Every short film I write, I always have a goal both as a writer and a directing standpoint — something I want to practice, learn or say.  When I wrote “My Heart – Ya Albi,” my first goal was to honor the story of my parents. Both of my parents are immigrants from Taiwan. Though they are not refugees, I can only imagine what they still had to go through in order to adapt and succeed somewhere so far from friends, family, and what they know.

Much of this short film is inspired by stories my parents told me about their early times in the U.S. From the prejudice they encountered, the families who they became life long friends with, and the strangers who helped them along the way, I wanted to capture those moments through “My Heart – Ya Albi.”

Despite the context of the story with regards to the Syrian refugee crisis, “My Heart – Ya Albi” for me was never meant to be a political statement. Rather, I wanted to share my own microcosmic look into what it is like to make a new place a home, a theme I’m sure many people will relate to. It is about the different types of people we encounter and the way we connect and affect each other both negatively and positively.

My second goal for this short film was to learn how to tell a simple story in an effective way. The beauty of a simple story is that there are no frills to hide behind. Same way that you can judge a great chef by how well he accomplishes the simplest of dishes, it is similar for a director, in my opinion. I believe the strongest directors are the ones who can tell a simple story effectively without hiding behind visual effects, fancy lighting, editing, etc. I wanted to take a seemingly mundane daily life story and still captivate the audience.

I am lucky to have worked with an incredible group of talented cast and crew who brought the story to life. What an amazing experience it has been.

If you would like to know about the film feel free to download the EPK at this link Download!