HUA

Hua was Premiered at Topanga Film Festival and screened at New York International Shorts, Los Angeles Asian Awards, and Independent Short Awards.

Hua earned distribution through Filmocracy and Hoopla Digital for international release.

"Hua" derives its name from the Mandarin pronunciation for "flowers."

The inception of HUA coincided with a challenging period for the global Asian community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The persistent racism towards Asians, exacerbated by the crisis, became increasingly overt and unscrupulous. Having lived in New York City for four years, I never anticipated feeling such fear while using public transportation, particularly in 2020.

The narrative unfolds after an incident of hate crime on the subway. An Asian woman, having been a victim, becomes aware that she is being followed by a man once again, unaware that he was the previous bystander seeking her forgiveness. HUA visually explores the concept of the "male gaze," portraying mainstream society as the collective observer, casting judgments, both positive and negative. As minorities, we find ourselves perpetually ensnared within the gaze of societal perceptions.