Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor A short film created by VCU students explores the complicated relationships between family, identity and pursuing a creative career, particularly within Asian American households. “How to Live in Living Rooms,” written and directed by third-year cinema student Ben Phan, draws from his personal experiences as an Asian American pursuing the arts.  Funding from primarily VCU Arts undergraduate research grants and New Surge Production allowed Phan to bring actors from outside Virginia onto the project. “Although sometimes your parents can’t understand the art that you’re making or can’t understand the path that you’re on, there’s still ways that we can connect with our parents even if that isn’t through the traditional sense of understanding that some other people have,” Phan said. The title “How to Live in Living Rooms” reflects the differences between the living rooms Phan experienced growing up and those he encountered in other people’s homes, according to Phan. “Four walls, a couch, a TV stand, you know, a table is not enough to constitute a living room that is comfortable enough for you to express yourself in,” Phan said. Phan said the casting process allowed him the opportunity to see how different actors interpreted the same characters. He said he valued actors who made intentional choices and were confident enough to ask questions about their roles. Phan said several members of the cast, including the Vietnamese-speaking actors and artists involved in the Asian American arts community, connected with the film’s story because of its broader experiences. Developing the characters’ histories was one of the most challenging parts of the production, Phan said. He had limited time to establish the relationships and experiences that shaped the characters before the story began. Although Phan said he initially felt responsible for figuring out every detail himself, he said the actors’ questions and interpretations helped him build a more complete story. “It’s such a communal art form that you just can’t do it alone,” Phan said. Phan said he hopes his experience encourages other aspiring filmmakers, including people who may feel intimidated by the process or uncertain about their abilities. He said even people further along in their careers have expressed similar fears and uncertainty. “This film enabled me to realize that I am so much more capable than what my past versions of myself would believe,” Phan said. The film is not meant to suggest that every