Today we’d like to introduce you to Shin Yu Liu.
Hi Shin Yu, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story starts with the first two Cinephiles in my life: my parents. There was nothing that inspired them more than good movies. On one hand, my mother was (and still is) a Science-Fiction and Thriller fanatic; she loved the colossal concepts that were born from series like ‘Tron’ and ‘Star Trek’ as well as the blood-pumping rush that arose from the likes of ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ On the other hand, my father was incredibly devoted to Action Comedies and Crime films; nothing in this world could destress him the way a good Stephen Chow movie or an hour or two in the world of ‘The Godfather’ could.
I truly believe they paved the way for me to develop my appreciation for the audio-visual medium of film and television. It’s no coincidence that some of the most revisited genres in my work perfectly reflect my parents’ interests. My every step in the past few years could never have been realized without the strong foundation of film appreciation that they have built for me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can’t say it’s been too rocky of a road, but it hasn’t exactly been ‘smooth’ all the way, either.
I started to take my pursuit of film and television seriously in 2019 when I moved out of my parent’s home in Hanoi to settle down in Savannah, Georgia. Just nine months before the global shutdown that took many people by surprise — myself included.
During that period, I spent a lonely six months soaking in the reality of being an Asian immigrant living in the West. It felt as though, left and right, repressed prejudice was seeping through the seams and surfacing in the most cruel way possible. Sometimes, I still think about what happened in Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, France’s editorial promptly titled ‘A New Yellow Peril‘, and much more. And that’s highlighting specific instances that felt relevant to an anxious eighteen-year-old me.
I can’t say that I’m entirely thankful for those torturous six months, but I will say that I came out of the experience more determined than ever to participate in society and confront the realities of being an Asian immigrant in Western communities. Feuling my determination even more was the rapidly increasing number of acclaimed films that were not only derived from the mind of an Asian filmmaker but also featured a predominantly Asian cast who were, in most cases, speaking their mother tongue.
Of course, I’m still very early on in my lifespan and career, but I truly hope to be able to add my voice and my stories to that empowering list of films that have, in many ways, changed the tide for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Comedic Screenwriter as well as an Independent Film Producer, currently with one Dramatic short film (The Longing for a Familiar Stranger) wrapping up post-production and a Documentary Short (Portrait of MeMe) starting to make its festival runs. Speaking from an Independent Film Producer’s P.O.V., I’m incredibly proud to have talented filmmakers in my life who believe in my work and believe in my ability to get the project to the finish line in the best quality possible. To have other creatives believe in me is, perhaps, the greatest honour possible.
I believe my dual perspective as both a Screenwriter and a Producer sets me apart when taking on either responsibility.
As a Screenwriter, I feel I have a headstart in that I’m imagining my work being executed in production as I place the words on the page. I’m constantly writing stories that are feasible within a reasonable budget. This helps me a lot when hopping into pre-production.
As a Producer who has experience in screenwriting, I’m able to help my writers push their scripts to their most ‘perfect’ form in as little time as possible without compromising either of our visions.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m very easy to contact through LinkedIn and Instagram. I’m always looking for other producers or screenwriters to collaborate with. Additionally, I also work as a freelance Script Reader. Currently, only my Script Reading service’s rates are fixed.
Pricing:
- Script Reading — $250 for 4 Complete Coverage
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shinyuliu.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinyuliuu
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/shinyuliu
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shinyuliu
