MIKE is inspired by my experience of attending schools in America as an international student in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. There, I faced racism, xenophobia, and ignorance from folks of different backgrounds and political stances. The experience made me resent my own Asian identity. At age 16, I conformed to internalized racism to fit in and find validation from the white majority.

However, as a filmmaker, I strive to make a short that entertains the audience, not trauma porn!

This led me to write and direct MIKE when I was 24.