In Benjamin Wong's "Ba," a father transforms into death to support his daughter.

      Like many filmmakers approaching parenthood, director Benjamin Wong was concerned that having a child might stifle his creativity. He wondered if he would have the time to focus on screenplays while caring for a small child.

      “There’s this pressure during that stage of your life, before you have children, to advance your career — to make things happen,” he shares. “But there was also this sense of impending doom: I might have to give up my passion for filmmaking, which seems impractical once you have a kid.”

      However, the reality turned out to be quite the opposite of his worries. The birth of his daughter sparked his creativity and inspired his first feature film, Ba, which means “father” in Chinese.

      The movie is a heartfelt horror tale about David (Lawrence Kao), a nearly homeless single dad in Los Angeles who becomes Death to provide for his daughter (Kai Cech).

      “I’m so grateful,” Wong expresses. “Having my daughter allowed me to feel emotions that heavily influenced the screenplay.”

      Assuming a decayed form, Daniel visits individuals nearing death to collect their souls with a skeletal touch. Wong uses this as a metaphor for the grim, unglamorous jobs that most would shy away from but that parents undertake for their children's welfare.

      “I think the film explores the themes of, ‘What would you do for your child? How far would you go? Where would you draw the line?’ And I believe that line extends quite far.”

      He points out that Ba’s horror film format afforded him the freedom to delve into shared parental fears from a slight distance.

      “This film dances between genre and drama, which created an intriguing space to explore,” he notes. “Genre allows me to express all the feelings I have as a parent, but in a different light. When it’s not strictly drama but has a supernatural element, it gives me a chance to confront darker, scarier emotions.”

      Benjamin Wong’s Journey to Making Ba

      Wong always aspired to be a filmmaker, but it felt impractical at first. He began by studying engineering in college, then earned a master’s degree in computer science, leading to web design and eventually commercial work. Approaching 30, a friend suggested he direct a YouTube commercial, reigniting his passion for filmmaking.

      He started writing scripts and creating short films until a producer friend, Elizabeth Ai, offered him some guidance.

      “She said, ‘Don’t make shorts. When you're doing shorts, you have to scout locations and cast, among other things. Making a short requires so much effort that if you’re going to do one, just make a feature instead.’”

      She later became a producer on Ba.

      He encountered a common obstacle many screenwriters face while working on a feature. He had invested time in a script when he unwittingly watched an episode of Black Mirror that bore a striking resemblance to his own idea.

      Like many writers in that situation, he felt a blend of frustration — realizing he had to let go of his concept — and validation: at least his idea was worthy enough for Black Mirror. He attributed it to the collective zeitgeist.

      “We’re all likely drawing from the same shared experiences for our ideas,” he explains.

      Ba Influences

      Ba. Ethos Releasing

      Ba draws from Wong’s own parenting experiences as well as his time volunteering with School on Wheels in Downtown Los Angeles, a program providing free tutoring and support to children living in shelters, motels, vehicles, foster care, or on the streets. His volunteer work granted him a painful insight into the struggles faced by parents and children without stability.

      The film was shot during the Covid lockdowns, and the desolation of L.A. streets contributes to the film’s foreboding atmosphere. While he was aware that audiences did not want another Covid film, certain elements from that period, such as a communal fear of death and rising anti-Asian sentiments, influenced Ba.

      The divisiveness of that time prompted him to contemplate “the most unlikable character we can develop empathy for. Thus, Death is a significant figure.”

      Ba compels viewers to empathize with David’s embodiment of Death.

      “Just spend five minutes with this character, and hopefully, you’ll be on their side, accompanying them on their journey. Some empathy is uncovered, a fresh perspective is gained,” Wong says.

      He produced Ba on a very limited budget, seeking out investors and favors, which meant he had to adapt his schedule around the commitments of everyone involved.

      The film enjoyed a successful run at various festivals, including the esteemed Cinequest, Austin Film Festival, and FilmQuest, and was picked up by Ethos Releasing, a boutique film distribution company focused on new filmmakers, founded by Noah Lang and Rod Blackhurst.

      This success necessitated some promotional efforts. While drafting his director’s statement—an explanation of the film to accompany its promotional materials—his daughter interrupted him to ask her to play.

      And that’s exactly what he did.