Hi I am Ivan, 21 years old. I grew up between Hong Kong and Toronto

Nobody ever said it out loud, but I saw it. A shop can be a family’s pride / safety net and its trap at the same time. The place you love can become the thing that keeps you from leaving.

The Cage is built from those memories.

The Story

Their mother has died, and two brothers inherit the restaurant she spent her life building. The older brother has given up almost everything to keep it running. It’s her legacy, it pays the staff, and it’s the only identity he’s ever had. Then he finds out his younger brother has been secretly planning to sell. During the restaurant's closing, the two of them finally clashes

It’s an 8-minute film about family and duty, and about a question every kid who grows up behind the counter eventually asks: what do we owe the people who built our lives, and what do we owe ourselves?

Why It’s Personal

This film is a representation of me. Every detail comes from something I saw growing up: [the things loved ones never say to each other, the sentiment of helplessness as a bystander, the sentiment of being pushed to the edge, stuck between decisions].

Where We’re Shooting

Thanks to York University, we have the rare chance to shoot at Cinespace Studios, one of the largest professional film studios in North America. For a student production, it’s a dream come true.

Where Your Money Goes

Our goal is $1,000 CAD. Every dollar goes straight into the production: [set dressing and props to build the restaurant, meals for cast and crew, equipment rentals, transportation].

Can’t Donate? You Can Still Help

Sharing this page means more than you know. Every share brings this story closer to the screen.

Thank you,

Ivan