Read about my last film...
I am a documentary filmmaker living in Bellevue, Washington. My main strength as a filmmaker is my ability to tune into people’s extraordinary personal stories, and present these stories with genuine emotional impact. My main focus is to develop documentary projects on humanitarian, social, and family-related topics.
Support My Current Projects!
I am now seeking funding for three documentary projects in early development stage. If any or all of these projects resonate with you, I'd love for you to come on board and provide much-appreciated financial support! Having proper funding will ensure the resources needed (equipment and crew) to finish these documentaries with sufficient contents and high production value... at a quality level that they truly deserve. In addition, sufficient funding will allow me the freedom to fully devote my time and energy to these projects.
The Autism Project
If you think we've heard enough about autism, think again. The diagnosis rate today is 1:150, compared to 1:2500 just ten years ago. Our whole system is scrambling to keep up with this epidemic that is continuing to grow. In the myriad of stories, theories and ideas about autism, what is the truth and what are the myths? What do families go through after their children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? The good news is, early intervention treatments immediately after diagnosis can significantly improve the outcome of ASD, and with early intervention many children can grow up to be self-sufficient and contributing adults. However, most insurance companies don't cover the cost of early intervention, which can run up to $50,000 a year for one child. How can we support these children and their families?
This project will follow 10-20 children with ASD over the course of one year, and focus on their progress (or lack of) from various methods of treatments. We will tap into the stories of the families - parents who see their hopes and dreams for their children dashed by an autism diagnosis, and then have to wade through a sea of confusion and misinformation to find the best path for their children... How do they feel through this journey? We will also tell the stories of several treatment centers and non-profit organizations (such as Today's Hope), and the passionate individuals who are on a mission to help these children and families in whatever way possible.
Estimated project duration:
1-1.5 years
Estimated project budget: $100,000 - $200,000
Read my full proposal
The Arc Project
What images and thoughts come to your mind when you hear the term "people with Developmental Disabilities (DD)"? Chances are, those images and thoughts are very similar with what a lot of other people would come up with. While in reality, people with DD are extremely varied in their skills and abilities, and the types of support they need. They make up a large portion of our society, and yet in many ways, they are virtually invisible to most "normal" folks. Did you know that in Washington State, until this year, children with DD did not get the chance to walk on stage during high school graduations, because they are on a different educational track? So while they are able to get the education, they miss out on a wonderful experience that most people take for granted. This is just one example of the unobvious obstacles that divide people with DD from the rest of us. Back in the 70s, a political movement brought many children with DD out of the imprisonment of institutions and allowed them to stay with their families. So how far have we really come in making them an integral part of our society? Or rather, how do we keep them integrated?
I recently met up with some wonderful people who work at the Arc of King County, and was deeply touched by the stories they told me about people with DD. The Arc provides services for children and adults of all ages, with a particular focus on supporting their families. Many people who work at the Arc started there because their own children had disabilities; their passion and love for the DD community are truly evident.
"The Arc Project" does not just mean Arc, the organization. It also refers to the life arc for a person with DD, covering various stages and many different possibilities: From newborn babies, to school children, to teenagers looking for a place in the work force, to adults living with families, and adults who choose to stay homeless. Through a collection of stories about various clients of the Arc, this documentary will bring us into the world of people with DD, and connect our hearts with theirs. It will also shed a light on the unsung heroes who fight tirelessly for the DD community against misconceptions, negativity, discrimination, and the constant cutting of the already measly funding from the government. The need for support is huge; the available resources are stringent; and the future is up to all of us.
Estimated project duration: 1 year
Estimated project budget: $50,000 - $100,000
The Ghana Project
WHOO_HOO!!! This October to November, I am joining a group of volunteers from Seattle for a 2.5-week-long charity mission trip to Ghana. We have been raising funds for two projects: Getting water boreholes installed in remote villages so they can have clean drinking water; and getting a new school building for a local foundation that provides free education to child laborers and orphans. This will be my first trip to Africa, and I am super-excited!! I know this will be a wonderful and possibly life-changing experience, and I know most people don't get a chance to do something like this. So as a filmmaker, I will document the trip - both the physical journey and my inner journey - and bring it back to my audience. I hope they will be able to experience Ghana vicariously through my film. The documentary will also cover personal stories of other people on the trip, including how each person came to the decision of taking on this mission, and how our group managed to successfully raise enough money for the projects we want to support. (We are not there yet, and I know we will!!)
