Today we’d like to introduce you to Yaxing Lin.
Hi Yaxing, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Like many people, the first character I learned to write was my name. My mother made me practice writing it on a grid notebook hundreds of times. Back then, my mother proudly told me, “Your name represents an Asian star; isn’t it cool?” I didn’t really understand, but I knew I wanted to be a star on TV. Therefore, I fell in love with acting, and I told others that my dream was to become a star.
However, in the end, I didn’t become a star. Reality made me realize that it was time for me to grow up.
But I was still someone who really wanted to be on TV, so in high school, I chose to study broadcasting and hosting, hoping to become a TV show host. On the journey of learning broadcasting and hosting, I encountered a cliché story that many people had told before. When I went to Beijing to take the Broadcasting and Hosting interview, my friend invited me to attend an interview for a Film and Media major with her. My friend was not admitted, but surprisingly, I was.
The first year I officially decided to study directing, I was 20 years old in the mountain city of Chongqing, China. I poured my heart into making my first short film, but I dared not call myself a director, feeling it was something distant. At the age of 21, I studied abroad at NYU Tisch. I had been running wildly in the streets and alleys of New York, finishing my second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh short films. I finally hesitantly introduced myself to others as a director.
At the age of 22, I stepped into one of the best film schools, USC School of Cinematic Arts, feeling that I was about to create incredible works that could influence a generation.
Now, three and a half years later, I’ve graduated from USC’s film school. I have a few works, but nothing great that could influence a generation, haven’t become a person on TV. But my dream is still burning hot; the desire to make films keeps my heart pounding. I’m currently planning my first feature film. I often think about how lucky I am to keep doing what I love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a female filmmaker, I often feel the burden of gender expectations. For instance, during the production of one of my short films in Chongqing, there was no shortage of moments when sponsors or new crew members walked directly to the producer, a tall and broad-shouldered man, shook his hand, and referred to him as the director. After we corrected them, an awkward silence usually ensued – many had trouble believing that the real director was a skinny young girl. Even my assistant director, a woman, quit midway through filming to work for a male director. When I pleaded with her to stay, she was dismissive, telling me that she’d realized it was a mistake to trust a girl as a director and disparaging my work and professional aspirations. As filming went on, I found that I was not only responsible for fulfilling a director’s typical responsibilities but also spent a great deal of time proving to others that I deserved the role. Occasionally, I wondered if I could bear a lifetime of constantly having to prove myself.
As I attempted to focus on my education and career, I was continuously impeded by the relentless assault of opposing voices, expressing frustration that I refused to follow the “right path” and casting doubt on my decisions.
Furthermore, the issue of the “moon and sixpence” became particularly prominent when I graduated, especially since my family could no longer support my “moon”. I began to fall abruptly from my ivory tower and started contemplating my “sixpence” issue. Right now, I’m seeking a balance between creation, life, and work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a director and a producer, focusing primarily on women’s desires and emotions, as well as narratives from marginalized communities. I currently have some works that I am proud of such as the short film “One More Bite” about people with bulimia, which tells the story of a woman with an eating disorder, her desires, and her struggles. “After Sunset, Dawn Arrive” is a story about a 60-year-old Asian man bravely coming out of the closet to pursue and accept his sexuality and desires. “Playground” is about a left-behind child in China and her single mother, who is also a sex worker, and their struggles in a broken city. The films have been selected to Student Academy Awards, Outfest Film Festival, Bali International Film Festival, and so on.
In the works that I directed or produced, they have different stories and show different communities, but what they have in common is that they bravely put forth their unique and powerful voices.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite books are:
“The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera
“Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami
“Misogyny” by Chizuko Ueno
My favorite podcast is Story FM, which features thousands of true stories from ordinary Chinese people at the grassroots level, all narrated by the people who experienced them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaxing_lin/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaxing-lin-62220715b/
Image Credits
Leyi Dai Run Jin Yuxin Gao
