Heiward Mak majored in design studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, but became interested in filmmaking after she graduated in 2003. She entered the creative media program at the City University of Hong Kong and began making short films. Her graduation short won an award at the IFVA Hong Kong Independent Short Film & Video Awards, attracting the attention of actor-producer Eric Tsang. She was promptly hired to work alongside veteran Aubrey Lam on the script to Men Suddenly in Black 2 (2006), the sequel to Pang Ho-cheung’s popular comedy.