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Hey, I'm Serena!
New York, New York
Serena Kuo is a Chinese-American queer filmmaker currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. After spending the first decade of her life in Taipei, Taiwan, Serena spent a large portion of her teens behind a drawing easel in the Silicon Valley, California. It wasn't until her Junior year and a slew of history presentations that Serena realized her love for storytelling through moving images. That, and way too much cable television.
Serena works primarily as a cinematographer of narrative, documentary, digital content, and commercial films. She relishes the opportunities to tell stories that resonate with her identity and important contemporary issues. Such include stories of immigration, the lgbtq community, women, and Asian-Americans.
In her spare time, Serena still draws, cooks, manages dense travel plans, and does competitive karaoke.
My Projects
Projects I'm Supporting
Swiped to Death
New York • Series
Drama, Romantic Comedy
Two newly-single South Asians try their luck on a dating app. Each episode is based on a real-life date that went terribly wrong.
11 days left
114 followers
Close Ties to Home Country
Chicago • Short
Comedy, Biography
Based on real events. Akanksha, a kind immigrant, finds family in the rich people's dogs she dogsits, while her sister's US visa is denied.
7 days left
180 followers
Petty Cash
New York • Short
Drama
In Upstate New York, a young bartender is overwhelmed by past demons when her estranged brother falls on her doorstep, asking for help.
This project got the green light!
Stage V
New York • Short
Drama
A young woman finally attends a bereavement group after losing her father to cancer.
This project got the green light!
Oniphron
Portland • Feature
Drama, Fantasy
A tale about a homeless immortal woman taken in by a Portlander.
This project got the green light!
RUNAROUND SUE
Natchitoches • Feature
Drama, Music
RUNAROUND SUE is a small-town Southern bartender known for breaking hearts... until THE WANDERER comes to town.
This project got the green light!
Big Girl
New York • Series
Comedy
A plus-size woman in NYC navigates our size-obsessed culture with cynical humor and unapologetic self-love.
This project got the green light!
I Friggin Love you
Los Angeles • Series
Drama, Romantic Comedy
Love can make you or break you.
This project got the green light!
The Book Club
Los Angeles • Short
Comedy
Carol starts a book club to meet her new neighbors. Only one arrives and boy, he's a doozy!
This project got the green light!
Alpha Female Films - A New Brand of Content
New York • Company
Comedy, Drama
An Intersectional Queer Film Production Company presents its inaugural two short films and feature-length film.
This project got the green light!
Ashley's Story
Watsonville • Short
Documentary, Teen
Set in the strawberry farming community of Watsonville, CA, Ashley Solis–Mexican-American teenager, strawberry picker, and
This project got the green light!
CRSHD
New York • Feature
Comedy, Teen
Three college freshman best friends chase their crushes the last night of school before summer break.
This project got the green light!
Eleanna
New York • Series
Comedy, Drama
A broke artist loses her mother and in turn their rent-controlled apartment,causing her to move into a van and pursue her dreams from there.
This project got the green light!
We Be the Same
Baltimore • Short
Drama, Family
When two very different sisters clash after the death of their mother, it's a teenage couch-crasher that unknowingly brings them together.
This project got the green light!
Playing with Fire
Dover • Short
Drama
After a barn fire kills their parents, siblings Henry and Hattie’s bond is tested by Hattie's fiancé, as they war over control of the farm.
This project got the green light!
Express
Los Angeles • Short
Horror, Thriller
A woman is forced to face the ghosts of her past when she finds herself trapped alone in a broken elevator
This project got the green light!
Reflection
Los Angeles • Short
Drama
When the murders of unarmed African American men seem never-ending, the women in their community must search for strength.
This project got the green light!
PURE
Los Angeles • Series
Adventure, Sci-Fi
A warrior and her unlikely ally journey to the Annex, escape the Dissension and face sacrifice in a genetically divided future.
This project got the green light!
End of Summer
Los Angeles • Short
Family, LGBTQ
En route to their daughter’s College Move-In Day, a family’s car ride takes an unexpected turn when the father is struck by a heart attack.
This project got the green light!
Broken Symphony
New York • Short
Drama, Crime
Following individual tragedies, the lives of a queen-pin millionaire, her pop star niece, and a jazz musician are dangerously intertwined.
This project got the green light!
AIRMEN
Santa Clarita • Series
Comedy, Drama
A dramedy about a group of eclectic Air Force troops navigating life and career during peacetime operations.
This project got the green light!
The Countries We Love
Los Angeles • Short
Drama, Foreign Film
Brazilian immigrants failing and succeeding on their American Dream journey
This project got the green light!
Gaining & Losing
New York • Short
Drama
On the road to eating disorder recovery, Nina’s past threatens her success. Will the pressure be too much?
This project got the green light!
First Position.
Los Angeles • Short
Drama, LGBTQ
When a young dancer becomes infected with the AIDS virus, he must find a way to prove his talent to himself and the only man he loves.
This project got the green light!
