Today we’d like to introduce you to Mingway Lee
Hi Mingway, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to create art that tells a story. As a child, I was drawn to imaginative books and cartoons, completely captivated by the worlds they built. But when I first entered college, I wasn’t sure if I could pursue that path—there was no example around me, no one working in film or the arts. Coming from a family of doctors, it already felt like a miracle that I wasn’t following the science track.
Everything changed in the second half of my sophomore year when I took a course on moving images. I made an experimental film featuring a melting ice cube with a tooth inside—a visual metaphor for my turbulent emotions during the COVID era. That project sparked something in me. From then on, I took every opportunity to explore filmmaking, finally getting my hands on proper film equipment beyond just a camera with a mounted microphone. I worked with teams, learned the rhythm of collaboration, and eventually had the chance to study in Los Angeles. There, I had a realization: it is not strange to want to work in film.
Still, as graduation approached, I felt unprepared. I needed more experience. So, I took a gap year to focus on improving my skills. It started with a nightmare. I enrolled in a small film school in Paris, only to realize that its level of filmmaking was very basic. I wanted to work with professionals but was still a student myself, with a limited budget. I decided to take matters into my own hands.
Using what I had learned in Los Angeles about promoting my vision, I started posting about my project online. To my surprise, applications flooded in from passionate strangers in Paris. I was able to assemble an essential small team—a DP, a sound mixer, an assistant director, a gaffer, actors, and a strong post-production crew. I even adapted the script into French because one of the actors wasn’t fluent in English. Thankfully, I’ve always loved learning languages, so I spoke enough French to make it work.
This experience has been incredibly eye-opening. I’m proud that I managed to bring together a global team to work on the same project. As a young director and producer, I know there’s still much to improve—storytelling, preparation, leadership—but this was a milestone for me. I stepped outside the student bubble and proved to myself that I could take that leap.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my biggest challenges is my love for magical realism. It’s a genre that requires skillful execution and smart filmmaking tricks—especially in live-action films with a limited budget. When making my film in Paris, I set a personal challenge: to create a sci-fi world without relying on special effects. Instead, I built the setting purely through props and dialogue. It was difficult, but it was a challenge worth taking.
Another struggle is the constant doubt—wondering whether my work will truly stand out, whether any of this will work in the end. But as I meet more and more people who are also pursuing this career, I find myself growing more confident.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets my art apart is that I don’t feel confined to one identity. I want to tell stories that resonate across cultures. I’ve made a film about domestic violence in Kazakh, a sci-fi film set in an abandoned tunnel in the UAE, an animated film inspired by my trip to Mexico, and I’m currently producing an animated film in Mandarin exploring the philosophy of life’s meaning.
I weave my cross-cultural experiences into my work because, to me, identity is about freedom. I embrace openness, and that reflects in the stories I choose to tell.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
People have always told me that I have a “weird” mind—that I think about things from unexpected angles. I suppose there’s a bit of rebellion in me, a resistance to fixed rules. For years, I tried to be the “good student” that people expected, but eventually, I decided to do what truly excites me.
As a kid, I was fascinated by horror stories—the kind adults hated. I loved making up eerie tales and sharing them with my friends, much to the horror of their parents. That love for mystery and horror has stayed with me. Even now, I’m drawn to stories that unsettle, intrigue, and challenge expectations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mingway-lee.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingway-lee-728811331
