the short documentary Edith + Eddie.

A Different Path

I can tell you what it's like to change career paths! I began my career as an aviation engineer working on jet engines at Pratt and Whitney. I moved to NYC to become a writer, and I can tell you for real the up's and down's of pursuing a career without the support of family. I am a Sundance Writer's Lab and Sundance Sloan Foundation semifinalist. My short film, Cowboy Joe, a coming of age story about a Chinese cowboy has been featured in Paper Magazine, AM New York, High Country News, and screened at film festivals across the country such as the Seattle Asian American Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Way Down Film Festival, and more. I love making films about outsiders. 

Why Should You Contribute?

We, as a society, need to learn how to deal with loneliness, loss and how to grieve. Sometimes it's easier to see someone do something extreme in order to accept our own feelings. I want to remove the stigma of mental illness.

The money raised for this film will go to production to shoot the film! This includes rehearsals, cast and crew, 3 to 4 days of shooting, wardrobe, locations, set design, a camera package, external hard drives, catering, transportation, union fees, and so much more.

The short film will be completed by the end of the year for festivals in early 2020.

If you can offer a matching grant, or any in-kind services such as location rentals, equipment, or food, please reach out to us separately at [email protected]!

Inclusivity

This is a film made for women by women. More than 50% of the cast and crew will be women. As an Asian American, I am part of a small population that makes less than 2% of directors in the US. 

Help Someone Who is Experiencing Grief

If you know someone who is going through grief, below are some resources for complicated grief or Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder:

• Mayo Clinic
• Quiz - Do You Have Complicated Grief? 
• Bridge Store Recovery 
• Columbia University Center for Complicated Grief
• Psychology Today - Complicated Bereavement Disorder 

*Huge thanks to Evergreen Funeral Home in Brooklyn, where I conducted research for the film and where the pitch video was filmed. A family business run by Leslie and John, they bring grace, love, joy, knowledge, and humor to one of the most difficult moments in our lives. 

Interview with Directed by Women!

Nicola and I sat down for an interview with Directed by Women. Here it is!