For the past two years, I’ve been immersed in The Mo Lum of San Francisco Chinatown, a film chronicling the untold history of traditional Chinese martial arts in San Francisco Chinatown. What began as a simple idea — to honor the first masters who taught Gung Fu in the 1930s — quickly became a deep exploration of culture, history, and the people who carry this tradition forward.

Shooting the film was a marathon in itself. I worked solo with two cameras, two lights, and a combination of lavaliers and shotgun mics, navigating the busy streets, hidden courtyards, and community halls of Chinatown. I followed masters through their training, lion dances, and gatherings, capturing moments that reveal both the discipline of Gung Fu and the heartbeat of the community. Every day presented logistical challenges — from juggling equipment alone to finding the right light and angle — but working solo allowed me to remain fully present with my subjects, making every decision intentional.

Research and storytelling were equally intense. I spent countless hours with archival materials, tracing the stories of the pioneers who brought Gung Fu to the West and examining how martial arts shaped identity, camaraderie, and resilience — including moments of conflict like the legendary encounter between Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man, and the influence of martial arts during Chinatown’s gang wars of the 1960s and 70s.

Now, the film is in story-locked post-production, where editing, sound design, and final refinements are shaping the narrative for its first audience. It’s a stage that balances creative instinct with careful pacing and rhythm, ensuring that every scene communicates both history and humanity.

To help finish the final stages and bring The Mo Lum of San Francisco Chinatown to a wider audience, we’re launching a Kickstarter soon. You can explore more about the film, watch updates, and support the project at sfmolum.com.

Working solo on a project like this has reinforced why I value the process as much as the final product. Every technical decision, every creative choice, every interaction with the people and the city has been mine to make. This film is as much a reflection of the community it chronicles as it is of the discipline, patience, and storytelling that solo filmmaking demands.

You can also see more of my filmmaking work at smallbitefilms.com and photography projects at leogong.com.

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