Today we’d like to introduce you to Helena Yingna Wu
Hi Helena Yingna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in a small town in southeast China. It’s not very well-known, and not very developed, but with 2000 years of history. Going to college is not an opportunity that many children can have. It’s a dream, and you have to fight for it.
I went to college at 15 in a bustling coastal city in the south. My dad thought it’s a very nice place to settle down after graduation. He wanted me to have a stable life and get married before 25.
I watched “Out of Africa” at the school’s screening hall. There’s such a beautiful place called Africa! I remember myself intoxicated by the sights of the grand canyon and clouds of birds. I watched hundreds of classic movies at school. It opened the window to a wild horizon.
I went to graduate school in Beijing, studying English literature. Then I became a journalist at a national TV station. In 2011, I applied for a job position in its sub-branch in Africa as a documentary producer and director. That’s where everything changed.
I visited the lake where the biplane of Robert Redford and Meryl Streep stirred hundreds of flamingos in the movie. I saw the grand canyon and sunset. I spotted lions, cheetahs in the savannah and swam with green turtles and wild dolphins.
I produced 200 documentaries across 30 African countries in the span of seven years. I worked with Emmy-winning filmmakers, former CNN, Reuters reporters. A dozen episodes hit over a million views each on YouTube. Our documentary on former president of Mozambique is embedded on UNESCO website.
Then in the middle of a rising career, I decided to quit my job and become a student again. I enrolled in a film school in Los Angels in 2021. I learned all trades of filmmaking: directing, screenwriting, cinematography, sound, gaffer. Currently, I am a director member of Alliance of Women Directors (AWD). At my leisure, I swim at St. Monica beach, watching waves, birds, and helicopters.
My dad must have been disappointed at me. I have not been a daughter who has brought him a grandchild. I have brought him wild horizons half a globe away.
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?
The struggles I had to stand up against were some traditional beliefs: girls are inferior to boys; girls don’t need to excel but to marry well; an unmarried person is a loser; and being solo is scary and a shame.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a narrative and documentary filmmaker specializing in directing, writing and producing.
I am known for being the show runner and producer of a documentary series, “Faces of Africa” between 2012 and 2019. Collaborating with production companies in Africa and Europe, we created 200 episodes across 30 countries.
I directed nearly 20 documentaries both China and internationally. My film “When Chinese Meet Zambians” received 2.9 million hits on YouTube and was featured in PBS SoCal’s “Global Mosaic” series.
I am most proud of the fact that the films I produced and directed are recognized and referenced globally by universities, research institutes, and media organizations including UNESCO, SAGE Journal and Villanova University. I am proud that our films have inspired millions, particularly in Africa.
What sets me apart from others: having a child’s heart – the world is such a wonderland, I am your explorer on the move.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Always be a student. There’s always something you can learn from anyone from any trade.
It’s healthy to think that I know nothing. Socrates did it, too.
It’s healthy to imagine that I am nobody. That’s when true happiness springs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://helenaspace.com
- Other: https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/find-a-director/director/yingna-wu/
Image Credits
Wang Min, Neil Brandt
