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Scenes From
a Working Life

by

Kayleb Lee

A former Marine combat cameraman turned director and editor makes films about diaspora, memory and healing.
Next: a 16mm short, shot in Cambodia.

Follow @kaylebsjournal ↗ hello@kayleblee.com · IMDb

FADE IN — Cold open: now

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EXT. FAMILY FARM, CAMBODIA - DAY ↗ How to Grow a Ghost16mm short · in development

Scene 1 · How to Grow a Ghost · 16mm short · in development

A diaspora couple build and tend an impossible creature made of memory. Principal photography: 2027.

Accolades

1st Place and Grand Prize · The Script Fund, Season 1 · $1,000 production grant
London Film School · MA Filmmaking, 2025–2027 · thesis film
Research: Art for Kep Artist Residency, 2026 (scene 15)

SUPPORT THE FILM ↗ · PRODUCTION LOG ↗

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INT. MAN MADE MONSTERS - NIGHT ↗

SUPER: OCTOBER 2026

Man Made MonstersMicro-horror web series · Oct 2026

Scene 2 · Man Made Monsters · micro-horror web series · writer, director

Now streaming. WATCH ON YOUTUBE ↗

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INT. CAMERA TRUCK - DAY ↗ Film KitFree app for film crews · beta

Scene 3 · Film Kit · built on set · beta

A digital mag card and camera report for crews shooting 16mm and 35mm. Call sheets, shot lists, stripboard and sound reports around it. Free to use. Works offline.

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Act one — the filmmaker

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INT. AICP - DAY ↗

SUPER: 2023

AICP

AICP Mentoring Program.

Scene 4 · program

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INT. WRITERS’ ROOM - NIGHT ↗

Scene 5 · scripts · writer

Accolades

Minivan · Best Short Screenplay · Rome Prisma Film Awards, 2023
Origami · Finalist, Filmmatic Sci-Fi/Fantasy Awards, 2023 · Selection, We Script Competition
All in Sepia (feature) · Finalist, Screenwriting Master Contest, 2020
Cupid Hates You · Script Summit, 2020
Sub·li·mind·al · Script Summit, 2020

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EXT. MARINA DEL REY - NIGHT ↗ A Theory in SepiaShort film · 2022

Scene 6 · A Theory in Sepia (2022) · short film

Accolades

In-theatre premiere · Marina Del Rey Film Festival, June 18, 2022
Official Selection · Romance Film Festival, Chicago
Bali FilmDays, 2022
Interview · Wildsound
Limited run · Roku Shorts Daily

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INT. MINORITY IN FILM - DAY

SUPER: 2022

MINORITY IN FILM

Minority in Film’s Directing Lab.

Scene 7 · program

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INT. WARSOL - NIGHT ↗

WARSOLShort film · 2021

Scene 8 · WARSOL (2021) · short film

Accolades

Official Selection · Boston Asian American Film Festival, 2021

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INT. POST SUITE - DAY (MONTAGE) ↗

SUPER: OCT 2020 – AUG 2024

UNDER ARMOUR RAY-BAN ESPN × MARVEL BOSE

Scene 9 · post-production specialist · Zambezi & FIN Studios

Nearly four years cutting and coordinating broadcast and branded campaigns for clients including Nike, Ray-Ban, Under Armour, ESPN and Bose.

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INT. LE COUP - DAY ↗ Le CoupShort film · 2020

Scene 10 · Le Coup (2020) · short film · director

Accolades

Detroit Black Film Festival
Romance Film & Screenplay Film Festival
Genre Celebration Film Festival
Couch Film Festival · semi-finalist
Top Indie Films

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INT. THE ACADEMY - DAY

SUPER: 2020

ACADEMY GOLD

The Academy Gold Program.

Scene 11 · program

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INT. EDIT BAY - NIGHT ↗ PapayaShort film · 2019

Scene 12 · Papaya (2019) · short film · writer, director, editor

A diaspora family drama, Laos and Cambodia.

Accolades

Best Original Idea · Top Indie Film Awards
Best Sound · Top Indie Film Awards
Best Production Design · Asian Cinematography Awards
Best Short · LA Film School Veterans Film Festival
Nominated: Best Director, Best Short · Top Indie Film Awards

Official selections

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Seattle · Boston · Philadelphia · Sacramento Asian American Film Festivals
Saigon Film Festival
Rome Prisma Independent Awards

WATCH PAPAYA ↗

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INT. FIFTY & FIVE - DAY ↗ Fifty & FiveShort film · 2019

Scene 13 · Fifty & Five (2019) · short film

Accolades

Related program: LACMA’s Veterans Make Movies (scene 14)
Veterans Film Festival
Super Duper Diversity Film Festival
Alternative Film Festival · semi-finalist

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INT. LACMA - DAY ↗

SUPER: 2019

LACMA

LACMA’s Veterans Make Movies.

Scene 14 · program · related film: Fifty & Five

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Act two — the artist

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EXT. KEP, CAMBODIA - DUSK ↗

SUPER: AUGUST 2026

ART FOR KEP

Art for Kep Artist Residency. A directing residency for pre-production research on How to Grow a Ghost.

Scene 15 · residency

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INT. SUMMIT STAGE - DAY

SUPER: JUNE 2026

KHMER HEALING SUMMIT

Featured speaker, 2nd Annual Khmer Healing Summit. A 35-minute solo presentation on community-rooted storytelling.

Scene 16 · speaker

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INT. SUNFLOWER FILM ORGANIZATION - DAY

SUPER: 2025–PRESENT

SUNFLOWER

Workshop facilitator in Kep, Cambodia. Mentoring emerging Cambodian screenwriters and directors.

Scene 17 · mentorship

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INT. LEGACIES OF WAR - DAY ↗

SUPER: 2022–2023

LEGACIES OF WAR

Advocacy, media footage and USA Today features.

Scene 18 · advocacy

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INT. ACMA - DAY

SUPER: 2021

ACMA

Asian Culture and Media Alliance. Advisory and mentorship.

Scene 19 · mentorship

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INT. THE JOURNAL - CONTINUOUS ↗ The JournalInstagram @kaylebsjournal ↗

Scene 20 · Instagram @kaylebsjournal

VOL. 1 — FITNESS JOURNAL ↗ · STOCKROOM ↗

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Flashback — where it started

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INT. LOS ANGELES FILM SCHOOL - DAY ↗

SUPER: 2016–2019

He studies film production and directing and graduates with a 3.98 GPA.

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EXT. AFGHANISTAN - DAY ↗

SUPER: 2009–2017

A U.S. Marine sergeant shoots video, stills and interviews for the record. Combat Camera Specialist. Two deployments to Afghanistan, 2011 and 2013.

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FADE OUT.

INT. THE FEED - CONTINUOUS

A new post lands. The next scene is already being shot. FOLLOW @KAYLEBSJOURNAL ↗

INT. INBOX - CONTINUOUS

Or write in. HELLO@KAYLEBLEE.COM ↗

THE END