 "Becoming Royston" is a tale of coming-of-age, of self exploration and the hardships of facing up to all that reality holds in store. Tan Boon Huat, son of a prawn farmer on a remote island, breaks away from his classmates  bullying, harsh treatment by his father and the gloomy oppression of his little world confinement, with the help of his friend and confidant, the island boatman. He escapes to the mainland city, where he takes up work in a video store and encounters his first love, Ah-Girl. With her support and a super8 video cam, the dreamy youth, once nicknamed "Hei Bee" (shrimp in Hokkien), tries to model himself into his hero, filmmaker Royston Tan, wants to be (like) him, and discovers his own aspirations. Hammering away at his old typewriter he finally inches closer toward his first script - a slow process, eventually helped along and brought to fruition by an unexpected twist of fate.