FIRST
CHAIR
-a coming of age heartbreak
In that awkward stretch between Christmas and New Year’s, Emma sets out to make her last winter break of high school memorable. She heads to the beach with her friend Matt, where the two reveal they have feelings for each other.
The only problem: Matt has a girlfriend.
Despite this, the two kiss.
What was meant to be a memorable night, turns into one they wish they could forget.
Our Team
Kaylin Allshouse is a writer and director from Columbus, Ohio and a graduate of Kenyon College. Her award-winning shorts have screened at festivals such as the Crested Butte Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, and Cindependent. She is currently in post-production on her debut feature, Still Ohio, while pursuing her MFA in Directing at the American Film Institute. Kaylin played trumpet in her high school marching band and proudly held first chair—if only for 2 weeks before being overtaken.
DIRECTOR & CO-WRITER
Kaylin Allshouse
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
Jingxin “Karina” Chen is currently completing her MFA in Producing at AFI. She previously earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Film and Television from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Karina has interned at Tesla, Ogilvy, Shenzhen Media Group, and Guangzhou Opera House. She also assisted in the 40th and 41st Hong Kong Film Awards and acted in an unreleased feature film directed by Derek Tsang. In addition, the short film PASSERSBY, which she contributed to, was selected for the Macao Youth Film Festival.
PRODUCER
Jingxin “Karina” Chen
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
Lillian Young is a Screenwriter from Houston, Texas who now resides in Los Angeles. She is currently a Screenwriting Fellow at AFI. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts with minors in Applied Mathematics and Jewish Studies from Loyola Marymount University. Lillian spent the last three years working in casting for unscripted/reality TV for shows like The Circle, The Price is Right, and Human v.s Hamster. A former theatre and choir kid, Lillian is excited to put her awkward high school years to use for this film.
CO-WRITER
Lillian Young
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
Wara Pornkulwat is a cinematographer with over 10 years of experience spanning independent films, large-scale studio productions, and commercial projects across Thailand and international markets. Training at the American Film Institute Conservatory, he brings his collaborative spirit and strong visual versatility to every project. His credits include work on a Netflix series Terror Tuesday Extreme, and his USC Thesis was featured in the Moebius Showcase 2022 by Creative Artists Agency(CAA). From naturalistic realism to stylized, expressive imagery, Wara consistently serves the emotional core of storytelling.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Wara Pornkulwat
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
Jikun “Neil” Hao is currently a Production Design Fellow at American Film Institute Conservatory. Neil graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film,New Media and Animation. He also studied at Chapman University for Graduate Producing Program. His past work experience includes a position as acquisition assistant at EST Studio and as media content intern at several companies based in China. Neil has built a wealth of experience, and his short films have been featured in different festivals and past awards including LA Shorts, Student Academy and First International Film Festival.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Jikun
Neil
Hao
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
Mingyuan Gao is currently pursuing his MFA in Editing at the American Film Institute Conservatory. He holds a BFA in Film Editing from the School of Visual Arts and combines storytelling instincts with technical expertise. Certified as a DaVinci Resolve 18 User and Dolby Vision Certified Professional in 2023, he edited and color graded the short documentary Find Me, an Official Selection at the Big Apple Film Festival 2024 and Winner of the DOC NYC U Award 2024. He continues to expand creative possibilities through the language of cinema.
EDITOR
Mingyuan Gao
我是個段落。按一下這裡來新增您的文字和進行編輯。這很簡單。
OUR STORY
7:30 AM — Band class begins. But Emma and Matt have already been there an hour, practicing a trumpet riff together as the rest of the students filter in.
Since breaking up with Alex, Emma has thrown herself into music, determined to steal first chair from Matt. He’s skeptical, but he knows she just might overtake him. Their teasing is cut short when Ali—Matt’s girlfriend—walks in and takes her seat, forcing distance between them.
Over winter break, Emma buries herself in practice, shutting out the outside world. Her mom eventually convinces her to take a break, and she ends up getting ice cream with Matt. There, she muses about how fleeting life is, how do we remember one moment to another? Emma laments that they probably won’t remember this night either. In an attempt to make this night one to remember, the two venture off to the beach.
At the beach, Emma and Matt open up about the uncertainty of growing up. In the midst of their musings, they admit their feelings for each other and share a kiss—despite Matt still being with Ali. When Matt leans in again, Emma pulls away. Embarrassed, Matt lashes out, blaming Emma for making him cheat, and she runs off, leaving him behind.
Back at school, Emma dreads seeing him again. When chair placements are posted, she discovers she’s earned first chair—with Matt now in second. They sit side by side, silent, never looking at one another.
This film grows out of that space—that messy, beautiful, awkward stretch of adolescence. Emma and Matt’s story isn’t just about young love; it’s about the confusion of learning how to name your feelings, the sting of timing that doesn’t work out, and the quiet bravery it takes to admit what you want. I want to capture not just the sweetness of firsts but also the embarrassment, because it’s in those cringeworthy, vulnerable moments that we start to understand ourselves.
At its heart, this film asks: how do we learn to navigate emotions we may not yet have the language for? For me, that question is the essence of growing up—and the reason I tell stories like this one.
Matt is everyone’s favorite laid-back guy. He and Emma have always been close, and while he’s never pushed for more, the thought’s crossed his mind. When she finally makes a move, he’s all in. But when she pulls back, his easygoing façade slips, and he feels betrayed.
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Emma is searching for meaning after her breakup with Alex. She pours her heartbreak into the trumpet, determined to win first chair from Matt. But a late-night talk over ice cream leads them to the beach, where she wonders if the answer lies in her oldest friendship—maybe even as something more.
COLOR & FRAMING
CHARACTER
PROGRESS
1.
PRE-PRODUCTION
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Fundraising and prep work.
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Assembling cast, crew, and resources.
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Funding deadline by Nov 18th 2025
NOW
2.
PRODUCTION
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Filming scheduled: Jan 21 to 30, 2026.
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Location: Los Angeles, California.
3.
POST-PRODUCTION
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Editing, sound design, color, and music.
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Final cut ready by July 2026.
4.
FESTIVAL RUN
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Submissions begin Summer 2026.
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Targeting top international festivals.
MAKE A DONATION
Your support helps us bring this AFI thesis film to life.
Every contribution goes directly into production, post-production, and festival submissions, so the story can reach its intended audiences.
WE NEED:
USD $55000
WE HAVE:
USD $15000
American Film Institute(AFI) is a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization.
All donations go directly through AFI.
They may be 100% tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.
*Our project's previous tilte was 'Merry Christmas., Please Don't Call'. Please note that this name may still appear on the donation page, as the title change takes some time to process. We apologize for any inconvenience and truly appreciate your understanding.