Filmmaker Statement

This film bloomed from my own alienating adolescence in suburban Perth, WA as well as the tension between the two worlds that seemed to always contradict in me. My parents or my passion? Am I Chinese or Australian? Do I value collectivism or individualism? The script is a love letter because I have learned that there is power within us where bi-cultural realms can co-exist in harmony. It is an ode to the journey and tug of war that diaspora have to undertake before finding themselves. Despite the difficulty in balancing two such contrasting spheres, I consider my fluid Chinese Australian identity a privilege and gift of rich dynamism and hope to share this with cinema. “To Fly a Kite” is the first narrative short I have written, produced and directed. It was an illuminating expedition of learning for the entire team of emerging creatives. Although we had never worked together before, “To Fly a Kite” allowed us to find solace in each other, in our unique crafts and in the art of film.