It started with my dad.
Seven years ago, I learned my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I knew I might have to leave the journalism career I worked for and loved so much. But something unexpected happened.
Seven years ago, I learned my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I knew I might have to leave the journalism career I worked for and loved so much. But something unexpected happened.
"I wanted to show caring for other people is still an honor. Young caregivers are also doing the most difficult, but for family. This next greatest generation deserves all the effort we can muster."
— Richard Lui
Sky Blossom is an Academy Award qualifying film salute to 2020. Filmed over three years, it is a raw, uplifting window into 24.5 million children and millennials stepping forward as frontline heroes. Caring for family with tough medical conditions, they stay at home doing things often seen only in hospitals. They are cheerleaders, work part time, and go to college – but also live double lives – quietly growing up as America’s next greatest generation.
During the Second World War, troops used to look up and say, “Here come the Sky Blossoms” — paratroopers rushing to their aid. Today, there is a new generation answering that call. These are their stories.
The film’s original score reflects the beauty, struggle, and joy of the caregiver experience.
The film score was performed over a marathon three day scoring session with fifty of the top performers from Boston’s world-renowned Berklee College of Music at Futura Studios. Composer Maria Lineva and her team wrote original leitmotifs for each of the five families in the film, taking inspiration from each family’s story and hometown. Performed by the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra conducted by Julius P. Williams.
Director Richard Lui writes: “My mother loved music her entire life, starting as a church choir girl in Southern California. She would play the piano and violin when we would care for my father who had Alzheimer’s. The classical music she performed brought him back from his dementia. Music is a major part of my caregiving experience – I still take my mom to the symphony to remember her love of music and my father.”
Montel earned his media celebrity status as an Emmy Award winning TV personality whom Americans invited into their homes for over 17 years. He is a decorated former naval officer, inspirational speaker, author, entrepreneur and advocate for patients worldwide.
Actor and comedian David Hyde Pierce has worked extensively in films, television and on the stage. He is best known for his 4-time Emmy-award winning role as Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier. Pierce’s father and grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s. He is a strong supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association, for which he raises funds and awareness of the condition.
Jean Tsien has been working in documentary for 35 years as an editor, producer, and consultant. Her editing credits include Scottsboro: An American Tragedy, a 2001 Academy Award nominee. Tsien recently executive produced a 5-part series for PBS on Asian Americans and consulted the 2020 Academy Award winner American Factory.
Colonel Jacobs is one of 69 living Medal of Honor recipients for his actions during the Vietnam War. He is a military analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
A veteran journalist and news anchor, Richard Lui has more than 30 years in television, technology, and business. Currently at MSNBC and CNN Worldwide before, he is the first Asian American male to anchor a daily national cable news program. The film is inspired by Lui’s experience as a caregiver for his father. Learn more at www.richardlui.com
Donald Young is Director of Programs for the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). He oversees programmatic work including filmmaker funding, talent support and development, national productions, and broadcasts. Most recently, Young was Executive Producer on “Asian Americans,” a five-hour history series for PBS.
Alex Lo has captivated audiences with work featured everywhere from NBC’s TODAY to the United Nations. Lo has produced two feature films: “UNCONDITIONAL”, screened at the U.S. Capitol and White House, is 2023’s most widely-distributed documentary; “Sky Blossom”, his $3.1M debut effort, was an Academy Award qualifier. LEARN MORE
Hailey Lee is currently an MBA candidate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior, she was the Economics Producer at CNBC, responsible for driving economics coverage across the network.
Bing Chen is an entrepreneur, creator, and equalization builder. He is Chairman of Gold House, General Partner of AUM Group, and was previously a principal architect of YouTube’s multi-billion dollar global creator ecosystem.
Daphne Kwok is the Vice President of Multicultural Leadership for the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Audience Strategy at AARP. Her work empowers AAPIs to choose how they live as they age.
Bob Stephen is AARP’s Vice President, Caregiving and Long Term Care. He joined AARP in 2010. Bob has a BA from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business.
As CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Steve spearheads the country’s preeminent organization supporting military and veteran caregivers. Steve’s achievements include driving the expansion of the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to caregivers of every war era.
Brian Yang's producing credits include the documentaries LATE LIFE and LINSANITY and narratives ANOTHER SHOT, I CAN I WILL I DID, and SNAKEHEAD. Yang has also produced documentary specials for ESPN and Fox Sports.