Estimated project duration
(remaining): 6 months
Estimated project budget (remaining): $20,000
Complete details: "Seattle
to Ghana" website
Also In The Pipeline...
My research for a documentary topic actually started in the elementary schools because I had a strong interest in education. Then I found myself drawn to the area of Special Education, and in turn the topic of mental disabilities in general - which brought me to the Autism Project and the Arc Project. I still want to do a documentary about elementary school education, on topics such as: the comparison of Special Education systems in different school districts; the philosophy of public school education (including the "No Child Left Behind" policy); the state of math/science education in the U.S.; the comparison between the education systems in the U.S. and in China; stories of teachers; and so on... I hope to narrow down to a specific topic sometime soon.
I am also very interested in stories of various ethnic groups. Not so much in the sense of racial politics, and more about history, culture, personal experiences, and how they are fitting in (or not fitting in) in this melting pot of a country. Again, I trust that the right story will come to me at the right time.
What You Will Get Back...
I welcome any level of financial contribution from individuals, corporations, and organizations! In addition to eternal gratitude from me and the satisfaction of supporting a worthy project, your contribution will bring you an official credit in the project of your choice:
$5,000 and above: Executive Producer
$1,000 - $4,999: Co-Producer
$200 - $999: Associate Producer
Anything else: Special Thanks
In addition, an agreement will be signed so that after the film starts earning a profit, 50% of the profit will go toward repaying all contributors for their contribution amounts. After all contributors have been paid back, a profit sharing deal will be in effect for all Executive Producer and Producer contributors! Contact me (whepro@gmail.com) and we can discuss the details.
These projects are very dear to me, and I believe in the positive impact they can make to our society. I also believe that by putting my whole heart into these documentaries and doing my best, they will be able to reach a wide audience and serve their purposes. Financial success will simply be the by-product of a movie well made.
Thank you for listening, and I'd love to hear from you!
My Bio
I was born and raised in the Shandong province of China. My mother was an esteemed high school teacher; my father was a radio personality and later a TV producer. Thanks to the exposure through my father, I developed an early interest in photography and video production.
In 1989, at the age of 13, I graduated from high school and entered a special college program for gifted young students. After obtaining my Bachelor degree in 1994, I moved to Boston, Massachusetts to attend the computer science graduate program at Harvard University. While there, I stepped into the world of filmmaking through an extracurricular program at Dudley House, the graduate school student center. I made several short films that were well-received at the Dudley Digital Film Festival. I also put together 30-minute documentary for Dudley House’s 10th year anniversary, which is still screened at Dudley House every year.
In 2001, after receiving my Ph.D. degree, I moved to Seattle area to live and work. Within a year, I had settled into my new home city and developed a new circle of friends, thanks largely to my dragon boat team, Hot Sake. (Dragon boating is a recreational team sport where 20 people paddle together in a long, thin boat.) In early 2006, I decided to pick up filmmaking again and develop my first feature-length project. Since Hot Sake represented such a huge part of my life, I decided it would make a perfect topic for a documentary! After all, I was already known for following my teammates around with a camcorder... Filming was done over the course of one year, and editing took a few more months. On April 1, 2007, I proudly screened the first version of my documentary to over 100 of my teammates and friends. The final version of the documentary, titled “My Eating Team Has A Paddling Problem,” had its public premiere at the Tacoma Film Festival in October 2007. In March 2008, at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival in Buffalo, New York, the film was enthusiastically received by an industry-heavy audience and took home the "Most Honorable Mention" award.
The experience with my first documentary feature reignited my passion in filmmaking and gave me clarity on what I want to accomplish as a filmmaker. My mission is to use my storytelling skills to promote understanding and compassion between different groups of people, and to help build a better society for tomorrow. Through a few months of investigation and exploration, a few key issues have emerged as my immediate focus: education, family, and people with mental disabilities. I am currently developing several projects around those topics, and I look forward to sharing more details with you in the near future!
I am always open to meeting with organizations and individuals who are passionate about the same causes, and collaborating with them to develop exciting and impactful projects. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and ideas!
