YUAN YUAN AND THE HOLLOW MONSTER / U.S.A. / LOUISIANA PREMIERE

This is a personal story, with characters based on family members, and memories from Hurricane Katrina, Wilma, Charley, Ivan, and Frances from 2004 - 2005. The film centers the director's younger sister and their childhood, growing up Chinese American: Eight-year-old Yuan Yuan (Jackie) is determined to protect her newest pet, a tiny turtle named Lucy, at all costs. Even if it means chasing down a massive hurricane called the Hollow Monster.

Chinese with English subtitles.

Director Biography

Catherine Chen is a 22-year-old writer-director and a producer currently living in Los Angeles. She is a recent 2020 BA grad from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. While studying in USC, she interned at Green Gold Animation for story development.

Catherine is a 2nd generation Chinese American who grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. She witnessed the devastating 2004-2005 hurricanes that ravaged the East Coast of the United States. Before the film school, she majored in visual arts at A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, she was a National YoungArts Foundation winner in both Visual and Cinematic Arts.