After sacrificing everything for a fresh start in the UK, a single mother works a gruelling shift at a Chinese restaurant, alone and far from home. Hoping that the wages will support her son back in Hong Kong, 7 hours behind. 

The film we’re making is a culturally sensitive and poetic approach to Asian Diaspora. We are a group of student filmmakers who all have different cultural backgrounds, but are still products of our parents' sacrifices and endurance. 

Rooted in reality, our film is an exploration of immigrant struggles and unrecognised labour; we aim to ambitiously blend Hong Kong cinema traditions to make it a captivating visual experience. Fundamentally, 7 Hours Behind is a social realism, but still an intimate and sensitive experience of a bittersweet story.

Meet our crew!

Having worked together for 3 years, we're all VERY close friends. We've bonded and grown to trust each other's creative ideas and hard work. With this film, we believe we can make something truly special, built on our experience of trust and honest collaboration. 

Brendan Leung – Director

A creative visionary with a love for artistic nuance, Brendan’s work on Ant Mill, Ozymandias, and Like Sand Like Wind demonstrates his strength both a director and producer. Brendan’s vision for 7 Hours Behind promises a tasteful take on asian diaspora. Dedicated to bringing out an honest and engaging illumination of a working migrant’s experience, his vision reflects his commitment to meaningful, grounded filmmaking.

Emerald Nguyen - Producer

Emerald brings a thoughtful approach to producing, with an editor’s precision and a director’s grit, having worked on projects like directing Loving You and Me, Golden and co-producing Seeking Thomas; she is guided by a strong commitment to quality. With an unwavering focus to keeping everybody on time and on budget, she ensures our team stays aligned with the film’s central vision, and that each element of 7 Hours Behind is crafted with a  nuanced purpose.

Thomas Robinson – Cinematographer

His experimental approach and open minded curiosity pushes boundaries to capture scenes that go beyond the ordinary eye. Tom brings aesthetic versatility and an openness to new visual ideas, making sure each shot in 7 Hours Behind captures the subtle nuances of our story. As a cinematographer, he has brought unforgettable visuals to life, as the director and DOP of Finding Each Other, editor on Dot Dot Dot, and 1st AC on After Closure.

Jade Lin - Production Designer

Jade is an imaginative production designer known for her strong foundation in conceptual design. Her diverse body of work spans with projects like directing Like Sand Like Wind, filming The Last Defence, and doing the production design for and The Fruits They Burnt That Summer. Known for her creativity and collaborative spirit, Jade excels at transforming abstract ideas into powerful and cohesive visual narratives. Her keen listening skills and dedication to understanding each project’s unique vision make her a valued asset on any film set, and we are very grateful to have her on ours!

Daniel Mutisya – Art Director

Daniel is a dynamic filmmaker with a strong foundation in directing and production design. As the director of Nolite Timere and Me Fez Fazer and many others, he demonstrates a compelling ability to craft visually striking and original narratives. His work as a production designer on Beyond The Ivory Tower showcases his eye for detail for creating immersive worlds and surrealist spaces. Passionate about both film and art direction, Daniel's creative approach and dedication to the craft of filmmaking makes him an artistic force behind 7 Hours Behind’s real spaces.

Shiyi Zhang – Editor

Shiyi is a storyteller at heart, with experience directing and writing After Closure and Twin Celebration. Her independent and observant nature guides her editing process, allowing her to craft moments that feel real and connected. Shiyi’s approach to editing will bring 7 Hours Behind a sense of nuanced subtlety, cutting intuitively in line with the performances, rooting scenes in their emotional core.

Jay Kwan – Sound Designer

Jay is a powerhouse in sound, with credits such as No Time for Goodbye and Mother Wound, where he honed his craft as a Sound Recordist and Sound Designer. Known for his meticulous attention to audio detail and an unstoppable drive to innovate, Jay is as adaptive as he is dedicated. His wealth of sound expertise will make every scene in 7 Hours Behind a sensory experience, finding new ways to enhance the soundscape and implement our film’s emotional layers through audio. 

Funding

Your generous contributions will help bring our vibrant vision to life. We value transparency and are happy to provide invoices and receipts upon request. Rest assured, your donations will be handled thoughtfully to make this project the best it can be.

As student filmmakers, we are navigating this creative journey with limited resources, which is why your support means so much to us. Every donation will go a long way in helping us! All donations will receive a 'Thank You' credit in our film! :)

Why we're looking to crowdfund this amount, and how we'll distributing it:

Location Hire and Art Department: We need props, set materials, costumes, and makeup. This brings the world of our film to life with locations and thoughtful set design. 

Food and Transportation: Although we can't pay our crew and cast, we aim to reimburse their food and transport costs as much as we can. 

Camera Department: We'd like to rent industry standard equipment, lights and lenses to be able to make a visually ambitious film. 

What’s Next?

We are deeply grateful and excited to bring you along with us on our journey of materialising an idea into a short film. If this project resonates with you, we hope you’ll share it with others who might also feel connected to this Asian diasporic journey of sacrifice and endurance. 

To learn more or follow our journey:

Instagram: @7hoursbehind.film

Email: e.nguyen0220221@arts.ac.uk