WHEN WAIPO VISITS
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY EMILY LI
A SONDER PICTURES PRODUCTION
FILM COMPS
ABOUT THE FILM
When Waipo Visits is a dramedy about a 23-year old Chinese American woman Rachel, who must convince the ghost of her grandma, Waipo, to reconcile with her grieving mother.
The story begins with Rachel partying with friends at a club in Los Angeles. She’s eyeing her long-time crush Sam—could tonight be the night they finally kiss? A missed call from her mom interrupts her daydream, painfully reminding her of the grief still hanging over them. Another shot later, she stumbles to the bathroom to throw up, where the ghost of her grandmother, Waipo, appears.
A chaotic, emotional night of dancing, confrontation, and vulnerability between a granddaughter and her grandmother unfolds against the pulsing beat of the dance floor.
[This film is set to shoot in Los, Angeles, CA. August 2025]
ABOUT THE WRITER/DIRECTOR
Emily Li
Emily Li is an LA-based writer, director, and producer. Growing up in both Northern California and Hangzhou, China, she is passionate about exploring complex family dynamics and cross-cultural themes through drama and comedy. After graduating from UC Berkeley studying Film and Business, she worked in entertainment marketing and management consulting. This fall, she will be pursuing her MFA in Producing at the USC Peter Stark Program.
Emily also co-founded Arteur Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering AAPI creatives. Over the past few years, they have hosted art markets and galleries and interviewed creatives from all over the world.
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THE TEAM BEHIND OUR FILM
PRODUCER
Gracie Flores is a Mexican-American writer, director, and producer from Los Angeles, California. She is the co-founder of Sonder Pictures, a community-driven production company dedicated to mutual aid, collective growth, and accessibility in independent filmmaking. Gracie is passionate about uplifting the voices of filmmakers of color and is especially drawn to stories exploring queer joy, layered family dynamics, and personal transformation.
A recent graduate of Columbia University, Gracie has interned on productions for Lifetime and Hello Sunshine, and currently works as a Programs and Events Intern at the National Association for Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).
Katelyn Negrete
LINE PRODUCER
Katelyn is an LA based producer of Mexican and Nicaragüense decent. She graduated with her bachelor’s in Cinema and Television studies from Cal State Northridge in 2024. While at CSUN she, produced a handful of short films including a mini web series! She now works with other aspiring creatives to bring to life films and shows that highlight minorities and their stories!
Yicheng “Loyal” Xie
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHER
Yicheng “Loyal” Xie is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer who received the Best Cinematography Award from a Hollywood industry panel including ASC cinematographers. His narrative work will screen at LA Shorts International Film Festival. Loyal’s portfolio spans narrative films, documentaries, music videos, and branded content, with collaborators including Dr. Jill Biden and Cord Jefferson, and clients such as Haier and UGreen. He is also representing Loyola Marymount University in its Camerimage Festival application. His visual style blends emotional nuance with technical precision, always anchoring story through perspective.
Michelle Cruz
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
Michelle Cruz is a Mexican-American multidisciplinary artist, born and raised throughout the Inland Empire in Southern California. She holds a dual B.A. in Global Studies and Film from the University of California, Riverside and has collaborated on various film productions and film festivals as a festival juror, screening supervisor, and digital marketer.
Drawing from her own experiences and perspective of the world, she uses her creativity to tell authentic stories that uplift and inspire others. Her love for visual storytelling and self expression drives her mission forward– to shed light on new ideas, challenge traditional norms, and make mundane things a little less lonely.
Ashley Hernandez
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
Ashley is a Salvadoran-American creative based in Los Angeles with a passion for film, music, and fan culture. She earned her B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Entertainment and Tourism and a minor in Cinema and Television Arts from Cal State Fullerton in 2024. While at CSUF, she worked as an Event Coordinator for ASI, helping plan concerts, speaker panels, and campus events. She's met inspiring creatives like Issa Rae and Ke Huy Quan through her work. Now, she shares her love for live music on TikTok and hopes to transition from hospitality into film or music marketing and fan engagement.
