Today we’d like to introduce you to Michi Hung.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From an early age, I was always making something – creating Club Penguin videos, filming home movies and vlogs with friends, and editing early YouTube projects. That hands-on start taught me how to tell stories, collaborate, and follow through from idea to finished video. It led me to TV/film classes in school, my first campus job in my college’s film equipment room, and eventually a BFA in Film from the University of Central Florida.
After graduating, I moved back to my hometown of Miami and had to rebuild my network from the ground up. I showed up wherever the creative community gathered, took on background work to get closer to set life, and kept searching for opportunities to learn and contribute. Through a Facebook group, I found FilmGate Miami and joined as a docent for the FilmGate Interactive Festival during Art Basel 2022. I jumped in because it sat at the intersection of what I care about most—storytelling, emerging media, and community.
By the end of the festival, I was offered a role supporting FilmGate’s monthly festival series. Since then, I’ve grown into the role of Operations Manager, helping oversee programming and production across FilmGate’s events, educational programming, and co-productions—from monthly screenings and talks to classes and bootcamps, as well as immersive programming like FilmGate Fusion, a fulldome screening event series at the Frost Planetarium and the larger-scale FilmGate Interactive Festival.
Alongside FilmGate, I continue to work on set as a freelance AD/production coordinator/PA, supporting productions for National Geographic, Adidas, Zara, Hilton, Topgolf, Brightline, REDCON1, Anne Barge, and the University of Miami, among others. At the core, I’m driven by the same thing I was as a kid: bringing ideas to life with collaborators and helping grow a thriving creative community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In many ways, the road has felt smooth because I truly love what I do. I love being on set—working with a team, problem-solving in real time, and watching everyone’s talents come together to bring a vision to life. I also love how community-driven this industry can be; the connections you build are part of what makes the work meaningful. It’s also natural to face “fires” whether in live event production or on-set, but those challenges have also made me resourceful and solution oriented – I’ve gotten comfortable wearing multiple hats and being flexible and open-minded. Getting started though wasn’t effortless. Miami is a smaller market than places like LA, New York, or Atlanta, so finding work early on required a lot of persistence. You have to keep showing up, stay ready, and prove yourself repeatedly because opportunities can be limited, and momentum matters. When something does come through, it really does feel like a blessing, and I’ve learned to meet every opportunity with gratitude and professionalism. The other reality is sustainability. Miami’s cost of living keeps rising, and the industry is still very gig-based, so building a stable living takes strategy. The dream is worth it though and I’m committed to doing the work it takes to build a lasting career here through upgrading my skillsets and staying open-minded to other adjacent industries. Along the way, I’ve had to prioritize self-regulation to prevent burnout but overall, it’s been deeply rewarding, and I’m committed to building a lasting career here while staying open to adjacent industries and new pathways for growth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
During the day, I serve as Operations Manager at FilmGate Miami, overseeing programming across festivals, education, and live events—from producing our monthly FilmGate Festival series to developing, facilitating, and hosting classes and bootcamps. I also support FilmGate co-productions (currently assisting on a full-dome musical) and produce specialty events like live table readings, including moderating post-screening Q&As and serving as an engaging MC for live programs and community events. In addition, I lead our immersive and interactive initiatives, including FilmGate Fusion at the Frost Planetarium and our flagship FilmGate Interactive Festival, featuring XR exhibitions, panels, and special events.
In parallel, I freelance as an assistant director, production coordinator, and production assistant. I’m known for optimistic energy, detail-driven execution, proactive planning, and a service-first approach, collaborative leadership style—and I’m proud to help grow and energize South Florida’s creative community by consistently delivering high-impact experiences.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want my final message to anyone pursuing the creative arts to feel empowered to be authentically themselves, stay committed to growth, and keep evolving their craft. There’s never been a better time to build creative skillsets—information is everywhere, access is broader than ever, and opportunities to learn are abundant. Above all, know what you stand for and create with integrity in service to something larger than yourself. When you lead with authenticity and integrity, you naturally attract the people and opportunities that align with you. Lastly, if you want to create, start now as the longer you delay the messy process of trying, failing, and improving, the longer you delay the success you’re working toward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michihung.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michihung/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-hung-305786mia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@michihung
- Other: https://www.filmgate.miami
Image Credits
Alex Markow
Eli Dreyfuss
Alan Shore
