NARRATIVE SHORT
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | UPDATED JULY 13, 2022
SGP | 11 minutes | 2021
Drama short film directed by Valerie (Val) Tan
Starring Jalen Law, Serene Chen, Kristian Flores
A Paper Plane Ride Home
Determined to communicate with his older brother in Los Angeles, a young boy in Singapore attempts to fly a paper plane to across the globe.
Interview
CineAsian Films (CAF): What a timely and intimate film. What inspired you to make A Paper Plane Ride Home?
Valerie Tan: I returned home to Singapore during the height of COVID-19. It really struck me that I had been living between two homes for the past eight years of my life, and I both yearned to be with my family in Singapore and my new-found family in America. I thought a lot about how difficult it was for me to decide where to be during a global pandemic, and as I developed the idea, I realized that however much stress and anxiety I was going through, my mom was feeling the fear ten times over. I wrote the story as a love letter to her, letting her know that I see and appreciate her love for me.
CAF: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while making this film?
Tan: I had no connections to the film industry in Singapore, and I had to start from scratch. Every single crew member was someone new, and someone I had never worked with before. And I am beyond appreciative of their generosity in helping me make the film. I also had to learn about the cultural differences in how film sets run and adapt quickly.
CAF: What do you hope people can take away from watching this?
Tan: To never let physical distance be a barrier to maintaining loving and genuine relationships with friends and family. If you care about someone, let them know!
CAF: Are you working on anything new?
Tan: Always! I’m in the midst of shooting a new short and I’m excited to share it soon!
A Paper Plane Ride Home is one of the many great projects shared with CineAsian Films through our submissions process. If you’d like to join them, submit your project.
Credits
Director, Writer, Producer: Valerie Tan (credited as Val Tan)
Producer: Chanel Chan
Cinematographer: Ed Poh
Editor: Alexa Maltease
Composer: Sam Ostroff
CineAsian Films 