MFA Filmmaking Alum Sun Jia (Sylvia) Discusses Her Thesis Feature Film "Good Morning to Me"

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

My name is Sun Jia. While studying in the United States, I used Sylvia as my English name. I graduated in Spring 2020 from the MFA Filmmaking  feature track program, and I come from Beijing, China.

After earning my bachelor's degree in screenwriting from the Beijing Film Academy, I started working on sets. Although my background was in scriptwriting, I often worked other crew positions. A joint program between the Beijing Film Academy and the New York Film Academy inspired me to consider studying directing in the U.S.

I’ve always loved the creative atmosphere of a production team — that pure, passionate energy where dozens or even hundreds of people come together over several months to bring a project to life. I’m very glad I applied to the New York Film Academy and spent an enriching two and a half years there.

我叫孙佳，在美国读书的时候用Sylvia作为我的英文名字。我是春季2020MFA电影制作的长片方向毕业生，来自中国北京。在中国的北京电影学院学习编剧本科之后，我进入了剧组工作，其中剧本创作占少数，大部分是在剧组其他职位。一次北京电影学院和纽约电影学院的合作报道后，我开始有了去美国学习导演的想法。因为我真的很喜欢剧组创作的气氛，那种几十人或者上百人在几个月内一起为了一个项目努力的纯粹热情的氛围。我很高兴自己申请了纽约电影学院，并在学校度过了丰富的2年半。

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

Since I graduated from the feature film track, my thesis project was to prepare and shoot my first feature film, Good Morning to Me. Fortunately, a good friend and former colleague, who greatly appreciated my previous work and had a lot of trust in me, decided to invest in the project.

This debut feature earned several recognitions. It was nominated for Best Director and Best Rural Revitalization Film in the main competition section of the Hong Kong Bauhinia International Film Festival. It also received nominations for Best Supporting Actress, Best New Director, and Best Rural Revitalization Online Film at the Hong Kong International Online Film Festival. Additionally, it won the Jury’s Special Mention Award at the Northern Character International Film Festival in Russia.

因为我是长片轨道毕业，我的毕业作品就是准备拍摄我人生的第一部长片电影《和我说早安》。很幸运的是，我以前工作过的好朋友很欣赏我的作品，并且非常信任我，所以给了我投资。通过这个第一部长片，我的这部影片荣获香港紫荆花国际电影节主竞赛单元最佳女配角提名、最佳导演奖提名、最佳乡村振兴电影奖提名。荣获香港国际网络电影节主竞赛单元最佳女配角奖、最佳男配角奖提名、最佳女主角奖提名、最佳新人导演奖、最佳乡村振兴网络电影奖提名。荣获俄罗斯北方性格国际电影节评审会特别关注奖。

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about your Good Morning to Me?

This is the story of a young girl struggling with depression, who gradually finds healing and growth through the help of her friends.

Xia Chuzheng, a 17-year-old from an ordinary family, faces intense academic pressure from her mother, who is determined to see her daughter accepted into a top university. This well-meaning but overwhelming pressure pushes Xia into a deep depression. She doesn't remember exactly when it began, but at some point, the colors in her world began to fade — a devastating loss for an art student.

Growing up is never easy. Everyone must pass through life’s hidden pains before they can truly mature. Seventeen — the age of blossoming — is a time of adolescence, rebellion, and transformation, when a young person's values and worldview begin to take shape.

Misunderstood by her parents and ridiculed by classmates, Xia Chuzheng begins to quietly plan her own suicide in an attempt to escape it all. But when Li Mengqi, a fellow art student, discovers her secret, she reaches out. Though hesitant at first, Xia slowly begins to open up. Through her friendship with Li Mengqi, she gradually rediscovers hope and meaning. Her innermost wishes — once lost in darkness — begin to shine with purity and beauty.

The film centers on Xia Chuzheng’s emotional journey, exploring the complex bond between mother and daughter, the struggles and support among peers, and the duality of human nature — its cruelty and its warmth. Tormented by depression, Xia eventually finds peace. With the help of her mother, her classmates, Old Man Zhao, Teacher Bai, and Li Mengqi, she reconnects with herself and begins to rise above it all.