A Song to Pass the Time
Los Angeles • Short
Drama
A grieving woman retreats to a cabin in the hopes of seclusion, but finds it interrupted by entering an affair with a sincere young man.
This project got the green light!
The New Frontier
Seattle • Short
Western, Experimental
This isn't your classic TLC Western. A Western Film reclaiming People of Color's Forgotten History and Contributions to the United States
This project got the green light!
I Know You Are
Los Angeles • Short
Drama, LGBTQ
Gracie has already come out of the closet once, she's not about to do it again.
This project got the green light!
No More Comics in L.A.
Los Angeles • Series
Comedy
STRUGGLE. SISTERHOOD. STAND-UP
This project got the green light!
Human Telegraphs (Post-Production!)
New York • Series
Comedy
Three women form a human-messenger business in NYC and get tangled in the intimate, unexpected and hilarious lives of strangers in the city.
This project got the green light!
Mira: Seeking A Presidential Pardon
Milwaukee • Feature
Documentary
A Korean Adoptee seeks a presidential pardon for his biological mother, who committed crimes in pursuit of the American Dream.
This project got the green light!
No Man's Land
New York • Series
Documentary
The series will tell the stories of women-led communities around the world, supporting and empowering women in front of and behind the lens.
This project got the green light!
Messy The Web Series
New York • Series
Comedy, Romance
A web series about love, marriage, separation, kids, and dating all under one happy roof! I swear this will not make you cry!
This project got the green light!
Spot: A True Period Piece
New York • Short
Comedy, Shorts Program
Spot is a short film about a group of women who are fed up with being shamed for their periods and fight back for change in their law firm!
This project got the green light!
Butch Pal For The Straight Gal
Los Angeles • Series
Comedy, Reality-TV
The lesbian Queer Eye, aka Butch Pal For The Straight Gal, pokes fun at stereotypes while gifting self-love and empowerment to women in need
This project got the green light!
What's in the Woods?
New York • Short
Horror, Thriller
The night three best friends move to the woods a boy comes to them for help. Soon they are surrounded by forces coming for what's theirs.
This project got the green light!
Deserters
New York • Short
Drama
At an engagement celebration, an ex-nihilo woman confronts the boundaries of loyalty when her affluent in-laws' secrets come to light.
This project got the green light!
BIFL: The Series - Season 1
Los Angeles • Series
LGBTQ, Comedy
BIFL is a series about twenty-somethings trying to live their best lives, and every single mistake they make along the way.
This project got the green light!
Ipi
Los Angeles • Feature
Documentary
A filmmaker travels to South Africa, the birth-place of a musical her late father filmed decades ago in Jerusalem.
This project got the green light!
Forget Me Nots
Los Angeles • Short
Drama, Thriller
In the wake of their parents' untimely death, twin brother & sister must reevaluate their relationship, or risk losing one another forever.
This project got the green light!
Penny
New York • Short
Comedy, Drama
How would you feel if you couldn't have the one thing you've always wanted? Who would you become?
This project got the green light!
Bridges: Solstice
Oakland • Feature
Drama, LGBTQ
A triptych of stories invite us into the interweaving worlds of Yara, Ilhan, Quina and Luciana, who embody water, air, earth, and fire.
This project got the green light!
Bitter Melons
Chicago • Short
Drama, Family
Sophia, a line cook must confront her bitter past, in order to overcome self-doubt and cook a staff meal that heals broken hearts.
This project got the green light!
Best Friend Fix
Los Angeles • Series
Comedy, Sci-Fi
A lonely introvert signs up for Best Friend Fix, a subscription service that delivers a new robot best friend monthly.
This project got the green light!
OUR BODIES OUR DOCTORS
Portland • Feature
Documentary
Abortion providers and the fight for the heart and soul of American medicine.
This project got the green light!
Sinked Up
Los Angeles • Short
Comedy, LGBTQ
Two women started as roommates. Then they fell in love. A story told from behind the bathroom door.
This project got the green light!
King Ester
New York • Series
Drama, LGBTQ
Before the reign, came the rain.
This project got the green light!
Locked Alone
New York • Feature
Thriller, Drama
Catherine, unwillingly locked in her new apartment, discovers hidden crimes behind an evil entity. Will she have any chances to survive?
This project got the green light!
VOWS
New York • Series
Comedy, Drama
Two actresses from conservative immigrant backgrounds agree to a green card marriage hoping to pursue their very American passions.
This project got the green light!
Comedic Timing
Los Angeles • Series
Comedy
An improv teacher helps her all-women class sort out their personal lives as hers careens out of control.
This project got the green light!
Nun Habits Series
New York • Series
Comedy, LGBTQ
A weed-smoking nun befriends a gay high school senior. Together, they reconcile their personal beliefs with the teachings of the Church.
This project got the green light!
Misdirection: a short film
Los Angeles • Short
LGBTQ, Comedy
A college freshman falls in love with close-up magic as an escape from her unrequited crush on her roommate and her undiagnosed OCD.
This project got the green light!
