Miss Canton

In 2013, during her family’s annual Lunar New Year’s meal, Jenny finds herself at odds with her identity. After accidently smashing her ancestral jade bangle, she descends into a spiral of guilt and confusion which manifests in her head as an intense, surrealist, Asian, beauty pageant. She is scrutinised and scolded by her own mind as she convinces herself she is not worthy of her own culture. How can she claim to be Chinese when she can’t even speak the language? Why will her Por Por not allow her to cook for the family when she is a trained chef? Why does everything seem to make her more and more distant from her family and culture? Jenny dips in and out of her family’s celebration and her mental decent until the two collide and finally make her crack.

Miss Canton will aim to blend cultural heritage with compelling visual storytelling. Cinematography aims to immerse the audience in a world where visual aesthetics resonate deeply with the film’s themes and characters. Production design will be used to create a home that feels real as well as a pageant that stresses and overwhelms whilst sound and editing will create the paces changes and tension needed.

Cosy lighting for the family dining scenes will emphasise warmth and intimacy as well as the production design that will be focused on creating a ‘lived in’ space. Side lighting or subtle backlighting will enhance the natural textures of the food and table setting which will hopefully highlight the enticing meals. Warm hues will be used to try and evoke a sense of comfort and togetherness, while small pools of focused light on the dining table should bring attention to shared moments and conversations.

Filming cooking scenes will require a focus on capturing the textures, colours, and movements that bring the culinary process to life, often using close-up shots and dynamic angles to emphasise the artistry of preparation. Lighting will play a crucial role, with warm, natural tones enhancing the food's appeal, while smooth camera movements will highlight the sensory experience of cooking. We will work closely with sound here, to provide a mouthwatering, sensory, watch.

For the beauty pageant, lighting will be designed to enhance the main character’s features while creating a glamorous and engaging atmosphere for the audience. We will highlight facial features, whilst adding depth and a subtle glow to create a sense of elegance. Careful attention will be given to ensuring the lighting complements skin tones and enhances the sparkle of gowns, jewellery, and accessories, creating a captivating visual experience for the audience. Sparkles, close-ups of smiles, Jenny’s emotions, and over-saturated colours will represent her stress and internal conflict. These sequences will feel fast-paced, maximalist, and overwhelming from all departments.

During our turning point, we will slow down and contrast the high-speed nature of the film. More blue tones and a calmer pace of camera and editing will reflect the slow down in Jenny’s mind as she begins to face her guilt in the real world.

The heart of Miss Canton is a story that echoes the thoughts and feelings of many children of immigrant parents. The feelings of being distant or separated from your own relatives and cultural identity through the lack of shared language is something that is becoming increasingly common as more people move to the UK and start families. 

Robyn was inspired to write this film based on her own experience with not speaking the language of her mother’s family (Cantonese). After her Por Por died, Robyn realised that she had never had a conversation with her because they physically could not communicate with one another. Her Por Por only spoke Cantonese, and her, English. But soon she came to realise that words were not her Por Por’s language, nor the language of her Hong Kong culture, the real language was in food and mealtimes. People tend to focus on words and speech and miss the real form of love…food.

Food is so intrinsic in many cultures; It’s almost like a universal language that transcends beyond speech.

We need support from our backers to bring Miss Canton to life. With the help of our supporters, we can cover essential production costs, such as securing authentic locations, hiring a talented cast and crew, and using high-quality equipment—all of which are crucial to telling this story in the most impactful way possible. Every contribution helps us bring Miss Canton from a vision to a finished film, allowing us to share its important message with a wider audience.

Want to know where your money may be going if you are able to support miss canton? Please find below a guide that breaks down our primary costs in order to get out film made :

Director - Robyn Norwood :

Robyn Norwood is the writer and director of Miss Canton. Her love of film started very young, when she became a child actor at 4. Growing up working in industry taught her a lot and eventually led her to start making her own short films. Whilst studying, Robyn has worked alongside many Directors as their 1st AD and learnt a lot from their various methods and attitudes. She has created her own independent shorts outside of university and cannot wait to show you the world of Miss Canton.

Miss Canton was written after Robyn was reminiscing on her Por Por, who sadly died when she was younger. Robyn found it fascinating that in all her life, she had never managed to have a conversation with her because of the language barrier. She never knew if her Por Por liked her or not, and the only stories she would get told were about how her Por Por liked to feed her. That was when she realised that Cantonese and English didn't matter. The language her Por Por spoke was food and meals. She loved to cook for the family, big meals at her house. As she began writing the story, she realised that this idea of feeling guilty about language was more common than she thought.

Producer  - Molly Farnham :

Molly is Miss Canton's producer. She has worked on award-winning film projects and has experience of working as a producer for multiple short films and music videos. She began her TV and film journey working as a runner on Netflix's Lockwood and Co, where working alongside a talented cast and crew inspired her to deepen her education of the film making process. Through her studies at Bournemouth Arts Film School, she expanded her network, leading to opportunities with larger-scale projects and higher budgets. Now, she's eager to bring her skills to her next venture: producing Miss Canton.

