Documentary Project
My documentary projects are rooted in a desire to capture voices and experiences that too often go unheard. Whether in the high plateaus of Tibet or in the training grounds of young athletes, I approach each story through personal interviews and close observation, with the goal of showing how individual lives reflect broader cultural and structural forces.
The first project centers on Tibetan communities navigating the tension between tradition and modernity. Through intimate storytelling, I document how heritage is preserved, adapted, and challenged under the pressures of globalization. The second project turns to the world of athletics, exploring the disparities between the U.S. and China in how young athletes are supported—or forced to choose—between academic and athletic careers. Both films are about resilience, identity, and the systems that shape what futures people are allowed to imagine.
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At their core, these documentaries share the same mission: to tell human stories with authenticity, to challenge simplistic narratives, and to create space for empathy and understanding across borders.
Athletes
In China, young athletes are often forced to choose between academics and their athletic passions due to a lack of support, resources, and viable pathways for student-athletes. Many abandon their education at a young age, only to face stagnant lives when their athletic careers end, often as early as age 28. Without an academic foundation, transitioning into other fields becomes a daunting challenge.​
In contrast, student-athletes in Canada and the U.S. enjoy greater opportunities. They are supported in pursuing both academic and athletic excellence, giving them a foundation to thrive beyond sports. This documentary weaves together my personal experiences and the stories of others, highlighting the disparity in opportunities and the urgent need for a better system to support young athletes in China. Through this lens, I explore the potential for change and the hope of building a future where no one has to choose between their dreams on the ice and their academic ambitions.
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This documentary explores these stark differences in how young athletes are supported in the U.S. and China. Through personal interviews with athletes themselves, I aim to highlight the human cost of these systems, while also showing how sport can serve as a vehicle for identity, aspiration, and resilience. My goal is to foster dialogue about what it means to nurture the whole person—not just the athlete or the student, but both.
Tibet
living, dynamic, and profoundly human—full of contradictions, adaptations, and quiet resilience
This project is my way of documenting a culture that is both deeply rooted and constantly adapting. In Tibetan communities, tradition is not static—it lives in rituals, songs, crafts, and everyday practices that shift in response to global pressures. Through this film, I want to capture those small yet powerful moments: the rhythmic weaving of a rug, the preparation of incense, the stories passed down between generations. These details show not just what has been preserved, but how people innovate within tradition to keep it alive.
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Too often, Tibetan culture is represented only in fragments—flattened into stereotypes of mysticism or frozen in the past. My goal is to show the real texture of life: the resilience of artisans, the complexity of identity, and the quiet strength of communities negotiating modernity while honoring their heritage. In telling these stories, I hope to create a bridge between local realities and global audiences, one that fosters both understanding and respect.
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This documentary is built around personal storytelling—intimate interviews, everyday observations, and visual details that invite the audience into the rhythms of Tibetan life. I focus on artisans, families, and young people, capturing not just the beauty of cultural practices but the decisions, compromises, and creativity required to keep those practices alive. Scenes range from weaving rooms filled with the sound of looms, to incense-making workshops, to quiet moments of prayer and reflection. By grounding the film in these lived details, I aim to move past abstract ideas of “tradition” and instead show how culture is carried forward in real time.
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Stylistically, I draw on a cinéma vérité approach, letting conversations unfold organically and allowing the camera to linger on gestures, spaces, and textures. The film avoids narration-heavy explanation in favor of giving participants space to speak for themselves—whether through interviews, oral histories, or candid moments of dialogue. I also incorporate ambient sound and long, steady shots to create a sense of immersion, encouraging viewers to experience the atmosphere rather than just observe it. The result is a film that is both documentary and portrait: part cultural record, part personal story.​​