“OCPA is making a short film!” The Greater Orlando Chinese Professionals Association (OCPA) is the largest Chinese American association in the central Florida area. Recently OCPA finished shooting its first-ever short film called Son-in-Law Coming to Town, which will premiere during its 2022 Chinese New Year Virtual Gala on January 23, 2022. The whole story takes place on Chinese New Year’s Eve and features drama, conflict, and comic relief when two special guests show up for family dinner. The short film highlights the cultural and value differences between Chinese and Americans and is sure to entertain.  

Mrs. Christine Qu directed this comedy short film. She immigrated to the US from China as a documentary director and a professional in China’s TV & Film industry. She said that “after I came to the States, I felt the huge differences between the Chinese and American value and culture. As a producer, I have been hoping to highlight the differences using my camera.” She got this opportunity from OCPA’s New Year Gala to express her observation in a lighthearted and humorous way. Professional actors and everyday Chinese Americans were solicited and invited to make the film.

Ms. Hani Chen, a well-known Chinese drama and film actress who has recently moved to the US, plays the central role of Xiao Ha in this short film. Hani worked as a member of one of the Chinese national art troupes and graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. She has acted in several works in China including the film The Fox Lover, and TV shows War of Desire and Beauty World. She introduced that the story is about Xiao Ha’s two male friends, a Chinese American entrepreneur A’ming and a free-spirited American Eric “The Little White Dragon” interested in Chinese Kongfu, visiting her family on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Her father, Lao Shen, who is deeply rooted in the traditional Chinese values, interrogates the two young men with the same set of questions and tries to identify Mr. Right for his only beloved daughter. Although it is just a short film, the tension builds in hilarious ways to its conclusion.

The Chinese entrepreneur A’ming is played by Dr. Jack Cheng, President and CEO of AA Metals. He was awarded as EY Entrepreneur of The Year® 2019 Florida and recognized as the National Finalist of 2019.  Dr. Cheng was excited to accept the invitation from OCPA to play a lead role in this short film. Trying out new things and challenging himself out of his comfort zone is the main motivationfor Dr. Cheng who previously had no performance experience.

The American friend Eric “The Little White Dragon” is played by Mr. Eric Chandler, a personal trainer and an actor who starred in The Websight and Martina and was in The Folk, The Book-False Profit and Backlash.

The father, Lao Shen, is played by Mr. Michael Shen, who immigrated to the US from Taiwan in 1980, and has worked as an engineer in GE Medical, Motorola, Intel, and Cisco. Mr. Shen appeared in many dramas in Taiwan and here in Orlando, and he is also the translator of the film script.

The father, Lao Shen, is played by Mr. Michael Shen, who immigrated to the US from Taiwan in 1980, and has worked as an engineer in GE Medical, Motorola, Intel, and Cisco. Mr. Shen appeared in many dramas in Taiwan and here in Orlando, and he is also the translator of the film script.

The comedy short film is co-produced by OCPA and AA Metals, Inc., and sponsored by Park Square Homes and Northwestern Mutual. This film was shot in Park Square Homes’ Veranda Palms in Kissimmee. The investment advisor from Northwestern Mutual also guest-starred as a financial advisor in the movie. The OCPA President Dr. Yan Lu hopes that this short film can bring people laughter and sparks cultural discussion. You will not want to miss it. Make sure to watch OCPA’s New Year Virtual Gala on January 23 (Zoom: 487 451 7618, EST 7:30 pm-9 pm).

(Sai Deng, Ying Jiang, Yiwen Xiang)