Layout (Summer 2025)

Layout is a film about self-discovery, pursuing passions, and finding the courage to not only reconcile struggles in one’s self,
but also the broken relationships we have learned to painfully live with.

The Core Crew

Josh Nam

WRITOR & DIRECTOR
FeiFei Ling

PRODUCER
Alecia Orsini

PRODUCER
Neely Coe

EDITOR
Meghan McClutchy

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Mike Sun

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The mission

Whether it's through laughs or tears, we believe that films are able to expose the buried perspectives and emotions in humans and their relationships, providing a path of healing and catharsis in their lives. The story of Layout is an attempt at just that.

The process

As it goes for any indie production, I had to wear many hats for the film to come to fruition. In addition to writing the script and directing the film, I did everything from leading fundraising efforts, casting actors, hiring film industry professionals, to securing filming locations.

Writing: May 3, 2024 – July 20, 2024

Shooting: July 26, 2024 – July 28, 2024

Editing: August 7, 2024 – Present

The story

In LAYOUT, we follow Raymond, a high school freshman on the robotics team, faces relentless bullying from the jocks at school. One day, while Raymond is sorting through his late father's memorabilia, he finds an old vintage sports bag containing a frisbee and a school jersey. He decides there and then to try out for the Ultimate Frisbee team, hoping to find acceptance among athletes.

However, Susan, Raymond's single mother, stands in his way. When she sees Raymond holding the vintage sports bag, buried memories and the pain of her late husband come rushing back, and she expresses her emotions through a misguided anger towards Raymond. Yet, feeling a new connection to his father, Raymond rips the bag away from Susan and goes ahead with his plan anyway.

When Raymond arrives at Frisbee practice he meets a girl named Alex, an obsessed but kind hearted captain, and in his mind it's love at first sight. Yet, she seems to notice the jersey Raymond is wearing more than Raymond himself. As they go through practice, Raymond keeps getting bullied by the usual crowd, but has a moment of triumph as something clicks in his head about Ultimate Frisbee, and preforms a LAYOUT (a diving catch) to get a point against the bullies.

Alex finally confronts him after practice about his jersey, and brings him to a trophy cabinet to reveals to a hidden family legacy: Raymond's late father was once the fabled captain of the Ultimate Frisbee Team.

The passion

LAYOUT is the amalgamation of my three passions in life. Movies, Family, and Ultimate Frisbee.

I love movies because they allow us to feel. Laughter, tears, heartbreak, joy- movies give people who would normally stifle their emotions, an excuse to feel and even work through buried or hidden pain in their life. And I think that is a beautiful thing.

I love family because they are often the people who pour the most effort and life into your life, but somehow end up being the most broken. I believe that the medium of film is able to be a catalyst to understanding other's perspectives, and lead to healing within families.

And lastly, although not as deep, I love Ultimate Frisbee because of the people. The entire game is played self refereed, which leads to a very positive, honest, and loving community. The people who play Ultimate are in it for the true passion and love of the sport, and the community surrounding it.