Today we’d like to introduce you to Mimi Lee.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mimi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up in San Jose, I wasn’t great at school or academics. I would be the kid in the corner daydreaming, or possibly napping during class. As an Asian American, I constantly felt the societal pressures of fulfilling the Asian whiz kid stereotype, but I came most alive and thrived in spaces that allowed me to be creative, such as singing competitions, dance teams, and all things performance art.
Naturally, I’ve always been a storyteller through different creative outlets. From childhood to my teenage years, I spent most of my time dreaming about becoming a music artist. I immersed myself in the music and lyrics of my favorite artists, from Nina Simone to Amy Winehouse, and also joined several dance teams (Shout out to Funksters & Common Ground). But as I got older, I came to a very sobering realization that there really wasn’t anyone who looked like me in mainstream American media, whether it was behind or in front of the screen. The lack of representation directly affected me and my confidence as a teenager.
During undergrad, I got a few friends together to shoot my first music video, and that’s when I realized I had a knack for filmmaking. It was during this time when I started interning at an ad agency, Nurture Digital, in an attempt to learn how to be a creator of my own content. After pitching a short VR concept piece to them, they green-lit my project, Alive, allowing me the opportunity to write, produce, and direct it. In 2015, we won “Best Live Action Music Video” for Alive at the VR Fest at CES. Winning the festival gave me an opportunity to go to Sundance in 2016, and the experience of being around other passionate filmmakers at Sundance really inspired me to tell my own stories. I saw the impact of indie filmmakers and how powerful it was to see a story that reflected your own experience on screen.
Soon after, I started my MFA at USC School of Cinematic Arts, in hopes of creating stories and narratives I wish I had seen growing up. During my time at USC, I’ve written and directed around ten films, ranging from short Sci-Fi to Period Dramas.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
If any filmmaker ever says it’s a smooth road, they’re lying to you! As a writer/director, you’ve got to be ready to wake up everyday to fight for your story. Additionally, as a woman of color, there are so many extra factors that can make this career even more difficult or stressful than it already is. I’ve had several different people tell me before that I don’t “look like” a director, whatever that means. But you can’t let it get to you. I’m blessed to have a family that’s been supportive of the path that I’ve chosen and keep me in good spirits. Also, I’m surrounded by so many other talented filmmakers, especially all of my other badass women peers who are all killing it! They inspire me to keep going.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an independent filmmaker. I usually write what I direct because the stories that I write are specific and have an urgency to be told the right way. But I also love to direct other material that I haven’t written. I’m a very visual director so apart from narratives, I naturally lean towards directing music videos and commercials as well. And there will always be a special place in my heart for VR. I love exploring different technology and ways to tell stories.
Moonchild, my thesis film, is my latest project that we just finished. It’s the Asian American coming-of-age thriller I wish I had seen when I was younger. We just recently received an Industry Award at USC School of Cinematic Arts’ First Look for “Best Thriller”, and will be entering the film into the festival circuit later this year. It’s a proof of concept for a feature that is in development.
Apart from developing Moonchild, I’m also currently focused on writing another feature.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of the most memorable moments would have to be when we received “Best Music Video” at Urbanworld Film Festival, an Oscar-Qualifying film festival in New York sponsored by HBO. It was also incredibly inspiring to meet and view the work of so many directors that I’ve admired such as Diane Paragas (Yellow Rose), Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), and Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy) — all filmmakers who can remind you, with their amazing work, the power of storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mimifilms.com
- Instagram: mxms
Image Credit:
Dwight Wilson II, Michael Pierce, Giovanni Du Bose
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