MANEKI | Full Lesbian Short Film

[@brandonokumura]

If you have any questions about the making of the film, or if you want to hear more about it came together, comment below! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@fini_de_melancia323]

apenas queria dizer que amei esta produção!

[@teresanguyen7751]

Thank you for the movie. What does MANEKI mean?

[@OnionRing6000]

"That was the most painful thing I've ever witnessed". Me too Ricky. Me too.

[@brandonokumura]

😅😅😅

[@whalium889]

It was painful watching him watch in the background

[@AsianGlowXO]

AF 😅😅😅😅😅

[@Rosieft]

@@whalium889FOR REAL, I already knew something was up with hi,

[@iitzmlg]

i was cringing so HARD lmfao

[@CalTHEvampire]

My favorite line "please don't sue us"

[@DCc-s1q]

I just find it so funny how Asian women act so fake with like every other ethnicity male or female but then try to make them look Genuine

[@thegaychip123]

Mine too

[@Syadahybrid]

Yeah it was funny

[@egyptcraze]

@@Syadahybrid esp with how intensely he said it lol

[@vincyagain]

The tension, the awkwardness, the gay panic, the sibling dynamic. The writer did a great job and the acting was perfect. Thank you for making a queer short film Brandon! This is a dream to watch! I’d love to know your thoughts behind the project!

[@maggiewong6453]

🥺❤

[@vincyagain]

@@maggiewong6453we need more Asian queer representation, this short story meant a lot to me❤ thank you for this wholesome story, maggie.

[@maggiewong6453]

@@vincyagainI'm so happy to hear that

[@brandonokumura]

I'm so glad you liked it! It was a labor of love from everyone involved. I've thought about producing some kind of commentary about the production at some point, so perhaps that's in the future!

[@jeanniesegall287]

This was such a lovely piece of natural film storytelling. I would be very interested to know how you came to make it and the stories of the people involved. It feels almost totally improvisational within a given framework. Thank you to you all.

[@Clockworkcityofpain]

I love how you didn't push for an ending that would've felt too rushed given their situation. I loved that it ended just when it did. Great job!

[@brandonokumura]

The start of a beautiful friendship 😊

[@littlepig4596]

​@@brandonokumurano its gay i saw the next one

[@ShafyUlya-ij8el]

WHEREEE​@@littlepig4596

[@hel2727]

@@brandonokumura huh

[@SkyPangolin]

@@brandonokumura what

[@ArtieStopMotionChoreopgraphy]

I really like how understanding ricky was. I thought he was gonna be a stereotypical homophobic male but he let her know that asking someone out was simply unprofessional. not wrong. We all need a supportive friend like this. Me and my girlfriend had a rocky relationship because we were both in middle school. i was afraid to tell my friends because i thought they would think I was weird, my middle school brain couldn't process the fact that we were all bi and it wasn't weird.

[@scales57]

wow, the awkward silence was so LOUD! I have goose bumps!

[@EvidentlyThinking]

Thank you so much for this! Genuinely, on behalf of the lesbian community, it means the world to have more short film representation. The camera work and acting was beautiful and natural 🤍

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you for your kind words and for watching!! 😊

[@linasalazar7496]

That was very awkward. She asked her out in a nice way. She said let’s be friends. To be honest if somebody would ask me out, I would not know what to say but that came out nice the way she said it to thumbs up 👍 👍for that short film. Love it you guys are awesome keep it up you’re doing a good job.

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you!

[@linasalazar7496]

Thank you 😊 🙏

[@linasalazar7496]

Thank you 🙏

[@name-mh2cn]

finally a short film that actually feels like a short movie. The acting was good and the storyline too. I got taken away in it. Not trying to hate on other short films, but the bad acting often distracts me and doesnt make me feel like i belong in the story

[@h0rn3d_h1st0r1an]

We all need a Ricky in our lives.

