I’m a weird individual, but I’m proud of who I am. As a young kid growing up in Bay Area, California, I was surrounded by a constant blending of cultures. As a Japanese American who loved interesting stories and images, I gravitated towards Japanese Anime growing up (and continue to watch). The works of Hayao Miyazaki and other animators at the time inspired me to tell stories that leave people with positive messages and life lessons. I decided at a young age that that was what I wanted to do. There was just one problem -- I couldn’t draw.
Biography
Click here to download my resume!
But that didn’t stop me. In middle school, we had a required elective class that introduced me to video cameras. Then, teachers started assigning video projects. Before I knew it, I was shooting anything with the handheld cameras that we had. Around the same time of acne and hormones, Korean pop music started to pick up. I was drawn to the way how the music was complemented by synchronized choreography, elaborate set design, and rich story. I knew I wasn’t handsome enough to be in front of the camera so I worked hard to find a spot behind it. High school allowed me to hone in on this. I took two video production classes as well as a broadcasting class. These experiences helped me snag my first award for a music video I made for the school’s event.
After graduating high school, I decided to take the leap of faith and enrolled at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I learned the formalities of the movie industry, like set protocol and how to take criticism. I was able to learn from great teachers and develop my own personal style as a filmmaker and story teller.
I feel like the four years in art school flew by. I also feel like there is a lot more to learn. I would like to pursue music videos and give my unique perspective that complement the lyrics and melody of the artists. I would like to shake up the industry with the diversity and flare that I know I am capable of delivering.