Person preparing pizza with sauce, cheese, and vegetables, wearing gloves.
Multiple award laurels and festival logos for films and festivals, including Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2024, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Filmfest 2023, Oregon Short Film Festival 2023, Oregon Documentary Film Festival 2024, Houston Asian American & Pacific Islander Film Fest 2024, Boston Asian American Film Festival 2024, with various laurels indicating awards and official selections.

kneading love

A mental health therapist & a stay at home mom become Portland's most unique Pizzaiolos. As the Truong family navigate through the challenges of opening a restaurant, Aaron discovers why he left his private counseling career to begin a new journey creating pizzas. This film is a beautiful story on how a family supports one another as they take on the risk of starting a restaurant, but also leaving past careers behind to form a new one together.

Trailer

Director, Editor & Cinematographer: Jonathan Lue

Additional Cinematography: Luke Zimmer, Nico Strappazon, Johnathon Desoto

Location Sound: Dylan Hanson & Luke Zimmer

Editing: Jonathan lue

Re-recording Mixer: Tyrelle Massey

Color: Evan Dux

Music: Kyle Katano

Additional Music: Musicbed

Behind The Scenes: Luke Zimmer, Sebastian Gonzalez, Ben Lee, Tony Moua

Production Assistants: Sebastian Gonzalez & Tony Moua

Awards: Best Cinematography Fall 2023, Oregon Documentary Film Festival; Best Documentary Film Fall 2023, Oregon Short Film Festival.

NOW STREAMING: Chime TV

Cutdowns

Leaving an old career (1:17)

Natalie’s new beginnings (1:08)

Aaron sees the oven (1:02)

STILLS

Family gathered outside during daytime, children and adults watching as a man prepares food on a grill or table.
A young girl with dark hair and a striped shirt helps make a pizza with slices of pepperoni, cheese, and tomato sauce, while other children and adults participate in the activity.
Nighttime scene of a food truck with two people inside, possibly preparing food, parked next to a car, with mountains and starry sky in the background.
A street market scene with vendors selling items, including a pizza food truck labeled 'HAPA PIZZA.' There are trees, people, and various tables and containers in the background, with a sign indicating the intersection 'SW Washington Ave.'
A woman working at a booth at an outdoor market with tents and people shopping in the background, trees displaying fall colors.
A person operating a portable Roccbox pizza oven at an outdoor event, with trees and tents in the background.
Person wearing gloves adding sauce to a pizza with vegetables and chicken.
Freshly baked Margherita pizza with melted cheese, tomato sauce, basil, and a slightly charred crust.
Two young girls sitting in car seats inside a vehicle, with toys and a pink bag between them. One girl on the left has dark hair and a stuffed animal, while the girl on the right is reaching into her pink bag, with a water bottle nearby.
A woman and two young girls in a kitchen and dining area, with sunlight coming through a sliding glass door. The woman is serving or preparing food at the dining table, which has bowls, a plant, and toys on it. The kitchen has wooden cabinets and a counter with various items.
A brick storefront with signs for a chiropractor and CPA, with a sidewalk, a trash can, a tree, and a ladder outside.
An aerial view of a city street with parked cars, trees, and buildings. The street has no traffic and sidewalks are visible.
A Vietnamese BBQ Pork pizza on a white plate, topped with vegetables and sauces, placed on a wooden surface. Text overlay reads 'BANH MI PIZZA' and 'Vietnamese BBQ Pork'.
Children sitting inside a restaurant or cafe, looking out the window at the street. One child is raising their hand and another has a neutral expression. The scene is viewed through a glass window with reflections and a menu visible.