[@that-one3408]

In ricky we trust

[@h0rn3d_h1st0r1an]

@@that-one3408 #rickyisdagoat

[@agnesborbe2395]

Agree

[@roxywyndham]

😂

[@sakhisayi9340]

Looked so natural and heart warming... felt warmness inside every single dialogues... really an unexpected find for me. Really gives of so many emotions in every frames. Looking forward for your next work.

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you connected to our story 🙂

[@talkin_bout_this]

I loved it. Not the typical short film where they both start dating by the end rather this was slow and calm, showing the process of their journey.

[@melondoo6129]

this was honestly very heartfelt and cute.

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you for watching!

[@PhoenixAlquiros]

the storyline was creative and the acting was perfect

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you! The actors were all so great, I agree!

[@spudsbuchlaw]

6 seasons and a movie, NOW

[@aleman_liss]

Please!!!!

[@CrowTheSkullDog]

The silence was so painful it physically hurt

[@Sorayacrevette]

I wanted to disappear

[@edyak6280]

Relationships sometimes do need to grow; it’s not all wham, bam, thank you ma’am. A beautiful story, performed by two talented lead actors. Well done!

[@i_uevpp]

especially homosexual ones

[@peabeanmilk]

wow. i related to this on a deep molecular level. i, too, am a queer asian who got rejected by a really great friend of mine 😭😭😭😭😭 we’re still friends so everything turned out okay

[@Frir10]

This was written and acted so naturally by everyone. These feel like real people having real conversations. Good job everryone!

[@thechristinaccruz]

ngl i like to avoid awkward situations as much as possible, so as soon as Aiko was rejected I almost gave up watching, for I powered thru and it's good that I did because this was really really good, kudos everybody who made this project possible.

[@User-kt8nh]

i wanna know if the ramen was kinda a metaphor for dating a girl, shes never tried it, but she would only want to with Aiko, or am i reading to deep into it lol?

[@Aubriel-nd2lj]

No I don’t think so… I think u could be right 😮, this is a good theory

[@singlepringle8292]

I mean... i kinda felt that too in the end, but it feels kinda dubious now, i feel like it would be too good to be true

[@green_tea2922]

oohh no that's probably it, that's a good theory

[@nilamaria7654]

oh my God that's a good point

[@aleman_liss]

My Literary Critique professor would be proud of you!

[@SearchinJoy]

This is so good. You all nailed it and the awkwardness and embarrassment is so real it dredged up memories that made it doubly worse! Fantastic. Congratulations - especially to the painfully believable Iris and Elsie.

[@ranran9835]

ricky is so funny xD "please dont sue us!" ^.^

[@A.v.g79]

What a wonderful short story! I wanted to say thank you for making this film, as a lesbian I dont really get to see stories about my type of love very often and definitely not high quality and heart-warming like this one. So a HUGE THANK YOU for everybody involved in this❤

[@myheartisburiedinvenice]

HOW IS THIS NOT TRENDING YET???

[@brandonokumura]

Share with your friends! Thanks for watching

[@eyesonyujin9180]

This was so cute 🥹🥹 just some cute lil loser lesbian doing cute lil lesbian things ❤ thank you for making this, we need more cute wlw stories like this!

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you for watching and so glad your enjoyed it!! We wanted it to be a light and cute story 😊

[@dtocksdtocks]

Ricky was funny as heck!

[@ElazarusWills]

Very well done piece all around. It drew me all the way through and the open-ended ending was near perfect. Believable and not contrived. Iris Liu was exceptional.

[@YTuser854]

the finger touching while handing over the card was so real

[@riversbend]

this is absolutely DELIGHTFUL. i could feel everything Aiko was feeling, from the longing to the awkward to the mop in her hands, and I felt like she and Jean and Ricky were all going places I've lived before with work and life and friendship. Beautiful to watch, great story, great acting. Thank you all!