这是一部关于年轻人患有抑郁症，在朋友的帮助下成长的故事。

17岁的夏初筝是一个普通家庭的孩子，母亲为了夏初筝能考上重大学而无形中给她施加了很多无形中的压力。这导致夏初筝患上了严重的抑郁症，不知从什么时候起，她的世界里失去的色彩，作为一个美术生这是致命伤。

成长从来不是一帆风顺的，每个人都要经历生命中的隐痛，才能真正长大，17岁的花季正是一个青春期，也是最叛逆的阶段，正是一个孩子世界观和价值观改变的的阶段。

面对的家长巨大的不理解，同学们的冷言讽语，夏初筝决定策划自杀来结束这一切。同行的画室同学李梦琦发现了她的秘密之后，竟提出愿意帮助她，半信半疑的夏初筝逐渐对这个女孩打开心扉......经过世界观和价值观的洗礼，夏初筝的心愿才显得那么纯粹与美好。

影片集中笔墨在夏初筝的内心活动上，母女的情感上，也有孩子之间的斗争和友谊，还有人与人之间的残酷和温情，夏初面对重度抑郁症内心备受煎熬和折磨，最终与母亲冰释前嫌，与同学和和好如初，在赵老头，白老师，同学李梦琪的帮助下回归自我，并得到了升华。

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

The most influential thing I learned at the New York Film Academy was how to tell stories — or, more specifically, how to express my thoughts through audio-visual language. I originally studied screenwriting, and I’ve always had stories I wanted to tell. My goal has long been to focus on social issues and create films with lasting historical and emotional value. That, to me, is the root of my artistic motivation.

Since 2016, I’ve gradually become more focused on the topic of depression. People close to me have been affected by it, and I’ve struggled with it myself. That experience led me to think: If someone with depression watches my films, maybe they’ll feel seen — and if someone without it watches, maybe they’ll begin to understand even a fraction of the pain.

After my own diagnosis, I was struck by how much well-meaning words from friends could actually deepen the hurt. Comments like, “You always seem so happy, how could you have depression?” or “Maybe you're just not working enough and have too much free time,” made me feel even more isolated. Rationally, I knew they meant well. But emotionally, I felt even lonelier.

Every course at the New York Film Academy contributed meaningfully to my growth. From the first semester’s film studies and history classes, to photography and directing courses that taught me how to tell stories visually, to foundational screenwriting and later advanced courses in feature film directing — all of it was invaluable. I even learned about legal frameworks, production companies, distribution, revenue sharing, and business investment. I can’t say any of the courses felt unnecessary or too easy. If anything, the legal and financial aspects were the most challenging — I’ll admit I don’t have much talent in that area.

在纽约电影学院我学到的给我影响最大的东西，就是学会讲故事，或者说，用视听语言表达自己的想法。我原来是学习编剧的，我有故事想要讲述。我一直是想关注与社会问题，想让电影能有历史的价值，这是我认为我做艺术创作的源头。

从2016年开始，我逐渐关注了抑郁症的问题，因为身边的人受到了伤害，我也被抑郁症所困扰。让我有了“通过观看我的影片，让抑郁症患者能感同身受，让不了解抑郁症的人或多或少知道一些抑郁症患者的痛苦。”的想法，因为在确诊抑郁症后，有人朋友的好心安慰却给了我更大的伤害。比如他们会说“你看起来每天那么快乐，怎么会得抑郁症？”“你是不是最近没在工作，太闲了？”，我的理智知道他们是好心劝说，但是我感性的内心却更加的孤独。

纽约电影学院的每一门课程都给了我非常大的帮助，从第一学期的电影学电影历史，和摄影课导演课一步一步教授怎么用镜头讲故事，编剧课的基础，到后面长片方向关于法律、公司、发行分账、商业投资等等的课程。我几乎没有轻松的，或者觉得这个我不需要的课程，除了我在法律课和发行分账的知识学习真的很困难，我肯定是没有这方面的天赋。

 NYFA Alumni Network: Why do you want to share your film with a wider audience?

I believe that even if the cultures are different, the mutual assistance among young girls and the issue of depression among young people remain hot topics in today's society.

我认为哪怕文化不一样，但是年轻女孩的互帮互助，还有年轻人抑郁症的问题，依然是现在的社会热点。

NYFA Alumni Network: Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you once again for this interview. I’m truly proud to be a graduate of the New York Film Academy. Although I’m still at the beginning of my journey as a director, I’m committed to continuing to grow my craft.

I’d also like to express my sincere thanks to all of my professors. We shared many busy yet joyful moments, and we faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic together. 

I've listed the names of the professors I can remember below. If I’ve unintentionally left anyone out, please accept my apologies — I’m deeply grateful to each and every one of you.

Lydia Cedrone, Mike Civille, Nick Sivakumaran, Matt Kohnen, Igor Torgeson, Sean Kohnen, Justin Lareau, Kevin Dinovis, David Martin-Porras, Stephen Miele, Gilbert McDonald, Jennifer Penton, James Coburn, Bart Mastronardi, Anne McCaffrey, Anna Hogg, Rebecca Louisell, Denise Carlson, Joe Burke, Jay Cipriani, Hugh Platt, Francis Pezza, Michael DeMeritt, Sarah Warren.

In addition to these professors, I also want to thank the many dedicated teachers and staff members whose names I may not remember, but whose hard work and care left a lasting impression on me. Thank you all.