Brief Explanation

The web film tells the story of a young Chinese boy who goes on a journey to discover the meaning behind his name - Kao Sheng, which means “Tall” and “Victorious”, but contradicts his physical appearance. This is something he’s struggled with all his life, until an unfortunate event triggers him to rise to the occasion and enables him to live up to his name.

Creative Execution

INT. RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP - DAY KAO SHENG logs into Facebook via his mobile phone. We see his Facebook screen name as ‘CLOUD TAN’. We hear an old man’s voice off-screen. OLD MAN Boy, do you have some medicated oil? KAO SHENG looks up to the old man and attends to him. KAO SHENG Yes, please wait a moment. KAO SHENG gets off a high platform. We realise he’s short for his age. We hear his internal monologue. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) My name is... Kao Sheng. CUT TO: INT. RUSTIC LIVING ROOM - DAY A close up on jumping feet and skipping rope. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Kao for tall... KAO SHENG stands against a wall and draws a line above his head. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Sheng for victorious. KAO SHENG looks at the line and walks away forlornly. We hear a middle-aged man’s authoritative voice off-screen. DRIVING INSTRUCTOR (OFF-SCREEN) Adjust your seat. CUT TO: INT. CAR - DAY KAO SHENG is taking driving classes. His driving instructor is giving him instructions. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Some say that your name determines your destiny. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 2. DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Put on your seat belt. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) But mine somehow didn’t. View from the back seat. It looks like the car is moving without a driver, because the car seat is bigger than KAO SHENG. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Does this mean I will always see less of the world? CUT TO: EXT. SCHOOL SPORTS FAIR - DAY KAO SHENG is taking part in an athletic sprint relay. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Will I overcome the challenges before me? We hear school kids heckling him from the sidelines. HECKLING KIDS Tall guy! Tall guy! The runners sprint by the heckling kids. Shortly after, we see KAO SHENG running by. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) I’m shorter... slower... than everyone else. CUT TO: INT. RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP - DAY KAO SHENG returns home from school. He looks tired. He greets his dad as he walks past him. KAO SHENG Pa, I’m back. CUT TO: INT. RUSTIC DINING AREA - THUNDERSTORM NIGHT We hear a heavy rainstorm in the background. Close up of a plate of long beans. We hear KAO SHENG’s mom’s voice off-screen. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3. KAO SHENG’S MOM (OFF-SCREEN) Kao Sheng, eat more long beans. KAO SHENG is having dinner with his parents. We hear a thunder rumble. A blackout happens. KAO SHENG’S DAD Never mind. Let’s eat. They continue having their dinner in the darkness. CUT TO: EXT. PADDY FIELD - THUNDERSTORM NIGHT We see a paddy field during a thunderstorm. KAO SHENG (MONOLOGUE) Out of so many words, why did my parents choose these two. Why? FADE TO BLACK: INT. RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP STAIRWAY - DAY KAO SHENG walks down the stairs. We hear a loud crash, followed by a man crying out in pain off-screen. KAO SHENG Pa! KAO SHENG quickly runs down the stairs and wades through the flooded waters. CUT TO: INT. FLOODED RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP - DAY The thunderstorm has caused a flood and affected the family’s sundry shop. KAO SHENG’s father has fallen due to the flood and is being carried away by ambulance workers. KAO SHENG’s mother accompanies them, while KAO SHENG looks on helplessly. A close up of KAO SHENG’s face reflection on the water. He’s looking at his school exercise book with his Chinese name written on it. KAO SHENG picks it up. CUT TO: 4. INT. RUSTIC DINING AREA - NIGHT Camera dolly in to the empty dining table. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) Kao Sheng... CUT TO: INT. FLOODED RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP - NIGHT KAO SHENG picks up fallen items from the murky water. We see a time progression of KAO SHENG cleaning up the flooded sundry shop. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) Please forgive papa and mama. We didn’t mean for people to make fun of you. KAO SHENG checks his Facebook newsfeed on his smartphone. He sees more heartbreaking pictures of the flood affecting his town. KAO SHENG then stacks boxes of supplies on a cart. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) But... be kind. Give them second chances. CUT TO: INT. CLEAN RUSTIC CHINESE SUNDRY SHOP - DAY KAO SHENG’s mother opens the sundry shop’s grills. She looks around and realizes the cleanliness. She then realises that KAO SHENG has cleaned up the whole place by himself. CUT TO: EXT. DIRTY ROADS - DAY A cart with boxes of supplies is being pulled. Despite its heavy load, KAO SHENG determinedly pulls it along the dirty roads. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) And you’ll grow bigger than them. Just like your name. CUT TO: 5. EXT. SCHOOL HALL - DAY KAO SHENG arrives at a school hall with the cart. We see flood victims taking refuge in the school hall. KAO SHENG places the cart down with relief. As volunteer workers arrive to help him, an old man walks up to KAO SHENG. OLD MAN Boy, you are so kind. What’s your name? KAO SHENG looks slightly taken aback, but replies shyly. KAO SHENG My name is... Kao Sheng. OLD MAN Kao Sheng... your name really suits you. Thank you. The old man walks away. KAO SHENG looks on thoughtfully. CUT TO: EXT. PADDY FIELD - DAY A close up of paddy field with sunlight gleaming through (to symbolise a positive that has happened). CUT TO: INT. RUSTIC DINING AREA - DAY KAO SHENG and family are having their Chinese New Year reunion dinner. KAO SHENG’s dad is seen with a leg plaster. KAO SHENG’S MOM Kao Sheng, eat more long beans. Close up to KAO SHENG as he looks thoughtfully at his parents. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) One day, we hope you’ll understand why. CUT TO: 6. INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT Close up of a heartbeat scanner at a hospital. We hear a doctor’s voice off-screen. DOCTOR (OFF-SCREEN) Your son will pull through. But please know as a premature baby... his growth might be affected. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) Because... Camera dolly in to baby KAO SHENG breathing heavily through in an incubator. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) Since the day you were born, we have always believe in you. Close up of baby KAO SHENG in the incubator. Supers appear. KAO SHENG’S MOM (VOICE OVER) Kao Sheng... Supers: Grow up well. Overcome all challenges. CUT TO: INT. RUSTIC DINING AREA - DAY KAO SHENG changes his Facebook name - from Cloud Tan - to his Chinese name - Tan Kao Sheng. He looks out of the window thoughtfully. FADE OUT Supers: Your name means more than words. It carries your parents’ hopes. This Chinese New Year, wear your name with pride. #ThisIsMyName THE END