[@xXCarlota_drawsXx]

5:46 **Ankward silence** I CAN'T-

[@caroalvar1511]

That was...yeah hahaha

[@rainbowcats19]

The shots, the zooming in and music when they held hands, you really made the characters feel like they were their own person, not just an acted figure! Well done!!! 👍

[@Rockwith_gyu]

The ending ahhh I love this sm, it was painful but overall super sweet

[@justforglee]

soo wholesome I cant literally 🤌🏻😭really well written and the actors did a great job!

[@caroalvar1511]

I liked that you put [awkward silence] because it felt hahaha. I loved your work, that of the scriptwriters, the actresses and the actor, everything was incredible! 🥺❤️

[@Lilibee_15]

3:50 literally is how I feel when something didn’t go how I planned with a girl. I loved this sm

[@sophiem5092]

i actually liked that it wasn’t necessarily a romance, but just showed how a girl had a crush on a girl and how there is rejection and crushing on a straight girl that you thought was gay too (literally me today 😭)

[@paulavanvliet4127]

This is so so good wow! No music needed whci I respect a lot, great shots, amazing actresses and actor, wow!

[@adriftbubbles6817]

loved it! but the tension was soooo suffocating T_T was too early for me to witness this sort of tension

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you! The awkward tension is off the charts!

[@whalium889]

Aiko is the definition of gay panic

[@brandonokumura]

I've been told that as well 🙂 thanks for watching!

[@stevecheevers7337]

I really love this Short, you went for realistic ending and made it more heartwarming in process. To have all of sudden have Jean fall head over heels in love with Aiko just wouldn't feel warranted. She's just come out of relationship with her boyfriend and her work is important to her. Plus If it ever does happen between them it will take time. But it might not happen at all but at least Aiko has someone who be loving friend to her. I like that she never judges or shuns Aiko for what she did. I like the character of Jean. She's a lonely young woman, who's just lost and alone. She sees the ramen restaurant as second home from home, somewhere where Aiko and Ricky are welcoming and warm to her. Something she clearly needs in her life at that point. As she said the food is nice but it's the company she needs the most. Such a sweet short film. You could have gone for that fluffy ending of Jane falling for Aiko but it would have felt false. Also Ricky rocks. One of funniest characters I've seen in a short film in recent times.

[@cash.and.mouse666]

oouuufff, great tension building ;-; the silent moments spoke volumes

[@Isaa-pp6zx]

FINALLY, GOOD REPRESENTATION 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@etherealistic5965]

is, is the ramen metaphor for them dating or I'm just overthinking?

[@marjannevandenberg-dansen7778]

The story was very familiar to me... Great actors, great story, I really loved it.

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you very much!

[@Splitzy_On_Pawz]

JEANS OUTFITS ARE SO GOOD IM SO JEALOUS!!!!

[@Winter-i-adore]

Ricky: please dont sue us!.. 💀

[@this_is_not_vee]

I love it this has me giggling and kicking my feet

[@cherylsmith4896]

this was wonderfull an all fronts, and the cast are lovely... thanks

[@brandonokumura]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@adria345]

Absolutely loved this short film. Amazing work

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you so much!

[@isabelchen7091]

So relatable!! Love this kind of content. Can’t wait to see more. Just subscribed ❤

[@brandonokumura]

Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for subscribing!

[@therealcrackbabyy]

That was so good oh my god. It had me kicking my feet and everything.

[@MrHadaproduction]

so good, so beautiful shot. so Meaningful. i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Very well told. Compliments to all involved! Thank You.

[@Wildflower90640]

That was well done, all around. The writing, timing of dialogue, and the awkward silences. Extremely well done. It seems like the perfect pilot to a mini-series, but all on its own, it warmed my heart. As a 70-year-old male, it feels charming to be reminded that love can be that simple! ❤

[@meganchan9845]

So cute, glad I finally got to see this!

[@brandonokumura]

Glad you liked it!

[@aleman_liss]

Oh lord. I empathized so hard with Aiko. Having a crush on a heterosexual person is not easy. We know she didn't do anything wrong, but also straight people have their internal panic when they realize there is a person of their same sex feeling something about them. My stomach hurt the whole film because this was so tense and real. I hope to watch something like this again.

