Los Angeles, CA – November 17, 2023: Kevin Duncan Wong’s documentary “Home Is a Hotel” is poised for its debut in Los Angeles at the NewFilmmakers Los Angeles DocuSlate on November 19, 2023, offering a profound exploration of a pressing societal challenge.
The film shines a light on the living conditions within Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units in San Francisco, examining how these compact spaces impact the lives of their residents. Through five years of intimate filming, Wong presents a character-driven narrative, delving into the experiences of individuals who call these confined spaces home in one of America’s wealthiest cities.
“Home Is a Hotel” introduces viewers to a diverse array of residents, including an immigrant single mother in Chinatown, a visually impaired Latina librettist facing harassment and potential eviction, a divorced couple navigating recovery while co-parenting their young son, a graffiti artist affected by the neighborhood’s gentrification, and a determined mother searching for her missing daughter. Each story reflects the challenges and aspirations of individuals striving to better their lives within rooms as small as 80 square feet.
Kevin Duncan Wong, both the director and producer of the film, brings a wealth of experience from the realm of independent filmmaking. His prior works, such as “A Moral Debt” highlighting the plight of Filipino WWII veterans, and narrative films like “Forgetting” and “Jus Soli,” have garnered acclaim at festivals nationwide, along with recognition from PBS and The Washington Post.
The documentary’s creative team, including co-director/producer Kar Yin Tham, co-director/producer Todd Sills, editor Kristina Motwani, cinematographer Seng Chen, associate editor Susannah Smith, composer Catherine Joy, consulting producer Sasha Hauswald, associate producers Maria Mealla and Martin Rossetti, has collaborated to bring this poignant narrative to life.
“Home Is a Hotel” promises to provide a thought-provoking look into the challenges faced by individuals navigating issues of housing affordability and homelessness in urban America. Its premiere at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles DocuSlate marks a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse surrounding this critical societal matter.
