I'm making a short film based on my experience of being half Chinese and growing up going for family meals but not able to ever directly communicate with family, particularly my grandmother. It centres on the idea of a family going for dim sum and there is a real focus on the physical choreography of families, the way we express affection and communicate through body language and food. The film is funded by Arts Council England. The film will be exhibited on Videoclub and will tour the short film circuit.A young, mixed race (half-Chinese, half-British) woman participates in the Sunday ritual of going for Dim Sum with her family. Paying attention to elements of the occasion that she understands versus moments that distance her from the action, she considers her position in the family and explores what it is that makes her feel she belongs.The film is artistic and observational in style and largely without dialogue. The tone is contemplative but ultimately optimistic. It is intimate in style and experimental, seeking the abstract beauty in the dining occasion. There is some humour in moments we share with the protagonist - food slipping through her chopsticks, overhearing snippets of chinese/english conversation that are odd when out of context. As we follow the experience of our protagonist and become more immersed in her thoughts, moments of abstraction are emphasised. At times where the protagonist is more acutely aware of feeling out-of-step, we are more present in the room and see how she is positioned in comparison to the people around her. There is a focus upon the choreography of the occasion, from the routines of the staff to the exchanged and shared bowls of food, arms criss-crossing across the table. There is a particular focus on the expression of affection though subtle gestures and body language. Location:  SouthendShoot dates are 13th and 14th May. The main roles are a familyWe have fees for the actors at the Equity rate of £147 per day, and of course cover travel, food and if accommodation is needed in Southend between the two days.