Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Qinyue Luo.
Hi Jessica Qinyue, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born in China, my early scenes weren’t directed at Loyola Marymount University’s School of TV & Film. In fact, they started in a household where the youngest member was inadvertently cast as the adult. Due to circumstances, my parents couldn’t take care of me, so my grandparents and relatives took up the roles. While most kids were mastering hopscotch, I was perfecting the art of reading adult moods and adjusting my behavior. Think of it as my early dive into character development and story arcs!
Movies and TV dramas became my emotional outlet, my cathartic release. They gave voice to the feelings I had to mute. With every character’s laugh or tear, I felt seen. Little Jess had a bright idea: “What if I could make others feel the way these movies make me feel?”.
High school was a blur of visual infatuations: films, TV, music videos, photos, and let’s not forget the captivating allure of… fancy PowerPoint slides. Yep, you read that right. Naturally, this love affair led me to Penn State University’s Film Production program, where I reveled in watching my filmmaking evolve with each project.
Then, 2020 called. And let’s be honest, it wasn’t a call any of us were waiting for. With the world on pause, I took a detour, working with ACCENT Productions in Shenzhen, ensuring every commercial had a story worth telling.
Finally, the City of Angels beckoned in December 2021. Now, I’m not just an audience member but a director and producer, creating my short films and producing others. Every emotion, every suppressed feeling from my past, finds its voice in my work. Today, I direct and produce short films, mastering the art of storytelling from both ends. The tale of Little Jess continues, and trust me, it’s filled with plot twists and cliffhangers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to filmmaking is as twisty and full of suspense as any blockbuster movie. To say it’s been smooth would be like calling a roller coaster a leisurely walk in the park.
In college, my film classes at Penn State often felt like I was swimming upstream. Coming from a background that had little to do with filmmaking and being among a handful of Asians in the program, I sometimes felt out of place. This was compounded by the fact that English isn’t my first language. Scriptwriting became an exercise in vulnerability. Every table read would amplify my linguistic shortcomings, from grammar mishaps to inadequate vocabulary.
Transitioning into the commercial world with ACCENT Productions was like being thrown into the deep end. Everything was a whirlwind. The work environment was demanding, to say the least. Trying to catch up and match client expectations without a reservoir of commercial references was daunting. And let’s not even start on the set experiences. If you thought a 16-hour workday was brutal, imagine extending it to 20 or, in one harrowing instance, a full 24 hours. That was a day where I almost collapsed after hearing “It’s a wrap!”.
When I moved to LA for my MFA at LMU, the challenges shifted. The city was a vast, interconnected web of talent and ambition. I had to start building networks from scratch while simultaneously honing my voice as a director. Every school project wasn’t just an assignment but a lesson in refining my craft, learning the nuances of storytelling, and mastering the art of film.
So, a smooth road? Hardly. But every bump, every twist, every steep descent has only added depth to my narrative, making me cherish the high points even more.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the core, I am a storyteller, directing and producing short films that bridge raw emotions and complex human experiences into compelling visual tales. My works shine a light on the intricate dynamics of human relationships, deeply rooted in emotional and evocative storytelling.
My fascination with sociology significantly influences my narrative choices. Many of my projects delve into pressing social issues, crafted with a lens of balanced feminism. As a staunch feminist, I aim to portray women in their authentic essence, emphasizing equality between genders. My stories don’t lean on the concept of one gender superseding another but rather underline our shared imperfections. They stress the importance of introspection and mutual support rather than making it a race to the top.
When considering what I’m most proud of, my directorial journey comes to the fore. One particular memory that makes me chuckle is from my high school days, battling in the unseen arena of noise wars with next-door dorm mates. Channeling that into creativity, I directed the comedy piece “Muted” (2022). On the other side of the spectrum are films like “In the Spotlight” (2022) and “Good Night” (2020). The former, a psychological thriller, encapsulates a deeply personal yet societal narrative, entirely written, directed, produced, and edited by me. Meanwhile, Good Night, inspired by my struggles with insomnia and the serendipity of my mother’s snoring, is an experimental short that led me down a path of introspection, confronting my deepest fears and insecurities in a novel manner.
Additionally, my production ventures have received acclaim. One Afternoon (2021), directed by Yumin Zhang, achieved the accolade of being a semi-finalist for the Student Academy Awards. I’m equally proud of Upstream (2023) and Flatulence: The Origin (2023), directed by Yintao Gong and Xingyu Chen, respectively. Both these sci-fi shorts have been officially selected by LA Shorts and continue to make waves in the film festival circuit.
My bicultural upbringing offers a nuanced perspective, merging Eastern sensibilities with Western narrative techniques. The intertwining of two worlds, personal tribulations, and an insatiable passion for filmmaking make my voice distinctive. Coupled with my ability to do both the director’s and producer’s hats, I ensure every project, from its inception to execution, carries a piece of my essence. In the vast panorama of filmmakers, each of my films is not just a story but a fragment of my soul, unfurled for the world to witness.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is a scene right out of a quirky sitcom. Picture this: my cousin and I, a pair of unsuspecting audience members, parked on the floor, eyes wide, munching on snacks. The main act? My grandparents were the stars of our very own “family drama show.” They’d have these hilarious arguments where they’d chase each other around the house, occasionally launching “weapons” (think slippers or whatever was within reach). You might think it sounds chaotic, but to us, it was the Emmy-winning spectacle of our youth.
But the drama wasn’t the only heartwarming part. After the school bell rang, as my cousin and I stepped outside, there would be our grandpa – reliably waiting at the gate, a beacon of comfort. He’d swoop in, lifting our schoolbags as if they were feathers, and in exchange, slip some change into our hands. With coins clutched tightly, we’d scamper over to the street food vendors. And there, right in the midst of the bustling streets, we’d feast like little kings, savoring each bite, making our taste-bud-tingling journey home.
It’s these moments, full of humor, love, and street food, that I cherish the most from my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessluo214.wixsite.com/jessicaqinyueluo
- Instagram: @ljessxx
Image Credits
P1-P3 : BTS by “Harry” Xingyu Chen P4: Experimental Short – Good Night (2020) P5: Poster by “Elena” Yiwen Cao P6: BTS by Eric-Ezra Vazquez P7: Short FIlm – Muted (2022) P8: Short Film – In the Spotlight (2022)
