a Studio Katalyst film
CRY
EAT
CRY
a dark dramedy
written and directed by Yung Hsin Hung
Logline
PUBLIC CRYING IS CRIMINAL, PENALTY OF DEATH
Evelyn must compress her urge to cry or succumb to her father’s fate?
Synopsis
Evelyn is 23, and after her father dies, she doesn’t know how to grieve in a world that won’t let her cry in public. So she creates private ceremonies—carefully planned rituals of eating—where color, food, and small repeated actions help her feel what she can’t show.
The story begins when she comes home from a bike ride and prepares a red ceremony, giving her anger a place to go. As she moves through different colors, her emotions shift too—anger, longing, and moments of bittersweet warmth.
Through quiet flashbacks, we see her bond with her father and how deeply he shaped her. The rituals don’t erase her pain, but they help her carry it, one ceremony at a time.
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Character
Meet Evelyn Black
Evelyn, a 23-year-old, lives in a rustic countryside home adorned with greenery, artworks, and cherished antiques. Little do others know, she expresses her raw emotions through dance, culinary artistry, and visual masterpieces, infusing everything she touches with her unique artistic spirit. Her life is a canvas shaped by the memory of her father and the wisdom of her mother.
Her Ritual
Evelyn’s rituals stem from the need to process her emotions related to her father’s absence and her mother’s teachings. The countryside house and the big tree are significant locations tied to her memories and emotional ceremonies. Her father’s encouragement to express her emotions and her mother’s guidance on controlling them form the basis of her unique approach to dealing with feelings.
Her Journey
Throughout the story, Evelyn transitions from intense emotional expression through her ceremonies to a more subdued, contemplative state. By the end, while she achieves emotional independence, there is a poignant sense of disconnect, and we sense the loss of Evelyn’s creative wild spirit.
PRODUCTION
- 2 Interior Locations: 5 Sets
- 1 Exterior Location: 1 Set
- 6 Cast Members
- 18 Crew Members
- 5 Shooting Days
- Principal Dates: Oct - Nov 2024
- Completion: Feb 2026
- Public Screening: Dec 2025
- Festival Submissions: Mar 2025
- Production Budget: $25,000
- Marketing Budget: $2,500
- Film Festival Budget: $2,500
Authorized
- SAG-AFTRA Micro Budget
- Film Independent Fiscal Sponsorship
OVERVIEW
“Cry Eat Cry” is the first installment of a trilogy that delves
into the intricate interplay of crying, ritual, and memory.
This short film sets the stage for a larger narrative, exploring
the protagonist Evelyn’s journey through grief and selfdiscovery.
The film’s poignant storytelling and visual poetry
aim to captivate audiences and generate momentum for the
subsequent feature films in the trilogy.
“Cry Eat Cry” is a surreal, dark comedy exploring grief,
repression, and coping through ritual.
This production is an officially authorized SAG-AFTRA Micro Budget Union Project, operating in full compliance with SAG-AFTRA’s standards and guidelines for union projects.
This production is fiscally sponsored by Film Independent, enabling tax-deductible contributions to support our film’s development and production.
FILM STILLS
A Glimpse into the Story
BEHIND THE SCENE
Candid Moments
Tax-Deductible Donations
Tax-Deductible Contributions through Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship
We’re proudly fiscally sponsored by Film Independent, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to championing creative independence in visual storytelling and supporting emerging filmmakers.
Support independent storytelling with a tax-deductible contribution through Film Independent. Fuel creativity, impact audiences, and enjoy a tax write-off.
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