Meet Ying Chen Shu: Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ying Chen Shu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ying Chen, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe that everything we do in life comes with risks. You can either embrace that fact and take a chance on yourself or live a life in lukewarm water. I’m not saying one is better than the other. Nevertheless, I would always take the risk. For someone who’s lived their life comfortably for so long, it’s not easy to walk away from it all. I started my career when I moved from Taiwan to L.A. three years ago. I knew no one and nothing about the job I want to pursue. One thing certain was that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I bailed. Being an Asian female writer/director is a risky job in Hollywood. But to be who I want to be. I have to take the risk and try. In that sense, I would say that risk-taking plays a crucial part in my life and career. I wouldn’t have been to where I’ve been and achieved goals without leaping faith. So I say Yes to all the risk-taking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a writer/director. My main focus is filmmaking. I’ve made a couple of shorts that went to film festivals and done well. I like to believe that what sets me apart from other filmmakers is that I care about what I write, not just creatively but emotionally. To me, films are not just here to entertain but also to educate, to help people learn. Lots of people would disagree, yet I stand by what I said. It’s important to me that the stories I wrote will make an impact on someone, may that be big or small.

For a newbie director, I still have a lot to learn. Nevertheless, I’m proud of where I am right now. It took trials and errors to get here, but I wouldn’t change a thing. As a petite Asian woman, I had enormous hurdles to jump through. It’s harder for me to get people to take me seriously, to make them hear me. It took me a while to find the voice and be assertive. When you realize that you have nothing to lose when it comes to your dream, you start to care less about what others think. Just be you. That’s when things start to fall into place. You’ll know whom to keep around and whom to let go.

Even though I’m not where I set myself to be yet, I would like to think when the world sees me as a director who’s not afraid to be who she is. Who’s not afraid to speak the truth. Who will go out of her way to tell stories that she believes in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve never been to the desert until I moved here. The beauty of the vast sandlot, alien rock formation, and eccentric-looking Joshua trees just moved me. Not to mention if you stay past sunset, you’ll get to see the whole galaxy above your head. Mullholland Drive is also a place I think everyone will enjoy. The view is gorgeous you can see the city and enjoy the hillside at the same time. If one has a convertible, putting the hood down on a sunny day is the best. Hollywood is known for its movie magic, so when in town, watching a movie at the arclight dome is a must. Studio tours are also something I enjoy.

When it comes to food, I like to think I’m a foodie. I enjoy all kinds of cuisine from different ethnicity. Luckily, California has it all. If you want brunch, Blue Jam Cafe is my go-to. If I can, I go there every day. To spice up your taste bud, Thai town has it covered. When I miss my home country, I always go to the Micheline restaurant in Silver Lake called Pine and Crane. You will get the most authentic Taiwanese food. Last but not least, when in California, you can miss the iconic In and out. Even after living here for three years, I still crave the animal fries and burger once a month.

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?
Many people helped me, mentored me, supported me throughout my career pursuit. However, no one person is more worthy of a shout-out than my mother. She’s not only the reason I’m still going after my dream but also my biggest believer. It’s not easy being away from your family and friends in a foreign country. The path gets dark and lonely sometimes. You lost sight of where it’s headed. Not to mention all the negative comments and thoughts that run wild when you’re in a rough patch. My mom always knows what to say to help me get back on my feet. Having a daughter who wants to be the next successful director in Hollywood is not a walk in the park. She could’ve started her retirement early and leave me be. Instead, she invested in me and my dream no matter how hard the situation gets. And I am forever grateful to have a mother like her.

Website: https://vimeo.com/yingchenshu

Instagram: @imsharonshu