Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Lillian Lazum

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lillian Lazum. Check out our conversation below.

Lillian, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Filmmaking can be really fun, but it’s rarely glamorous. For every film you see on screen, there’s a whole crew of talented, dedicated people who put in countless hours to bring that vision to life.

Most of the process isn’t about showing up on the red carpet; it’s about the long discussions, mistakes, and setbacks behind the scenes that the audience never sees. That’s why every department matters. It’s incredibly collaborative, which is why every name in the rolling credits makes such a huge impact on the final project.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lillian Lazum, and I’m a filmmaker, director, and editor. I’m currently rewriting a script for a short film called “Always Burning”, which I aim to shoot next year. I initially wrote the script in 2023 for a college assignment, and although it’s a story I’ve always wanted to tell, it’s also the one I felt most hesitant to share.

The film is about an Asian American teen struggling with insomnia when the rise of Asian hate crimes impacts her relationship with her immigrant mother. The story is based on my experiences of anxiety, frustration, and hopelessness from the pandemic, while watching my community become targets of fear and violence.

This project is very personal to me because it’s what inspired me to pursue filmmaking, and although it gone through many revisions since then, the heart of the story has always remained the same. At its core, “Always Burning” is about the universal desire to be seen and understood, especially in times of division and fear.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents made many sacrifices so I could pursue my dreams in LA, and I wouldn’t have come this far without them. Even though they knew this dream came with risks, they’ve always believed in me and supported me from the start. I realize this is a huge blessing, and I’m truly grateful for them.

My mom once told me, “The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Whenever I feel lost or start to doubt myself, they remind me that I’m never walking on this journey alone. I want to keep working hard to make them proud—not because I feel I have to earn it, but because I want to repay their sacrifices and show them that it was all worth it.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Thank you for working hard to get us this far. I hope to make you proud, too.

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. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Growing up, I followed the belief that if you weren’t in a complete state of burnout all the time, then you simply weren’t working hard enough.

Every day, my peers and I were always saying how physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted we were, but no one actually listened to us. At one point, I wasn’t using my bed and was setting up 10-minute timers to stay awake, because it was impossible to finish all my work and get a full night’s sleep. Being in a constant state of distress and deprivation was so normalized that we didn’t even realize how toxic it was.

When I left the traditional career path, I carried this mentality with me. If I wasn’t actively working on a project or running around on a shoot, it brought on a lot of guilt. I kept thinking, “I’m not supposed to have this much time. I must be doing something wrong”. But now I’ve come to understand the importance of rest and recovery, especially as a creative. I’m more productive when I’m fully recharged, and my light burns brighter when I’m not burnt out.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
When I chose this path, I didn’t know if I was making the right choice, and I didn’t hear any voices guiding me. But at some point in our lives, we face the unknown, and the only way to cross it is through a leap of faith.

Although we don’t always know our calling or what the future holds, sometimes we discover it in the moment, and that’s what makes the journey so exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/lillianlazum
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilly_laz77/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillian-k-lazum/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LillianLazum

Image Credits
Cover Photo: Roselyn Lazum @roselzum

Images 1-8:
Jay @cine.jayy
Jack Isacson @j.for.jack
Sam Jalâlpour
Lillian Lazum @lilly_laz77