LOGLINE: A naive young man receives a friend request from a beautiful stranger on social media then bumps into her the very next day. After a whirlwind romance, she wants to be introduced to his elusive father. Does she just want acceptance into the family or is she hiding an ulterior motive?

The film stars Will Hue and Candice Lam, both are nominated for Best Acting awards at the Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Festival. Will is a New York native Asian American and is also a writer and director. He created the webseries “The Streets”. Candice Lam is a fashion model originally from Macau and acted in the TV series “Billions” and Hong Kong indie feature “Passing Rain”. Veteran actor Geoff Lee, who has worked with David before on the short film “Pass The Buck” plays a supporting role.

This nineteen minute short was filmed over two days in Manhatten and Brooklyn by Korean American cinematographer Hajin Gyeltshen. Hajin has also worked extensively as a steadicam operator, so a lot of the shot designs in Alternate Ego are long ‘oners’ – one take shots which are quite challenging to execute and required extensive planning and lighting design for some of the locations.

“Even though the main characters are Asian, I didn’t want to do a story about ethnic identity. This was a story that could have been played by any ethnicity. I also wanted to treate this like a TV series, even though its a complete story, it feels very much part of a bigger world and there are still many questions left after its over.” David wrote and directed. and produced it together with Amy Ahn.

This is the second time David has made official selection at the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE). Moviemaker magazine called this one of the “25 coolest film festivals in the world.” In 2018, his feature “SIJI:DRIVER” won best feature film there. This year he returns with two shorts “Alternate Ego” and “Pass The Buck.” Both shorts screen Sunday July 14th, Pass the Buck at 1pm and Alternate Ego at 9:15pm.

For Tickets to LIIFE: http://longislandfilm.com/event/alternate-ego/

This is the first time David has been selected for the Asian American International Film Festival in New York (AAIFF). One of the longest running festivals in New York, this is the festival’s 42nd year. Alternate Ego screens Sunday, July 28th 2:30pm at Asia Society.

For Tickets to AIFF: https://www.goelevent.com/AAIFF/e/OtherlyWorlds

This is also the first time David has been selected for the Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Festival in Jersey City. Will and Candice are nominated for Best acting awards at this festival and will screen Sunday, August 4th at 4pm.

For Tickets to Brightside: http://www.brightsidetavernfilmfestival.com/august-2019-lineups.html

SIJI:DRIVER wins the Best Feature Film award and the Best Original Score award at the 21st Long Island International Film Expo 2018! David was also nominated for Best Director, Feature Film.

David receiving the award from Actor / Comedian Kevin “Dot Com” Brown.

David Chai with Festival Directors Debra Markowitz and Henry Stampfel.

Official Festival Site http://longislandfilm.com

Film screens July 16th, 2018. 7:30pm

David co-edited and did the color correction on this runway show.

Here is the trailer for my feature film Siji:Driver.

David did the color correction on this horror short BIOTIC – a viral promo for Fox’s Alien Covenant. Directed by Zev Deans. Cinematography by Christopher Raymond. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES.

David Edited this video featuring Mark Ruffalo for Endless Echo.

September 2015 NY Fashion Week. David edited and color corrected videos for designers Zimmermann and Dion Lee.

David edited and color corrected this video for the Woolmark international competition, which featured on Esquire.

David directed this video for talented furniture designer Robert Marinelli.

David edited and color corrected the Victoria Beckham AW15 runway show.

David edited and color corrected the Herve Leger AW15 Runway and Sizzle videos.

David edited and color corrected the BCBG AW15 runway show and backstage video during New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center Feb 2015.

David color corrected this music video in 4k using Davinci Resolve. It was performed by Annika, and directed by Vered Rodriguez.

David edited and color corrected the Victoria Beckham SS15 runway show.

David edited and color corrected the Kering SS14 collection program featuring the Spring Summer collections from Gucci, Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta. The half hour video was screened at MOMA New York. Here are two trailers for the video.

Spring Summer 2014 runway show from Victoria Beckham during Fashion Week New York Sep 2013. I did the editing and color correction. 6 cameras. 2 Sony F3’s. I Sony F5, 1 Sony EX1, and 2 Canon 5D Mk 3’s.

David edited this video for the International Woolmark Prize US Regionals held in New York. This competition has a long history spanning back to the 1930’s. Past competition winners include Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.

David edited and color corrected this video for Parsons graduation video.

I was the live switching director for the 2013 Parsons fashion benefit event.

David edited and color corrected the Victoria Beckham SS13 runway show.

David edited and color corrected the Victoria Beckham AW13 behind the scenes video.

David edited and color corrected this video for Mercedes Benz featuring designer Naeem Kahn.