I share my GenAI filmmaking process on Substack, along with reflections, behind the scenes notes, and the breakthroughs and surprises along the way. It’s where I explore what’s possible, document what I’m learning, and keep building new ways to imagine and make films with AI.
Possibilities and Predicaments: Rethinking Asian American Filmmaking in the Age of AI
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 2:00PM-3:20PM | THH 201 |
EASC Guest Speaker Series: Talk by Director Yeon Jin Lee with Faculty Moderator Prof. Raymond Tsang (EASC 150: East Asian Societies)
”In an age shaped by both human anxieties (war, economic sanctions, humanitarian crises) and posthuman anxieties (prosthetic surgery, robotic learning, cloning), pressing questions emerge: Can machines truly think or work on our behalf? Does AI possess genuine creativity, or does it merely simulate it? And how is AI reshaping filmmaking, particularly for Asian American filmmakers? At stake is not only the question of authorship but also representation—whether Asians are relegated to stereotypical roles or reimagined as futuristic, emotionless robots.
This lecture examines these tensions as a form of double consciousness, where creativity and identity are continuously negotiated against the backdrop of technological transformation in a transnational context. We are honored to host Yeon-jin Lee, a Korean American graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, whose migration from Korea to Indonesia and eventually to the United States, and whose professional journey from Silicon Valley and NASA to Hollywood, provides a powerful lens for understanding the possibilities and predicaments of Asian American filmmaking in the age of AI. Yeon-jin will present her short films and share the struggles and insights that have shaped her filmmaking career. “
Immerse yourself in a tech noir world as you follow a darkly hooded figure moving with purpose and confidence through dystopian, hostile streets.
Inspired by Yancey Stricker's essay 'The dark forest theory of the internet', the film explores the concept of cultivating a personal sanctuary in a new social world emerging around us.
The pre-production process was intentionally exercised without the use of Generative AI. This began with conversations about the dark forest theory and conceptualizing a story around the idea. We began writing a treatment which was further developed into a script.
The script was followed with creating a slide deck of style and tone references.
With a script and visual treatment in hand, we developed a traditional shot list and a tentative workflow.
The production method utilized GenAI models, including Midjourney, Nano Banana, Adobe Firefly, Veo3, ElevenLabs, ChatGTP and ClaudeAI.
Watch below 🎬