The Series

“The Blessing” is an award-winning mini-series about a timid Midwesterner who wants to propose to his girlfriend but has to go through her immigrant, Chinese family first.

Written & Directed by filmmaker, Liann Kaye, the series explores the challenges and rewards of interracial, intercultural marriage in a comedic and heartwarming way.

The project started out as a short film, which premiered at festivals across the country, winning "Best Comedy" at the New York Short Film Festival and grant of 20K from the NYC Women's Fund to serialize it. Since then, Liann shot five additional episodes, signed with Issa Rae’s Management Company, ColorCreative, and will be pitching the movie version this year.

Her first feature screenplay, "Electable" was a finalist in the Athena Lab, where she got to be a mentee of Sofia Alvarez (Too All the Boys I've Loved Before, 2018 & 2020). The project also won Liann a spot in the Blacklist x WIF feature film residency alongside five other projects.

Director’s Statement

It has been said that when you marry someone, you marry their entire family. Leo is a white midwestern guy who is ready to propose to his Chinese American girlfriend but feels far from familial with his immigrant in-laws. Can true love overcome fundamental racial and cultural differences? This is the question going through each character’s mind as they struggle to understand each other.

In each 6-10 minute episode, Leo meets with a different member of the Chin family and attempts to win their blessing. Along the way, he encounters a perspective on marriage that surprises him. Ultimately, it is through all these conversations that this intercultural family learns to connect. Leo’s attention to the individual voice of each family member (as opposed to his expertise in Chinese culture) is what finally wins his future in-laws over.

I can’t wait to release this web series about a Chinese American family in 2020. Interracial relationships are becoming more common and will soon be the norm. Differences in race, wealth, values, and traditions offer a unique opportunity to have some interesting and challenging conversations. As someone shaped by both Asian and American upbringing, I look forward to telling this compelling and timely story that demonstrates how we are all unique, yet ultimately, all the same.