Logline
Three Filipino-American siblings' worlds collide as their brother, a troubled sitcom actor, returns home to see their ailing mother. But when he walks through the front door, their life magically becomes a sitcom.
What happens?
JORDAN, a young actor, arrives at his childhood home in New Jersey and finds his sister, CLARA, on their porch. He tries to make small talk, but Clara is hurt Jordan hasn’t come home in three years.
They’re interrupted by his older brother, GENE, who’s excited to have Jordan back. They head into the house, but as Jordan enters, he is magically thrust into a MULTI-CAM SITCOM starring his family.
On “set,” he’s greeted by his aunt, TITA BABY, his kid cousin, AARON, and his father, RAY. The home is bright and the mood is bubbly. The family catches up with Jordan — every punchline is met with a LAUGH TRACK.
However, cracks start to show and reality starts to bleed in.
The World
We're straddling two distinct worlds: the quirky, fun, multi-cam sitcom and a somber family drama.
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The two genres are a metaphor for Jordan's journey through grief. Jordan copes with the imminent loss of his mother by living in his sitcom fantasy.
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But the love he has for his family triumphs over his selfishness. In the end, Jordan chooses to live in the reality of the moment, and goes to see his mom.
Themes
Grief
Loss
Trauma
Family Dysfunction
Director's Statement
As artists, we often process personal tragedies through the lens of our creative work — usually in a positive manner, but sometimes as a way to avoid dealing with reality.
When our protagonist, a successful sitcom actor, enters his childhood home, he subconsciously warps his reality into a version he’s familiar with: a multi-cam sitcom.
HALCYON DAYS is our love letter to the TV shows we grew up with, told through the story of a multi-generational Filipino family dealing with the grief and trauma of losing their matriarch.
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We hope to stretch the boundaries of genre storytelling, explore fresh ideas showcasing Filipino talent, and tell a heartfelt, personal story about a family trying to navigate a difficult loss.