CHAMPION is a semi-autobiographical short film about a 9-year-old Korean girl who seeks to rebuild a sense of community and mend her broken heart, after moving to California without her father. The film was showcased at festivals around the world, including LA Shorts Fest, Busan Kids & Youth International Film Festival, and Seoul Children's International Film Festival. It earned top honors, winning the Best Film Jury Award at New York No Limits and the Audience Award at Imagine This Women's Film Festival.
Role: Set Dresser
Director: Kimberly Han
Through a recommendation, Kimberly Han connected with me on LinkedIn and invited me to be a Set Dresser for her debut film. I immediately said yes. Her project was exactly what I had been searching for—an Asian American story that was both deeply personal and meaningful. As a Korean American, I felt a strong connection to her narrative and shared with Kimberly that I had an intuitive understanding of the cherished objects a Korean American child would carry and treasure, allowing me to bring authenticity and emotional depth to the film’s set design.
I explored small stores in Los Angeles Koreatown, going to the basement of Koreatown Galleria and talking to the older store owners about what items were popular with children. I bought school supplies, stickers, and toys. In addition to sourcing props, I created murals and hand-drew sketches that a child might have made. On set, I arranged furniture, dressed the space, and meticulously tracked prop continuity to maintain visual consistency throughout the film.
