Don't let it pass you by.

Express 831 is a film about the nature of memories, the way relationships are built, and the necessity to take every opportunity that life has to offer. Like a subway station, decisions and chances come and go every second. Sam, a college student celebrating his 21st birthday, must realize that he can no longer live his life without getting on board. Like all passengers, Sam must take the initiative to express himself in order to stop his family crisis.

My name is Ken Ochiai and I am co-writer and director of the film, Express 831. Express 831 was my last project at the University of Southern California. I was selected by the USC Cinema Television faculty to direct a senior thesis film, known as a 480. I have been directing films since I was twelve years old and this project was the culmination of my formal education. As the writer and director of this piece, I am extremely passionate and close to the characters in this story. They are all in some way a reflection of myself and my past experiences. As a result, this film has proven to be true a demonstration of my abilities as a narrative and visual storyteller. What makes this film special is that it approaches themes and issues common to many young adults and does so in a unique and original way. The film follows a young man, Sam, as he takes a journey through his subconscious on his 21st birthday. On this journey we learn a lot about Sam including his fears, his shortcomings and his inadequacies. Specifically that Sam, like many teens, comes from a middle-class American home that has been in disrepair and deception for far too long. This film does not judge any of its characters, but instead holds them responsible for the state of the household and thus their emotional states. The film’s heart lies in its family drama, in the way that Sam interacts with his parents, his brother, and a beautiful girl named Star whose own dilapidated lifestyle teaches him about his own responsibilities. Like my own experiences as a child, Sam is deftly afraid of growing up, taking responsibility, and falling into that terrifying void that comes with transitioning to adulthood.