[@CandiceLikes]

Super cute short film. Actors did a great job. 👍👍

[@brandonokumura]

The actors did super well, I agree!

[@user-zx1ul4tf6b]

i am so invested in this dynamic i wish it was a full series or movie 😭😭😭😭😭

[@heedeugie963]

Such a beautiful and heart warming movie 🫶🏻

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you for watching :)

[@ziyuliu6351]

Thank you！It is so beautiful and such a natural flow to film it，looking forward to see what‘s next☺☺

[@orangexmm]

the east asian culture always can hold a subtle feeling of ambiguity，careful， hint， the heart pounding under the silence

[@Noxllyde]

This was lovely, looking forward to your next projects 😊❤

[@brandonokumura]

More to come!

[@PilotzInTheSky]

Found this little gem 💎…thanks for this !

[@JediMB]

KZbin algorithm finally delivering That Good Content.

[@Ultimateer]

Well written, shot and acted! Loved it!

[@mojave999]

This is actually so good, the photography looks amazing

[@adriftbubbles6817]

aahahdjahgkhag the awkward silence is giving me anxietyyyyy :))

[@SpookLarkiaVR]

The acting was phenomenal, well done!

[@alejnathereseponce3122]

oh my gawdddd this is so cute T-T i can feel the tension....I love this

[@brandonokumura]

Glad you enjoyed 😊

[@dcskggg]

The acting! 👌👌👌👌🤌🤌🤌🤌

[@brandonokumura]

The actors are great right? Thanks for watching!

[@danielaflores7079]

i need more short with this 3 ❤❤ I really love it ALL that was a lot of emotions in a short while. Nice job🎉

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you so much!!

[@gmacgreg7738]

This is how most guys feel every time we ask someone out. But if you don't shoot your shot you never know. What is that old saying, "it is better to have Loved and lost than never Loved at all." Relatable.

[@MossChildxD]

3 minutes in and i already love it sm aaa

[@julescaru8591]

Ok , that was good ! All the best Jules 👏🌈

[@kimtaeyeon3081]

So awk and so cute 😂

[@Ric.A.Photography]

Brilliant film. Congratulations.

[@-missballoon819]

30 seconds in, she is so me hello?!

[@im.claire]

I LOVE THIS!!!

[@nehabharali3711]

a happy Part 2 needed ❤️

[@brandonokumura]

Maybe in the future!

[@merrymayma300]

This is so touching!! THANK YOU 🥹

[@Adam-eb8ue]

Hey! This is good. Really good. More please!

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you!

[@deroux]

That was sweet. Thank you!

[@Beetroot9934]

Ahhhh so cuteeee. Got me all smiley😂

[@brandonokumura]

So glad to hear it!

[@tarapeart721]

ugh this is so good

[@albarainbow]

I’d watch a whole series with them❤❤❤

[@RemiStardust]

That was a cute little film. What is that music? It's great!

[@tashuntka]

That was excellent... Do a follow-up series please 🙏 💝✨️✨️💝

[@avogelsang]

That was really beautiful! Looking forward to more! Thank you!

[@khoduswadia6653]

Absolutely brilliant....

[@bitterkittencontent]

WE NEED A SERIES!!

[@syntaques]

This is excellent. Thank you

[@Bubu4813]

awwww i loved it ;--;

[@brandonokumura]

Thank you, I'm so glad 😊

[@sandyd6361]

I need a part two 😭😭😭

[@taylorchan]

Bravo Brandon!

[@brandonokumura]

Thanks Taylor!!

[@Xindi86]

Beautiful 😊 put a smile on my face ❤

[@Itsluleone]

Okay I need this short film turned into a romcom series on Netflix.

[@nenessalkki]

omg the way i loveddd this

[@tcaseyable]

They are so cuteeee 🥰