Meet Noah Neko

We recently connected with Noah Neko and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Noah, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I like this question because I know a lot of creatives struggle with imposter syndrome, and it’s something I’ve dealt with as well, especially being thrust into professional environments while still being young and inexperienced.
My creative journey started when my best friend sold me his old camera and I joined his editing server. From the start, I was surrounded by the most talented and passionate people who were years of experience ahead of me (beetlex, brenxdan, PeeJ, 300hrtz). As I continued to pursue editing, I picked up videography, eventually shooting for Guntai9, a group of amazing artists whose music I used to have on repeat. As my career grew, the more I met incredible creatives and it felt like I was leagues behind them.
But here I am, less than a year into my career, working alongside the coolest people I know.
There’s a lot that went into how I dealt with my imposter syndrome, but most important was surrounding myself with the right people. Friends who respect me and my work, but don’t hesitate to criticize as well.
I also live by “fake it till you make it.” I literally started from zero – almost no creative experience growing up – and only began last year. But I play into my strengths and work hard to prove myself. That being said, I think it’s important to accept that you are young and inexperienced. Be yourself, but be respectful and embrace your role as a learner. Being on set, even on my own, I always ask questions and absorb everything I can.
The process of getting over imposter syndrome differs for each person, but I find confidence in being an imposter and I maintain my ego so I can grow as a creative.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Noah, I’m 20 years old, and I live in Tokyo, where I work as a film director, colorist, and editor. I grew up in SoCal but moved to Tokyo two years ago for university, and since then, I’ve found my passion in filmmaking. My two best friends and I founded a media production company called Storytolds, and collectively, we’ve worked for Odetari, 88rising, Molly Santana, Starkids, and more.
Storytolds is built around our love for filmmaking and our deep friendships. Our team’s individuality is a big part of our work, and I think it’s what makes us unique. We all bring something different to the table, and each of us has our own individual goals.
Storytolds started on a typical Wednesday night discord call, where Benz and I pitched the idea to Elliot, who had the means to make it a reality. We later recruited August, who already had experience with Guntai9, an artist collective Benz and I admired. Tim, with years of filmmaking experience, joined as a professional unc, adding a really nice support layer to our team. Unfortunately, not all of us live together, but I call everyone individually every day to see what they’re up to 🙂 I really love my friends, and I would not be in this position without them.
All of our work is mostly focused on music videos, something we’re all passionate about. Many of us started out working for free or for little pay, and even now, Elliot still makes videos for cheap because “individuals don’t have the financial backing like big companies, and I just really like doing them.” His sentiment reflects a core part of us – we’re driven by our love for the craft and not just money, something I know is what breaks a lot of relationships. We’ve had a couple big projects already, but any revenue goes back into the company to support future projects and keep our passion alive.
Personally though, my goal has always been to work in K-pop, and Storytolds has an upcoming idol project that I’m super excited about. I’ve always been drawn to K-pop, and my entire career has been shaped by that goal, though I never knew this is where I’d end up even a year ago. So, we’ll see where I’ll be in a year, but despite our plans, life always has a weird way of unfolding.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Well immediately, I can say that my ability to make meaningful relationships through networking has been the most crucial in my journey. It’s not just about reaching out to people through dm or emails; it’s about really becoming friends and building a strong foundation with artists and creatives. This opened countless doors for me, especially in Tokyo, where there’s always endless opportunities to connect through events. For anyone early in their career, my biggest advice is to just go for it—put yourself out there. You don’t need to be a partier or a junkie; in fact, I wasn’t at all… at first. But even staying inside all day and night, I grew my online presence through the editing community and I realized how critical it was to develop people skills and immerse myself into a community.

So I started going out every night, even if it was to show face, and met so many unique people. Tokyo, especially, meeting people who differ from you really develops your taste and you can have a really fun time.
It was tough at first, but each experience helped me grow. Maybe I had a hidden extrovert side, but I also like to think it was through effort and practice that I built my people skills, eventually becoming part of various communities and establishing a solid image for myself.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I owe my parents so much, not only for the financial support that let me grow up comfortably without having to worry about money but also for their understanding of my lifestyle. My mom is an immigrant from Japan, while my dad is a third generation Japanese American, and I really admire their maturity and empathy in supporting a son like myself, whose goals and work is so different from theirs TT Even now, while I work to support myself, I’m able to live in Japan and attend university because of the support they provide.
Reflecting on it as an adult, I really realize how much they’ve done for me that I never fully appreciated growing up. Part of my gratitude, though, also comes a sense of guilt. Despite all the support they’ve given me, I still struggle to meet their expectations academically. My ADHD and creative work outside of school has made it incredibly challenging to go to class, much less do my homework.
But even through all my challenges, their support is incredibly reassuring, and I will always be grateful for that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n0ahneko/