Sunny:

A Story of a Mother's Resilience

Status:

Fundraising

Release Date

Upcoming 2026 - 2027

Type

Short Film

Written By

M.F. Thompson

Directed By

M.F. Thompson

Starring

TBD

Producers

TBD

A devoted mother lives a precarious hidden life within the illicit massage industry, battling a predatory debt to ensure the survival of the family she hasn’t seen in years.

A story of resilience, love, and defying the odds.

Release Date

Upcoming 2026 - 2027

Type

Short Film

Written By

M.F. Thompson

Directed By

M.F. Thompson

Starring

TBD

Producers

TBD

A devoted mother lives a precarious hidden life within the illicit massage industry, battling a predatory debt to ensure the survival of the family she hasn’t seen in years.

A story of resilience, love, and defying the odds.

Synopsis

Two years into her journey in America, Jian is a woman defined by her sacrifices. Jian spends her days living as “Sunny” working at an illegal parlor running the business with the mamasan, Marsha, and performing extra “services” to pay off her trafficker’s debt, while stretching each dollar to send money back to her mother and sick infant son in Fujian. The business owner, who works with the trafficker network, has taken her passport, until her debt is paid in full. 

While her husband is visiting for the first time since she moved to the U.S., she must still work a full day at the massage parlor. Her day starts as any other with doing laundry, interacting with many men, and dealing with unhinged customers. 

As day turns into night, her life is forever changed as two robbers attempt to hold Sunny up to take her and the businesses earnings. However, with incredible resolve from her reflections on her family and being pushed to the limit - she does not give it. After successfully fighting back, the police arrive, and despite her understanding of law enforcement, assist with retrieving her passport and treating her as a victim - not as a criminal immigrant.

Synopsis

Two years into her journey in America, Jian is a woman defined by her sacrifices. Jian spends her days living as “Sunny” working at an illegal parlor running the business with the mamasan, Marsha, and performing extra “services” to pay off her trafficker’s debt, while stretching each dollar to send money back to her mother and sick infant son in Fujian. The business owner, who works with the trafficker network, has taken her passport, until her debt is paid in full. 

While her husband is visiting for the first time since she moved to the U.S., she must still work a full day at the massage parlor. Her day starts as any other with doing laundry, interacting with many men, and dealing with unhinged customers. 

As day turns into night, her life is forever changed as two robbers attempt to hold Sunny up to take her and the businesses earnings. However, with incredible resolve from her reflections on her family and being pushed to the limit - she does not give it. After successfully fighting back, the police arrive, and despite her understanding of law enforcement, assist with retrieving her passport and treating her as a victim - not as a criminal immigrant.

Cinematography & Visual Style

This film will be shot using anamorphic lens and conscious camera work to bring a viscerally human and cinematic style.

Cinematography & Visual Style

This film will be shot using anamorphic lens and conscious camera work to bring a viscerally human and cinematic style.

More about the Project

There are more than 9,000 illicit massage parlors in the United States in 2017, mostly staffed by Chinese women, aged 35-55, with at least one child. You can find them in strip malls, apartment buildings, office towers, and suburban houses. Most of the parlors use “SPA” or “Massage” in their names, added to Angels, Asian, Jade, Good Girl, or some other suggestive word.

Often, these woman are promised lucrative jobs in the U.S., only to arrive to find out their required to work for one of these parlors and required to pay off tens of thousands in debt to a broker, trafficker, or spa owner who brought them.

More about the Project

There are more than 9,000 illicit massage parlors in the United States in 2017, mostly staffed by Chinese women, aged 35-55, with at least one child. You can find them in strip malls, apartment buildings, office towers, and suburban houses. Most of the parlors use “SPA” or “Massage” in their names, added to Angels, Asian, Jade, Good Girl, or some other suggestive word.

Often, these woman are promised lucrative jobs in the U.S., only to arrive to find out their required to work for one of these parlors and required to pay off tens of thousands in debt to a broker, trafficker, or spa owner who brought them.

Currently Fundraising and Seeking Producing Partners

Get involved in the project now. To inquire please email us at inquiries@streetspiritfilms.com.

Currently Fundraising and Seeking Producing Partners

Get involved in the project now. To inquire please email us at inquiries@streetspiritfilms.com.