Between "Blood and Water": Navigating Identity and Belonging in Transracial ChineseAdoptee Narratives Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Blood and Water is a 12-minute narrative short film and accompanying thesis that explores the nuanced experiences of Chinese transracial adoptees raised in white Christian American families. Centered on the story of Emma, a 15-year-old adoptee navigating cultural identity and belonging, the project delves into the emotional, sociological, and historical dimensions of international adoption from China to the United States. Set in a predominantly white suburban community, Emma’s journey begins with a chance encounter with the mother of a newly transferred Chinese student, triggering her curiosity about her birth parents and heritage. Through interactions with her peers and adoptive parents, and visions of a woman she imagines as her birth mother, Emma is drawn into a conflict between the “blood” of her biological roots and the “water” of her upbringing. The thesis is grounded in extensive research that draws from academic literature, interviews with adoptees and adoptive parents, and sociological theories. It examines the global and domestic forces that shaped the wave of Chinese adoptions during the one-child policy era and critiques the American Christian adoption movement and its implications for racial and cultural identity. The paper highlights the limitations of color-blind parenting and superficial multicultural practices, emphasizing how many adoptees struggle with identity, belonging, and assimilation. The creative development process included scriptwriting, casting, pre-production, production, and post-production, all of which are detailed in the thesis to reflect both the practical and thematic challenges of realizing this story. The film and paper together aim to foster empathy and encourage greater visibility for the underrepresented voices of Chinese adoptees, offering a deeply personal yet broadly resonant perspective on family, race, and the complexities of identity formation in transracial adoption contexts. Blood and Water seeks not only to tell an emotionally compelling story but also to spark critical conversations and reflections on adoption, representation, and cultural connection in contemporary America.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Literature Review

Chinese Adoptees in Film Today

Development

Researching Script Writing Budgeting

Pre-Production

Casting Crew Assembly Locations Production Design Storyboard Development Equipment and Meals

Production

Post-Production

What’s Next

Reflections

Works Cited

Script

Pitch Deck

Storyboard

Budget Breakdown

Shot List

Schedule Breakdown

Call Sheet Example

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Emory College
Department	Film and Media Studies
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, General Cinema Asian American Studies
Keyword	Transracial Adoption Asian American Filmmaking Race and Ethnicity Short Film Identity Chinese International Adoption Interracial Adoption Film Production Family Drama Gender Studies Film and Media China Culture Adoption Chinese American Coming of Age
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	David Barba, Emory University
Committee Members	Bin Xu, Emory University James Pellerito, Emory University

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