《我还是我》 / I Am Still Me: A Minjae Lee Story
Working documentary script. Developed sequence by sequence; the opening below is the first saved working cut.
Director, editor, and narrator: Julian Reyes. Producer: Kayla Rossi. Production: Resonance Films.
Opening sequence
The setup reel begins once Julian has permission to record. Mandarin dialogue is rendered in English subtitles.
BLACK.
A chair scrapes softly across the floor.
JULIAN, OFF CAMERA
Here?
JAE, IN MANDARIN
No. There.
CUT TO:
Jae at the piano, pointing past the camera.
The frame shifts as Julian moves. For a moment, the edge of the keyboard disappears.
MINSEO, OFF CAMERA
He means a little farther to your left.
JULIAN, OFF CAMERA
My left?
MINSEO
Yes.
The camera settles.
Jae looks directly into the lens.
JAE
Yes.
A quiet laugh from Kayla, somewhere behind Julian.
JULIAN, VOICEOVER
His father had agreed to one visit. Afterward, we’d talk about whether there would be another.
CUT:
A wider shot of Jae at the keyboard. Joon-Ho stands nearby, arms folded. He looks toward someone outside the frame.
JULIAN, VOICEOVER
I’d met Joon-Ho before, but I didn’t know him well yet. I knew he was going to be watching us closely. I was worried about giving him a reason to say no.
Jae says something in Mandarin. His finger points toward the camera.
SUBTITLE:
Too far.
JULIAN, OFF CAMERA
I’m trying to get you and the piano together.
Minseo translates.
Jae looks down at the keys, then back at Julian.
JAE, IN MANDARIN
Piano.
MINSEO, OFF CAMERA
He wants more of the keyboard.
JULIAN
Okay.
The frame lowers.
Jae watches the adjustment.
JAE
Yes.
CUT:
A closer view. Jae’s hands rest in his lap. He waits while Julian makes another adjustment.
JULIAN, VOICEOVER
I’d brought questions for an interview. I thought we’d sit together for a while. Let him get used to having a camera in the room.
Jae leans forward slightly.
JAE, IN MANDARIN
Ready?
JULIAN, OFF CAMERA
Almost.
Minseo repeats his answer.
Jae settles back with an audible sigh.
Julian laughs softly.
JULIAN
Sorry.
JULIAN, VOICEOVER
He wanted to play. I was taking a long time to get ready.
CUT:
Jae at the piano again. The camera is steady now.
He lifts his hands toward the keyboard, then stops and looks at Julian.
JAE, IN MANDARIN
Hands?
JULIAN, OFF CAMERA
Yes. I can see your hands.
Minseo translates.
Jae looks to her for a moment, then back toward the lens.
JAE
Both?
JULIAN
Both.
A pause while Minseo gives him the answer.
Jae nods. His hands settle over the keys.
The room grows quiet.
He plays a few soft notes, pauses, and begins again.
There’s no voiceover.
The shot holds along the keyboard. His face remains visible near the upper edge of the frame. He watches his hands, listening as the phrase develops.
One note lingers. The next phrase enters beneath its fading sound.
The camera rises slightly, following his face.
Jae glances toward Julian.
The frame lowers again, restoring the view of both hands.
He continues playing.
We stay with him through the end of the phrase and into the next. The piano fills the room; there’s a faint movement somewhere off camera, but no one speaks.
CUT TO BLACK.
The playing continues.
The title appears:
《我还是我》
I AM STILL ME
A MINJAE LEE STORY
The title fades.
CUT BACK TO:
The same angle on Jae’s hands.
His music continues without interruption.
Afternoon porch interview: My voice
Working transcript. Filmed after October 1, 2036; exact placement in the documentary edit remains open.
[Julian sat beside Jae on the porch. Jae’s iPad rested on his lap. Both had recently woken from naps.]
JULIAN:
Feeling a little better?
JAE, ALOUD:
Yes. You?
JULIAN:
Yeah. Your mom was right.
[Jae laughed softly.]
JULIAN:
I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding how tired I was.
JAE, ALOUD:
No.
JULIAN:
Apparently not.
[A brief pause. Julian shifted in his chair.]
JULIAN:
What’s one thing you really don’t like that people are surprised by when they meet you?
[Jae looked down at his iPad. Julian waited while he entered his answer.]
JAE, AAC—ENGLISH:
My voice.
[Julian frowned slightly.]
JULIAN:
What about your voice?
[Jae touched his throat, then lowered his hand.]
JAE, ALOUD—ENGLISH:
I’m… twenty-one.
JULIAN:
Mm-hm.
JAE, ALOUD—ENGLISH:
Don’t… sound it.
[He paused, looking toward Julian.]
JAE, ALOUD—ENGLISH:
People ask… twelve?
JULIAN:
They ask if you’re twelve?
JAE, ALOUD:
Yes.
[Julian’s expression changed. Jae continued before he asked another question.]
JAE, ALOUD—ENGLISH:
Eomma… tells them.
[He tried to begin the next phrase, stopped, then looked down at the iPad.]
JAE, AAC—ENGLISH:
She tells them I’m an adult. They’re so surprised.
JULIAN:
Does that happen a lot?
JAE, ALOUD:
Yes.
[A pause.]
JULIAN:
I’m sorry. That sounds tiring.
[Jae nodded. He began another message.]
JAE, AAC—ENGLISH:
I don’t like having to tell people all the time.
[Julian read the message, then looked back at him.]
JULIAN:
And when they know—do they talk to you differently?
[Jae considered the question. His hand remained against the edge of the iPad before he started typing.]
JAE, AAC—ENGLISH:
Sometimes. Some still talk to Eomma.
JULIAN:
Even when you’re right there?
JAE, ALOUD:
Yes.
[He pointed to himself.]
JAE, ALOUD—ENGLISH:
Ask me.
JULIAN:
They should ask you.
[Jae nodded, then looked down and added another message.]
JAE, AAC—ENGLISH:
I can answer. They have to wait.
[Julian waited until Jae looked up again.]
JULIAN:
Is there anything else you want to say about it?
[Jae shook his head.]
JULIAN:
Okay.
[For several seconds, neither spoke. Jae rested his hand beside the iPad.]
JAE, ALOUD:
You… wait.
JULIAN:
I’m trying to.
[Jae nodded.]
JAE, ALOUD:
Good.