Life & Work with Jiwon Lee of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiwon Lee

Hi Jiwon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It’s been quite a long, international journey!
I was born in South Korea and spent most of my life moving between Korea, Malaysia, and China.
Growing up and constantly moving around had its perks, but I remember feeling a constant sense of frustration. I was always the new kid who had to quietly listen to what other people had to say all my life. Once I reached middle school, that frustration burst into a long-waited epiphany — that I want to become a filmmaker and tell my own story to the world rather than always having to stand back and listen. Naturally, the Hollywood dream literally led me to Hollywood, and it’s all been history from there!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Quite frankly, I’d say it was the opposite of a smooth road. I just got my work visa approved to stay in the U.S. and even that’s been a year-long journey of asking and researching, and the worst part of it all — self-doubt.
I got a visa under the title “alien with extraordinary abilities,” and that was quite the heavy crown to strive after for a freshly out-of-school twenty-five-year-old.
Trying to find a way to live in the U.S. alone is such a difficult journey, and when you combine it with trying to do that as a filmmaker, it becomes a virtually impossible task.
I do feel one step closer to getting where I want to be, though! I have to constantly remind myself to be proud of what I’ve achieved and take everything one step at a time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a filmmaker with a specialty in writing and directing. I’ve recently won the ‘Best Female Director Award’ at the Annual Indie Short Fest 2024 hosted at the Regal Theater Downtown for my short film ‘Call for Cassie,’ which was also a Best Women Short Film nominee at the same festival.
More than the awards or film festivals involved, I’m most proud of the fact that I’m constantly creating. When I’m not directing, I’m writing, and when I’m doing neither, I’m brainstorming. The industry, especially today, is such a difficult place to maneuver a career in, and I’m proud of the fact that I’ve never given up my identity as a storyteller.
As mentioned earlier, my distinctive background gives me a special perspective and touch to my stories. I’ve grown up as a foreigner/outsider all my life, and while that came with difficulties, it allowed me to tell unique stories and collaborate with others with a special kind of empathy and flexibility.

How do you define success?
As a filmmaker and storyteller, I’d say success is leaving a positive impact on someone through my work.
When I was younger I used to say I wanted to create work that “changes” someone’s life, but as I got older and gained perspective, I realized that it’s quite a haughty statement for a filmmaker to make.
Witnessing an audience simply leave the theater with a smile, a thought or maybe an inspiration would make me feel like I’ve succeeded in what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ji1lee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eejeeone/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user91199873

Image Credits
Indie Short Fest