We had the good fortune of connecting with Peilin Kuo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peilin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was born and raised in Taiwan, now a filmmaker based in New York. When I was growing up in Taiwan, my family couldn’t afford to take me and my siblings to movies at theaters unless it was a blockbuster like Star Wars. I didn’t grow up watching movies that would inspire me to become a filmmaker. When I was in high school, my grandmother passed away. I was sitting in a van with other family members to go to the cemetery. I remember I was sitting opposite the photo of my grandmother. My grandmother in the picture stared at me while I stared at her too. Then I heard her voice in my head: make movies. At that young age, I didn’t understand what did that mean and why she told me that. As time goes by, it gets clear and clear that what I want to do is to make movies. May grandma had planted the idea in my head years ago even before I made up my mind to become a filmmaker.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Besides raising my son, I make movies. I have made more than 10 short films since I moved to New York from Taiwan. I’m currently in the preproduction of my first feature film Gan Bei which I plan to shoot at the end of 2023 in Taiwan. One of my old friends who witnesses my filmmaking path from the very beginning told me that she really admire my persistence. That’s me, simply stubborn and that’s how I overcome the challenges because I believe there must be a way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are definitely many people I’m thankful for their love and support. But I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my late father. Thanks to him for having always been absent in my life which somehow pushed me forward to look for answers to my life, and gather my strength to pursue the career I dream of. Making movies help me understand life, therefore, better understand myself.

Website: www.letmethinkproductions.com

Instagram: @peilinkuony

Image Credits
©Peilin Kuo. Thanks.

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