Introducing Mimi
a narrative short film // my role: director & co-producer 
Finding your voice in a language you’ve forgotten how to speak.
A young woman meets her tutor at the library to relearn a language she once knew better as a child. Introducing Mimi is about expressing who you are and being at a loss for words. We tell this story for anyone who’s ever felt like they lost touch with a language or an identity.
Watch the Trailer
about us
“Introducing Mimi” is a film co-created by director Emai Lai and screenwriter Amy Chu (@camoot.journal).
The story was inspired by Amy’s experience taking Mandarin classes, relearning and reconnecting with her family’s Wuhan dialect. Emai on the other hand, rage-quit Chinese school as a child and has never been fluent in Mandarin. She’s now attempting to repair her relationship with learning new languages and currently holds a 471-day streak on Duolingo.
Like many second-generation Asian Americans, we both share the frustration and regret of feeling disconnected from a culture or language we feel we "should" know better – whether it’s the language our parents speak, one we learned in school, or one we knew as children. While Mimi’s story focuses on her relationship with Mandarin, we hope it resonates with anyone who has a connection to a second language or has felt any angst about growing up and changing. At the end of the day, we want audiences to feel empowered and inspired to express themselves, even if they don’t have all the words for it.
behind-the-scenes!
Production took place over 3 days in July 2024 at the Reading Public Library in Massachusetts.
cast & crew
DIRECTED BY
Emai Lai

WRITTEN BY
Amy Chu

PRODUCERS
Ana Curi
Amy Chu
Emai Lai

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Matthew Jiang

STARRING
Juliette Lin as Mimi
Leo Young as Hudson

WITH
Oliver Wessels as Sketchy Computer Spy
Kellie Tropeano as Big Hat Lady
Kendel Dawson as Medical Student
Andrea Fiorillo as Librarian
First Assistant Director Ana Curi
First Assistant Camera Andrew Kim
Gaffer Cameron Hunt
Key Grip Kendel Dawson
Sound Recordist Eran Avni-Singer
Production Designer Amy Chu
Costume Designer Avni Ambalam
Social Media Cindy He
PA Hugh Cheon
PA Sydney Jean-Simon
PA Dalena Soun


EDITED BY
Ana Curi

MUSIC BY
Peter Lu

Colorist Brendon Wilson
Sound Designer Skyelyn Riggs-Davis

Special Thanks to Reading Public Library
Follow our Instagram and/or Seed&Spark page for updates!
↑Back to Top