When I was 13, I picked up a VHS copy of Se7en off the Blockbuster shelf.
The clerk at the counter didn’t ask any questions. He just let a couple of 8th graders walk out with an R-rated film. We felt like we were getting away with murder. I’m on the left of the illustration, and my friend Mike is on the right.
We popped the tape in with great anticipation. It starts with a dimly lit, gruesome homicide scene. The two detectives couldn’t believe their eyes. Trent Reznor’s eerie heavy metal soundtrack assaulted my eardrums.
I didn’t know what was coming next — but I was excited, terrified, and completely hooked.
Once it was over, I instinctively knew that creating a visceral experience like I’d just witnessed was what I wanted to do with my life.
Fast forward a few decades, and I’ve been fortunate to pursue that calling. I’ve written, directed, and shot short narrative films, documentaries, and commercials — always looking for the next opportunity to create something meaningful and impactful.
As technology and culture evolve, one constant remains: the power of a story to speak to people’s hearts. Details fade from memory, but the emotions you feel in that moment stay with you forever.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to connect with you soon.
— Jin