When approaching this spot for Communal, I was deeply inspired by the 2003 film Lost in Translation. Early in the process, it was important to clearly communicate the tone and emotional undercurrent I wanted to explore with actors Trieu Tran and Robin Choi. As an Asian-American myself, there’s something powerful about seeing people you can identify with navigating what can feel like an overwhelmingly crowded world. Whether it’s two people adrift in Tokyo or two strangers narrowly crossing paths in the East Village, the feeling is universal. The film lives in those fleeting, surreal moments—when you meet someone for the first time and, for reasons you can’t quite explain, they stay with you. Even if the encounter lasts only a single night in New York City, its impression can linger far longer.