KYUNG-JA LEE
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, California
 
Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel?
“Little Tokyo Story” is an homage to my mother, who suffered through the Japanese occupation (1910-1945) and passed away with what Koreans call “Han,” the unresolved collective trauma and suffering imposed upon in the name of oppression. I yearn for a peaceful resolution, and a friendship between enemies could be a step toward ending the cycle of hatred. Using the actual event of the vandalized Comfort Woman statue as the catalyst, I envisioned the setting for such a possible friendship at a senior apartment in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, where Korean and Japanese elders reside.
          
I am particularly interested in stories that possess a strong visual sensibility. I enjoy film metaphors that seamlessly blend the narrative with an emotional payoff. I am intrigued by the way certain images or physical objects can evoke strong emotions within us. And the script format guides me towards a secret passage that allows me to express myself without compromises.
 
How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN?
The story originated during a visit to a senior apartment in Little Tokyo three years ago. Since then, the screenplay has undergone several different drafts, with significant changes made along the way.
When I finally had a clear direction for my story, writing the final version came together quickly, and I was rewarded with the magic of seeing everything fall into place.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To fulfill my dream of writing impactful stories with emotional depth, I aspire to see them come to life on the big screen.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Among many, the Coen brothers, Spike Lee, Juzo Itami, and Charles Burnett...
I love how these writers/directors masterfully execute absurdity with a comedic touch, even in the darkest subjects.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
I cannot choose a single favorite movie. Here are some from the East and West:
The Funeral (1984, Juzo Itami), Ugetsu (1953, Mizoguchi), Tokyo Story (1953, Ozu), and Bong Joon-Ho’s Mother and  Parasite...Citizen Kane, Blade Runner, Do the Right Thing, To Sleep with Anger...
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Embrace rejection as part of the course. Keep going. Take time off, reassemble, and improve.
Feel free to explore different avenues, which may unexpectedly unlock the key to your story.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Currently I’m working on two feature projects:
"K-Town Blues" is a period social drama. It tells the story of a father and daughter, highlighting an unlikely love affair between a young Korean-American woman and an undocumented Latino Chef working in her father's Korean restaurant. The story builds up to the 1992 L.A. Riot, when more than 60% of Korean-owned small businesses suffered severe damage.
 
The Calling  ( a supernatural thriller horror)
A Korean adoptee, a medical resident at a private hospital in California who is engaged in an illegal organ harvest, struggles with her birthmother’s shaman calling as she fights for her innocence and justice for the ghosts of the victims.

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