We recently had the chance to connect with Dylan Lei and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dylan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’d say I’m walking a path — though it’s not a straight one. Right now I’m focused on film producing, where I’m not only building skills in storytelling and execution, but also accumulating experience in investment analysis and project management. Step by step, I see these pieces connecting into a bigger vision: combining film, management, and finance. To me, it’s not wandering — it’s exploration with direction.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I work as an Executive Producer with a focus on short-form content and international distribution. What makes my path unique is that I approach filmmaking not only as a creative pursuit but also as a business and strategic endeavor. Alongside managing productions, I’m building expertise in both analysis and management.
Beyond overseeing production schedules and team collaboration, I’m gaining hands-on experience in areas such as project valuation, market positioning, and resource allocation — skills that are usually associated with the investment and business development side of the industry. I find that combining these perspectives allows me to make decisions that balance artistry with sustainability.
Right now, I’m especially excited about film production. It’s adaptable and increasingly influential in global markets. My long-term vision is to bridge film, management, and capital in a way that not only tells compelling stories but also builds structures that allow those stories to thrive and travel.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
In my experience, bonds between people often break when communication fails — when assumptions replace dialogue, or when short-term interests outweigh shared goals. In production work, I’ve seen how even small gaps in trust can slow everything down. What restores those bonds is usually openness and accountability: listening with respect, sharing information clearly, and making decisions transparently. It sounds simple, but in a collaborative industry like film, it’s the difference between chaos and harmony.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to trust the process and embrace every step, even the mistakes. Every project, every challenge in production management, and every learning curve in investment and strategy is shaping the skills and perspective I have today. I once wrote on a private social media: “My judgment is usually right, and my mistakes often come from self-doubt and a lack of persistence.” Looking back, patience and persistence pay off more than I realized back then.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
In public settings, I tend to talk more about numbers, investment returns, efficiency, and expectation management. People really love it! It doesn’t take much time, but it’s a straight way to let them know what’s happening on my end. In private, with truly close friends, the conversations shift to art, love, hometown and memories.
I don’t see one side as more “real” than the other — both are authentic expressions of myself. The difference is simply the audience: just as I wouldn’t say to a chef what I might say to a doctor, I adjust what I share depending on who I’m speaking to. Every context shapes the conversation, but neither diminishes who I truly am.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I still have 10 years? That’ll be too much to spend.
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