Fresh off completing his Master of Fine Arts in Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, actor and filmmaker Justin He is channeling personal experience into powerful storytelling with his first film, Urban Warrior. The drama-mockumentary explores the psychological and physical impact of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, a crisis that reshaped both his artistic voice and filmmaking direction.
We spoke with Justin about the inspiration behind the project, the challenges of filming in real fire-affected locations, and what he hopes audiences take away from the film.
Congratulations on completing your MFA. How did your training shape you as an actor and filmmaker?
Thank you. My MFA at the New York Film Academy was heavily focused on on-camera acting, but what made it so valuable was the production side. I wasn’t just performing — I was learning how films are built technically. Understanding camera, sound, editing, all of that helped me approach acting with more awareness.
Before that, I trained for two years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where my focus was stage acting – voice, movement, and stage combat. Theater gave me discipline. Film taught me intimacy and subtlety. Having both backgrounds really shaped how I work now.
Your film Urban Warrior took a very different direction than originally planned. What happened?
Originally, I was developing a Kung Fu action film. Something very physical that would showcase stunt work and our team’s production capabilities. I’ve always loved action cinema, so that felt natural at first.
But then the January 2025 wildfires hit Southern California. At the same time, I was dealing with health complications, lingering effects from multiple COVID recoveries, and respiratory sensitivity to the air pollution. I realized I couldn’t physically handle leading an action film safely. So, I had to move on from that project.
How did that pivot lead to Urban Warrior?
The fires had a fundamental impact on my worldview. It happened right at the start of the year, and it changed how I saw life, safety, career… everything. I felt compelled to respond artistically. So instead of an action spectacle, I created a mockumentary drama about an actor processing the psychological and physical aftermath of the wildfires. It became something much more personal, with honesty.
Where did you film the project?
I filmed in the Pacific Palisades. The locations carried real risk, with the aftermath of the fires still present, while I also filmed at a gated apartment complex, which provided a safe, controlled environment. That contrast deepened the film’s realism and gave it a documentary texture, as if we were capturing history as it unfolded.
Did filming in those environments affect your performance?
Absolutely. It didn’t feel like acting in the traditional sense. You’re standing in places that carry emotional weight. It brings a different level of vulnerability because the trauma isn’t fictional — it’s real.
What were some of the biggest production challenges?
Filming in the Pacific Palisades brought an entirely different challenge: safety. The environment was highly dynamic, requiring constant coordination with police, military personnel, first responders, private security, and local residents. Staying alert and cautious was essential, even as I remained artistically present on camera.
As a solo film crew, I handled every role myself—camera setup, performance, review, and self-direction. To push beyond the limitations of a fixed camera, I designed two tracking shots, acting while walking and physically operating the camera at the same time. It was demanding, but it allowed the film to break the boundary of the existing artistic limitations.
Sound quality was my biggest fear. I’ve seen too many short films lose immersion because of audio issues, so I made it a top priority. Luckily, my audio engineer, Nicholas Howe, was incredible for post-production. He went out of his way to guide me through the voiceover process and ensure everything sounded clean and professional. That collaboration made a huge difference.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
First, I hope people grasp how devastating the wildfires truly were — especially because we filmed in real locations. But beyond that, I want audiences to reflect on their own relationship to major events. How do media and social platforms shape our emotions? How does proximity to danger affect our psychology? How do we process trauma? The film raises questions rather than giving answers through a personal scope.
Why do you feel this was an important project to make right now?
Timing. If I had made this film a year earlier, the fires wouldn’t have happened yet. If I waited another year, the immediacy would’ve faded. It was the right story at the right time, in the right place. There was almost a journalistic responsibility to capture that moment, like preserving a time capsule of Los Angeles during a crisis.
What are the next steps for Urban Warrior?
We’re preparing for festival submissions, especially within Los Angeles. I think it’s important that the film begins its journey in the city that inspired it.
Looking back, what did this project ultimately teach you?
That the story you need to tell isn’t always the one you plan. Sometimes life redirects you, and if you listen, the work becomes more truthful than anything you could’ve imagined.
Our thanks to Justin He for taking the time for this exclusive interview, and for Liz Rodriguez from EMR Media for helping us with the interview.
