Hey everyone!

We're the team of HOW TO MAKE MAPO TOFU: a short horror-comedy written and directed by Jonathan Bae. This film marks our very first project as a filmmakers, and after months of planning, saving, and shooting, we're proud to say it’s been completely self-funded up to this point.

Now that production is wrapped, we're coming up against the limits of what we can accomplish on our own. We've been encouraged to turn to the support of our amazing circle of family and friends to help us cross the finish line- which led us to this page!

About the Film

HOW TO MAKE MAPO TOFU is a dark comedy about a tortured chef whose lust for culinary vanity spirals into a sacrificial dish of damnation.

A note from the director, writer, and sole funder, Jonathan Bae:

I wrote and directed the short film “HOW TO MAKE MAPO TOFU” based on my own relationship with the kitchen. When I cook, I allow my mind the space and harmony to drift freely. I relinquish control to the long and tedious process in order to satiate my needs— a slow unraveling of thought through ritual. Each ingredient manifests into expressions of my rawest thoughts and untethered fears.

The lone character of this film, Chef Paik, and the elements of his mind’s creation embody his internal struggles with lust, pride, and gluttony. What started as a recipe for my favorite dish to cook transformed into my own descent into my mind and religion. A tragedy written to warn myself and ward my audience of its consequences. He partakes in this odyssey, only to discover what lies at the bottom of the dish. All I have to offer is myself- I hope you see yourself in me. I hope it comforts you. I hope in confronting myself, this story will confront you. Fear the meat.

Where Your Support Goes

Tiers of fundraising:

$1~$600: Festival Submissions – The bulk of our funding, the first $600, will helping us share the film with audiences everywhere. A submission to a film festival can cost up to $100- your contribution can help us take our shot at even one more viewer.

$600-$700: Marketing & Screenings – Around $100 of the funding will go to posters, promotional materials, overhead costs for the premiere and future fundraising events!

$700-$1000 Honoring Our Team & Paying Our Creatives – This fundraiser is also our way of posthumously supporting the film and giving back to the amazing friends and collaborators who believed in it from day one. Every one of our creatives volunteered their time, work, creative spirit, and oftentimes their own funds to make this work happen- your contribution helps us honor the work by making sure everyone who helped bring this story to life is recognized and compensated.

Why We’re Asking for Your Help

If you want to support a wild creative idea, or just love seeing people chase their dreams, this is your chance to be part of it our journey. This GoFundMe isn’t about making a profit; it’s about giving this film the shot it deserves and leaning on our community to help us share our story.

Every bit helps — whether it’s a donation, a share, or just cheering us on. Thank you so much for reading, supporting, and believing.

Fear the meat,

The team of HOW TO MAKE MAPO TOFU

Jonathan Bae // Writer and Director

John Oh // Director of Production and Editor

Jenny S. Lee // Executive Producer

Austin Park // PA & Boom Operator

Starring Keith Paik