Two loser Asian teens desperate for fame, get tangled in gang life to fund their rap star dreams, all while still pretending to be on board with their parents’ expectations.
Set in Atlanta, Georgia, A-TOWN BOYZ is centered on best friends Bruce Lee and Chhay Long, who are united by their passion for hip hop and dreams of making it big as rappers. Facing bullying when they were in high school, the two Asian teens find solace and inspiration in each other.
Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a chance encounter with Samuel Kim, a charismatic Korean-American gangster, pulls them into the dangerous world of crime. In their quest to fund their music dreams, the boys get entangled in Samuel’s turf wars with a rival gang - adding a layer of tension and unpredictability to their already challenging lives. Amidst the chaos, they befriend Mae, an aspiring Jazz singer, who becomes a crucial ally when she agrees to collaborate with them in order to improve their chances of winning a music competition that will set them on the course to a music career. In trying to make something out of their young lives, they discover what it means to love.
As Bruce gets deeper into gang life, this puts a rift between him and Chhay who is worried that his friend will end up in jail like his uncle. Eventually Bruce has to choose between loyalty to his family or to the gang. When a turf war ensues, an ambush gone wrong puts him in a position where he has to decide if he is willing to cross the point of no return to save his loved ones. The tension builds as the characters grapple with moral dilemmas, loyalty conflicts, and the harsh realities of their choices, culminating in a gripping climax that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
Winner of the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Documentary Directing at the 2024 Woodstock Film Festival for her latest film TROLL STORM, Eunice is a former journalist whose works have appeared on Discovery Channel and Al Jazeera. She is supported by eminent arts organizations such as Film Independent, Jerome Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, Chicken & Egg Pictures and is featured in publications The New York Times, Variety, and Filmmaker Magazine. As a descendant of immigrants displaced by conflict, Eunice is drawn to stories about the journey of migrants and it is reflected in her body of work. Her debut documentary ACCEPT THE CALL set in Minnesota’s Somali community explores the impact of injustice and intergenerational trauma. It aired on PBS Independent Lens after screening at acclaimed film festivals. Her second documentary film A-TOWN BOYZ set in the Asian American community in Atlanta, explores identity, belonging and migration. It is streaming on Amazon after premiering at the 2023 New York Asian Film Festival. She is currently working on two TV series, including a comedy drama inspired by A-TOWN BOYZ is which is selected for the Film Independent Episodic Lab. A MFA film graduate of New York University, she lives in New York City.
Selected for the Film Independent Episodic Lab 2024
Co-Writer - Honey Ahmad