Though Molly was born Jewish, she grew up in a non-religious household and often felt a disconnect from her cultural roots. Attending Shabbat dinners, she struggled to participate fully in the songs and prayers. When she heard Robyn’s pitch about a young woman navigating a similar journey of cultural discovery and disconnection, Molly immediately recognised the story’s importance and knew she wanted to help bring it to life.

Producer  - Evelyn Norman-Rogers :

Evelyn is the Co-Producer on Miss Canton, working alongside Molly, helping make the production a reality. In the last two years Evelyn has been on the producing team for over 20 films and is excited to add this film to their roster! Since learning about Miss Canton, they wanted to be apart of the process creating this beautiful film and feels honoured to be working with such a talented crew. 

Familial love is such a complicated topic, and exploring the ability to communicate with loved ones through any means possible is a subject that sits close to Evelyn’s heart. The feeling of belonging Robyn has expressed through this story is an important message that Evelyn wishes to help portray with the creation of this film!

1st Assistant Director - J Taylor-Jones : 

J (they/them) is an award-winning filmmaker from Brighton. They’ve been working in film since 2021 in the production teams of a range of projects, from channel 4 commissioned works to their own independent films made within their own production company, Burning Closets Films.

J was lucky enough to read an early draft of Miss Canton’s screenplay, and were immediately drawn to the themes of family and communication - especially nonverbal means such as cooking - and wanted to help bring to life a script that so beautifully illustrates what they see as a very important lesson: familial love is strange, and manifests so subtly in the chaos that is life.

Yeva Malovana - Director of Photography

Yeva Malovana is a Director of Photography on Miss Canton. Originally from Ukraine, Yeva moved to the UK to focus on her dream of becoming a cinematographer. In the UK, she immersed herself in the dynamic world of filmmaking, bringing a fresh vision shaped by their Eastern European roots. The move was not just geographical but deeply personal—a leap of faith meant stepping outside their comfort zone, adapting to a new culture, and building connections in the UK film industry. At this stage, her journey in the film industry has allowed her to contribute to various films as part of the cinematography crew, taking on roles such as Director of Photography, Gaffer, Camera Operator, First Assistant Camera and more.

Yeva was drawn to Miss Canton for its deep exploration of cultural disconnection and identity, especially its portrayal of the emotional complexities of feeling like an outsider and the language barrier issue within one's own heritage. This theme resonates deeply with her as someone from Ukraine who lives across different cultures and often experiences a sense of distance from her family. She sees this film as a powerful tool to help others feel less like outsiders in their culture, inspiring them to reconnect and fully embrace their identity because it raises these topics.

Wesley Roussel - Gaffer

Wesley Roussel developed a love for film and cinematography at a young age, thanks to their dad introducing them to film. This early interest sparked a lasting passion for how films are made, especially the role of visuals in storytelling.

Miss Canton should be made because it tells a powerful story about the struggle to communicate with family. It highlights the emotional challenges of connecting across language barriers, a theme many people can relate to.

Freddie James - Camera Operator :

Freddie James is a camera operator on ‘Miss Canton’. At the age of twelve Freddie discovered the magic of filmmaking and the art of creativity. Attending Elstree Screen Arts Academy where he majored in photography, film studies and cinematography, he fell in love with capturing images whether it’s stills or moving. During his gap year Freddie worked under Key Grip David Cadwallader where he built a strong foundation for on set knowledge and etiquette. While also expanding his knowledge outside the camera department, which furthered his skills as an independent filmmaker. As an individual with a deep passion for storytelling through visuals, Freddie is always drawn to projects that explore rich cultural narratives and intimate character experiences. Miss Canton immediately captured his attention because of its compelling exploration of identity, family, and the power of film to bridge generational gaps. This film not only honours the emotional journey of connecting with heritage, but also highlights how personal storytelling can be a profound way of understanding and preserving culture.

Working on Miss Canton as a camera operator was a natural choice for Freddie because it allowed him to combine his technical skills with his love for capturing the nuances of human connection. As a visual artist, Freddie is constantly seeking ways to translate emotion, culture, and identity into visual language. Every frame in Miss Canton is an invitation to reflect on how film serves as a mirror to so many individuals' lives. Freddie is thrilled to help bring such a meaningful and culturally significant project to life.

Sienna Lorenzini - Production Designer :

Sienna is co-Production Designer on Miss Canton. Coming from a multicultural background, food and the act of cooking have played an important role in bringing her community together. She’s excited to explore the story’s visual themes of family, connection and Cantonese culture.

Jasmine Williams - Production Designer :

Jasmine is the Production Designer for Miss Canton. She came to AUB with the intention of specialising in Production Design, and has since worked in the art department of several productions, with a particular passion for the use of colour and how this can be used to enrich the telling of a story.

