watch “birth of a mind,” a short film that explores hate, adolescence and allyship
We’re thrilled to share with you, “Birth of a Mind,” a short film that explores the beginnings of hate through the eyes of children.
Created by filmmaker Daren Dien, this film depicts beginnings of hate, prejudice, and bias from the perspective of children. This thirteen minute film follows dialogue between a Black, Asian, and White child and their conversations with parents on allyship and friendship from a tender age.
LA vs Hate was honored to support this piece that we hope sparks meaningful conversations and inspires positive change.
“This film delves into the struggle of innocent young minds confronting negative beliefs instilled by their parents,” says filmmaker Daren Dien. “The concept of 3 children bonding through a VR game, only to be jolted by a shocking hate and fearful reality imposed by their parents, draws inspiration from an actual incident. A friend shared an experience where they were enjoying an online game with a companion. Suddenly, this companion started spewing hateful words against African Americans, completely unaware that my friend is Black… Originating amid the Black Lives Matter movement and evolving further during the Stop Asian Hate period, the script's development mirrors the societal challenges of our time.”
“Birth of a Mind” won Best Short Film at the Activist Without Borders film festival in London. This film festival is part of a global movement dedicated to breaking down barriers and inspiring change across the world, showcasing independent films that bear witness to human rights violations, climate crisis, and other social issues through direct storytelling and exposé formats.
Watch the film above and learn more about the filmmaking process here.
