Bayard Street
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
In Person Date, Time & Location:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST • 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
QUEENS THEATRE • 14 United Nations Avenue South • Flushing Meadows Corona Park • Queens, NY 11368
SCREENING BLOCK:
Now What? Six films to remind us that we never know what’s next.
Synopsis
Set in 1980’s NYC, two Chinese restaurant workers find love while chasing their American dreams.
Credits
Cindy Chu, Director, WriterQueens Series
Mikel Butler, Producer
Cindy Chu, Producer
Genevieve Shi, Key Cast, “Mei Ching”
HaoSong Yang, Key Cast, “Andy”
Andy Chu, Key Cast, “Manager”
XiaoXiao Sun, Key Cast, “Ray”
Shu Hang Chan, Key Cast, “Cook”
Hung Choy Chung, Key Cast, “Kitchen Helper”
Kamila Hoe, Key Cast, “Girl One”
Jenna You, Key Cast, “Girl Two”
Victor Zheng, Key Cast, “Man”
Cindy Chu, Key Cast, “Cashier”
Jason Chu, Director of Photography
Amy Chih-Hsin Lee, Editor
Jenna You, Associate Producers
Director Statement
BAYARD STREET grew from a conversation with my dad about how my immigrant parents met in the 1980’s N.Y.C. and the struggles they faced to financially support our family and arguments they had that stemmed from their different class backgrounds. My dad was a working-class waiter from China while my mom was a wealthier immigrant from Taiwan. I wondered how these seemingly different people fell in love in a country that doesn’t love them back.
Inspired by my parents, BAYARD STREET became a story of Andy and Mei Ching, young lovers filled with hope and romance, but soon realize the American Dream isn’t all it’s cut out to be. They reflect similar experiences to most Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants during the 1980’s such as sending money back to their families in their native countries while navigating through the Chinatown employment system where very few people rise up to the corporate world.
This film honors the people who’ve faced harsh realities and sacrifices in order to build better lives in America. We hope you join us in celebrating those who came before us.
Director Biography
Cindy Chu is a filmmaker born and raised in Queens, NY from a Chinese and Taiwanese immigrant family. She is a Blackmagic Collective Breakthrough Initiative fellow, was a #Startwith8Hollywood mentee, and a semifinalist for Hillman Grad Mentorship. Her award-winning digital dramedy series, Queens won best TV pilot comedy at Omni Cultural TV fest, and her TV pilot, Angel Island, was selected for the 2nd round for Sundance Episodic Lab. Her romantic drama feature script, Bayard Street was a grand prize winner of Pitch Royale that was judged by Oscar winners, Baz Luhrmann and Jason Blum, and recently received multiple grants to shoot the short film version. Her stories are female-led, and about 1st gen and immigrant urban working-class Asian Americans in various genres of comedy, drama, and horror.