She was particularly drawn to Miss Canton as she feels quite personally connected to the film, since English is the second language for both sides of her family. She is also fascinated by how the rich, lively setting of the dinner table can contrast with the colder tones of the kitchen in the film. Having worked on several experimental films she feels particularly drawn to the surrealist pageant in the film, and how this can be crafted to emulate the feelings of detachment and isolation.

Jessye O'Regan - Costume Designer :

Our costume designer Jessye O’Regan has gained experience across the art department, learning how to develop a story through details and connecting to the world they are trying to create.

At her time at university they have worked on a range of student short films and low budget projects, working in fast paced, collaborative teams able to showcase their overlapping range of skills in craft and design.

When choosing Miss Canton, she was drawn to the family values that lie at the core of the story, and how details can show the connections we have with our family, whether we feel them or not. Costuming groups of people is a challenge Jessye takes in their stride, advocating for everyone’s 5 seconds of fame. Miss Canton offers patience and values these small moments that allows for the art of the costume department to sing. Using their plethora of skills gained in their studies and dedication and love of the story she will shine a big bright stage light on these characters’ world.

Louis Chiffe - Sound Designer :

Being a department leader, Louis will use his experience in the sound department to help bring Miss Canton to life on set through his work as a sound recordist and in post-production as a sound editor. Drawing on experience from award winning projects, he is confident that he will be able to deliver on this project in a way that respects the immense collective effort that is being put in by everyone involved with Miss Canton.

Being the son of a French immigrant, Louis felt that the subject matter of Miss Canton deeply related so his own familial experience. Because of this he was naturally drawn to working on this project, and is extremely excited and committed to the film as a whole.

Bella Aliotti - Script Supervisor :

Introducing Bella our Script Supervisor! Bella is a third year Film Production student who grew up surrounded by her filmmaking family! From a young age, Bella always had a love for being creative whether that meant painting, photography, or filming! Bella has been working with film/media for 5 years now and continues to grow a love for it daily! Bella loves watching Gilmore Girls, cooking, and spending time with the people she loves. 

As an international student and coming from a bilingual background, this film resonates deeply with Bella as it reminds her of her own family. Growing up with an Swedish mom and American-Italian dad she was surrounded by multiple cultures and often struggled to find a place within her family. However, due to her family’s love for cooking she always knew how much they loved her. This love for cooking was passed on to Bella and drew her to working on this film. Bella cannot wait to work on Miss Canton and show people the side of being bilingual people don’t always understand.

Josh Mattinson  - Co-Editor :

With a background in music, drama and photography, Josh is excited to be a co-editor on Miss Canton. He is Avid certified and a prolific baker so whether he is in the editing suite or the kitchen, you can be assured he is cooking up something sweet. 

Born in New Zealand but raised in the UK, Josh intimately understands the feeling of not fully belonging and despite there being no disconnect in language with his family, feeling split between cultures is an element of the film that he relates to. He strongly believes in the value of making food with loved ones and sharing a meal as a way of bonding without words.

Wai Liu - Co-Editor :

Wai Liu is a Co-Editor on Miss Canton. Originally from Hong Kong, Wai traveled to the UK to pursue his passion for filmmaking, feeling that opportunities in the industry were limited back home. His journey is driven by a desire to connect with like-minded creatives and build a network that supports a successful career in film. His journey so far has already led him to work alongside established industry professionals and breaking into the content creation scene as a video editor for CTRL Esports, a professional esports organization based in the United Kingdom.

Wai was drawn to Miss Canton for its exploration of cultural disconnection and identity, particularly its focus on the complex emotions of feeling like an outsider within one's own heritage. This theme resonates with him personally, as someone from Hong Kong who has experienced life across different cultures and often feels a sense of distance from his extended family. He believes in the importance of this film as a way to help others feel less like imposters in their own culture, encouraging them to reconnect and fully embrace who they are.

Harry Cotton - Grade :

Harry Cotton is our grader. Colour grading is Harry’s field of choice as he enjoys the task of matching a project’s visual styles to its emotional tone, and the fulfilling feeling that comes with this. 

Harry chose to work on Miss Canton, because, although he doesn’t not face a linguistic divide in his family, he still relates to the idea of food being the family together. A Friday night chines takeaway is a tradition that bought his family together every week, and something that he misses since moving away.

Crew Photos By : Phoebe Davis-Brookes

Instagram : @phoebedb.photo

Thank you for meeting us down here at the bottom of the page! Hopefully this means you are one of the rare few that have found it within yourself to read everything we have written, or maybe you have just skipped down to see if there are any more pretty pictures... Whatever the reason for us meeting down here, we appreciate it very much and hope you may kindly donate to our project. I mean, you seem pretty invested if you got all the way here. Why not take the extra step?

If you would like to learn some more about Miss Canton before donating or have any questions for us please reach out to us on our instagram @misscanton_bfs or our email [email protected]