Elizabeth Yuan is a publishing editor at The Wall Street Journal and worked at CNN in Hong Kong and Atlanta. She distributed the Greek feature film “Hard Goodbyes: My Father,” which ran in more than 40 U.S. theaters.
Eliana is an award-winning Director and Cinematographer. She’s logged thousands of miles for NatGeo and BBC Travel capturing surprising animal encounters. Her latest work in festivals as Director and Cinematographer includes “Spirit of Discovery.”
Brooklyn native, Mielle Ezra is a skilled production sound mixer. Her passion for sound allows her to capture the sonic world naturally on many narrative and documentary feature films with pristine clarity and precision.
Bret Sigler is an Emmy Award winning editor and director. His work has been on outlets including Netflix, Amazon, PBS, ABC and The New York Times, and screened in film festivals globally. Brooklyn-based, West-Coast reared.
Zara Serabian-Arthur is a non-fiction filmmaker and a founding member of the Meerkat Media Coop. Her work has been featured on PBS, the New York Times, the New Yorker and National Geographic.
Bryan is a documentary filmmaker who has directed films including BRASSLANDS, edited ISLAND SOLDIER and NARCO CULTURA, and additionally edited Oscar-shortlisted DARK MONEY. He’s a member-owner of Meerkat Media Coop.
Catherine is a Gilder Lehrman History Scholar, an award given to fifteen students demonstrating excellence in U.S. history and commitment to public service. She attends Boston University, where she is a trustee scholar.
Maria Lineva is a composer who graduated from Gnesin Academy and Berklee College of Music. Growing up in Russia, she was exposed to classical and contemporary education that both influenced her compositional approach.
Maestro Williams has created works for virtually every genre of contemporary classical performance, including opera, ballet, orchestra, chamber ensemble, chorus and solo voice, dance, musical theatre and film.
Newman is an investigative data producer for KUSA-TV in Colorado. The University of Missouri graduate & Eagle Scout came to Denver by way of MSNBC & ABC News in NYC. When not reporting, he's likely hiking or doing improv.
Gabby is a film worker from MD. Her role as assistant camera gave her newfound appreciation for documentaries. Previously crewing narrative & commercials, she found there is something incomparable about capturing real lives.
Davy Liu is the president of Kendu Films in Los Angeles. After immigrating from Taiwan, his artistic talent led him to Walt Disney Feature Animation on classics such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and Mulan.
Nic is an animator / motion graphics designer from the New York City area with a passion for storytelling and mysticism.
At heart, Vino is a visual storyteller who sees and appreciates life from behind and in front of the lens. For more than two decades he has honed his skills in the area of photojournalism and prior to relocating to Malaysia in 2012, he worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution while also providing breaking news coverage to its sister stations WSBTV and WSB Radio.
Patricia is one of very few people you'll meet who has worked for two Presidents, two Vice Presidents and Mickey Mouse and that's just the headline of a remarkably diverse career spanning two decades and multiple industries.
Christine Dunn is a Partner at Seven Letter, an innovative strategic communications firm. She brings over two decades of experience in media, from global journalism to developing award-winning thought leadership campaigns.
Adrien is a business development and finance professional currently working at the Censeo Consulting Group in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. His favorite hobby is travel.
Kathy is nonprofit leader with 20 year of experience in nonprofit management and has led 2 membership associations. She has worked in the public and private sector and is known as being a collaborator and servant leader.
Simone Migliori is a PR professional with MBP Consultants and a recent Boston University graduate. She is driven to give back to the veteran community in memory of her late grandfather, Duane Benavidez, retired U.S. Navy.
CEO of Pixel Point Digital agency from Slovakia. Professional web developer with 15 years of WordPress, Front-End Development and SEO skilled experience. He worked on numerous successful projects in Europe and USA. Attention to detail is very important for him to complete all work on 150 percent.
Jessica Xiao is the Communications and Engagement Associate at the Asian American Journalists Association.
Elena is a 2020 graduate from Boston University. Born and raised in Rochester, NY, that is where she found her passion for politics and helping out local communities.
Zev is a composer for film & musical theatre. His new musical The Pledge was selected for the New Works Lab at James Madison University in 2019, and has released two albums: "Diamond in the Rough" and "Pillows & Ice Picks."
Ying-Ting Luo is a Taiwanese film and game composer who graduated from Berklee College of Music with multiple awards. Luo also has a bachelor degree in flute performance from the top school in Taiwan.
Born and raised in Israel, Omer Lahmany is a composer and orchestrator for film, television, and live concerts. He worked on numerous musical productions, and collaborated with filmmakers and orchestras from around the world.