I am a screenwriter, director, and actor based in Los Angeles. My pronouns are she/her. I discovered my love for screenwriting while attending the University of Michigan, where I immersed myself in script analysis. I wrote the first draft of Santoku in my childhood home. The coming-of-age story I want to tell is not one steeped in nostalgia for the so-called “good old days” of adolescence but rather a messy, honest exploration of the growing pains and cultural conflicts that defined my younger self.

I was born with a Nevus of Ota—a dark blue facial birthmark that deepened in color as I went through puberty. The snarky comments from peers at school, the rigid expectations of perfectionism, and the cultural divides within my Japanese, Korean, and Jewish heritage left me feeling profoundly insecure. Adding to this, I faced chronic pain that impacted my sexuality as a teenager—a source of profound shame due to the lack of representation of women’s sexual health issues in mainstream media. By exploring themes of cultural intersectionality and the stigma surrounding sexual health, I hope to spark important conversations and provide young girls with the representation I wished for growing up—stories that empower, validate, and inspire as they navigate their own journeys into adulthood.

Santoku is a short film rooted in realism. I want the cinematography to feel intimate and convey the overwhelmed state of the protagonist. A few features that have inspired me recently include My Old Ass, Eighth Grade, and Shiva Baby due to their accurate depictions of how terrifying self-discovery can be. Through my experience writing and producing short films in the past, I have learned that strong cinematography and compelling performances are essential to bringing stories to life.

Beyond Santoku, I am passionate about writing film and television that finds humor in unexpected places. My pilot, Lady Chaos, recently won the Inkwell Tavern Script competition and has been lauded for its sharp comedic lens on mental illness in the age of social media. I aspire to continue writing fresh, female-driven narratives that embrace imperfection in a world of perfectly curated Instagram profiles and text-based interactions.

I aim to continue expanding my portfolio and collaborating on projects with other writers whose differing viewpoints and styles complement and contradict my own. A dream of mine is to break into a writers’ room, crafting work with a team of passionate artists who challenge perspectives and push boundaries.

At my core, I am obsessed with storytelling-constantly watching movies and TV and reading scripts and novels. Writing, to me, is about bridging worldviews and expanding perspectives. My artistic superpower is vulnerability, and I intend to tell stories that defy societal norms, redefine perceptions of Asian women, and address the profound impact of identity in the digital age. Santoku is one of the many stories I aspire to bring to life for the lost girl I once was.

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