Project Description
“Correspondence” is a feature-length narrative film co-produced between the University of Miami and Fudan University in Shanghai, exploring themes of cultural exchange and social inclusion. The story follows Kendrick, an African American novelist in Shanghai, and Kay, an Asian American writer in Miami, as they exchange letters and confront challenges, from family pressures to career struggles, leading them to question their lives and relationships.
The film emerged from a broader initiative utilizing virtual collaboration techniques like Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Globally Networked Learning (GNL). These methods enabled international teamwork between students, even amid the pandemic, fostering cross-cultural understanding. The initial collaboration led to the short film “SHU,” where students from both Miami and Shanghai worked together virtually to write, film, and produce a project. Using Zoom, students in Miami viewed real-time footage from Shanghai, overcoming the challenges of distance and cultural differences. This success attracted international attention, including recognition from Zoom and Sundance Film Festival 2021.
