Mika Sasaki talks ADFEST perfection with IM PERFECTION

What inspired you to create IM PERFECTION, and how does it reflect your personal journey as a filmmaker?

I was inspired by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and how people’s minds are influenced by so-called ideal looks.

I’ve always wondered why we humans try so hard to be “perfect” and end up living similar lifestyles and looking the same as others.

So, I tried to create a “perfect” world filled with perfect-looking people with talents, one that ironically makes everyone’s dreams come true, by using the power of filmmaking.

I’m not really sure how this reflects my journey as a filmmaker, since I’ve only just started in this industry. But I’m sure there will be a time when I can’t help but compare myself to other filmmakers. Maybe I’m already doing it without realising.

I realised [that the] pressure to act the same is deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

I think it’s interesting how hard it is for us to focus on our own uniqueness, whether it’s about appearance or our career path. So, I just want to remind myself that what matters most isn’t keeping up with others, but recognising my own voice and individuality.

As the youngest finalist, having graduated just last year in English and American literature, how did your academic background influence your approach to filmmaking, particularly in IM PERFECTION?

Most of the people in my department were either biracial or raised abroad. Talking with them in class gave me new perspectives on everything, from small things like fashion to bigger issues like current social problems.

Since they were so carefree about others’ opinions, I didn’t feel the pressure to fit in, unlike in high school, where everyone around me was Japanese and there was more of a sense of conformity. I later realised this pressure to act the same is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. I wasn’t aware of it until I entered university.

I think that realisation definitely inspired this film.

Another aspect was that my university was a mission school, so we often learned from the Bible that each person is made uniquely, and that no one is perfect, and that is exactly how it’s meant to be.

I combined that idea with the reality we live in today, where so many people are chasing after the same ideal looks and lifestyles.

The film received the Commendation Prize from the Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus panel. What aspects of the film do you believe resonated most with the judges?

I think the message of the film resonated the most with the judges. Since the theme was “COLLiDE,” I assumed ADFEST would interpret it as ideas or identities clashing with one another. So, I aimed to create a film that visualises the moment those ideas collide. 

And because the film is only five minutes long, I included many visually impactful scenes. That may have also made a strong impression on the judges.

How did you interpret the theme "COLLiDE" in your short film?

I interpreted “COLLiDE” as the clash of different ideas.

I’ve always been fascinated by how we humans are all born different and with unique flaws. I believe that is what allows new ideas to emerge and has driven the progress of civilisation from the very beginning.

So, I tried to express that through a story about high school students, in a way that felt both realistic and relatable.

Can you share the process of developing your script from concept to completion? What challenges did you encounter?

I actually wrote the script without initially planning to turn it into a film, so I faced many challenges along the way.

Before writing, I was inspired by the word “COLLiDE” and had this image in my head of colours clashing and perfect-looking students staring straight into the camera. So I built the story around those visually strange scenes.

I’ve always been fascinated by how we humans are all born different and with unique flaws. 

Before filming, we had daily discussions about how to make the “genetically modified kids” look the same without using CGI. We debated things like, “Should they all have the same bangs to look kind of creepy?” or “Should they wear grey-coloured contact lenses?”

It was a fun process, but also stressful because I knew that one bad choice could ruin the entire film. Thankfully, the final result turned out better than I expected.

In the editing stage, I was shocked by how short 5 minutes really is. We struggled a lot with deciding which scenes to cut in order to make the message clearer and simpler.

Looking back, it was great practice in writing a short script with a strong and focused message.

Above: Sasaki onstage at the ADFEST Fabulous Five screening and Q&A.

How did you approach casting and directing the performances?

I wanted to portray Kanako, the protagonist, as a completely ordinary girl, both inside and out. On the other hand, Aika needed to appear too perfect in every way, to the point where she gives off a cold impression.

So, I cast the two leads based not only on their acting skills but also on their contrasting facial features and vibes.

During filming, I asked the actress playing Aika to act more robotic and emotionless in the first half of the film, almost like an AI. Then, in the second half, she gradually reveals the sadness and pain caused by her genetic modification.

Both she and the extra cast did an amazing job showing the contrast between natural-born and genetically modified people, and I’m really grateful for that.

Were there any visual or narrative techniques you used to emphasise the film's message?

In the first half of the film, I intentionally made the scenes feel a little off or 'cinematically weird' to catch the viewer’s attention and signal that this wasn’t a typical setting.

I cast the two leads based not only on their acting skills but also on their contrasting facial features and vibes.

I also used muted colours early on to create contrast with the final scene, where the protagonist begins to recognise her own value while working on the class painting.

Additionally, I used colour symbolically. Red for Kanako, representing the natural-born side, and blue for the genetically modified students.

What kind of audience response were you hoping to evoke?

I simply wanted people to start embracing their flaws as unique traits after watching this short film.

I especially targeted teens and people in their 20s, who often feel insecure about themselves. We live in a world where we absorb information non-stop through social media, which causes us to constantly compare ourselves to others.

We end up focusing only on what we lack. Social media often promotes an ideal look or lifestyle that pressures young people to chase unrealistic goals.

It is sad that we waste so much time seeking temporary validation, when we could be using that time to explore how to turn our “flaws” into strengths.

Through this film, I hope viewers begin to search for the potential hidden in their imperfections.