Director, writer and producer Shih-Ching Tsou joins FILMD Chats to talk about Left Handed Girl, the indie feature now on Netflix, and the long road it took to get there. From growing up in Taipei to studying in New York and meeting Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou shares how a story can live with you for decades until the timing finally aligns, and why “real life” choices (real locations, small crews, smart spending) can make a film both more truthful and more affordable. We dig into practical low-budget tactics, what to prioritise when money is tight, and the mindset that keeps you moving as an independent filmmaker: focus on the story, tell the stories that don’t get a voice, and don’t wait for permission, you can make something with what you already have, even a phone.