Meet Asua Han

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Asua Han a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Asua, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

That’s a really interesting question. I can’t pinpoint a specific moment in my life when I started thinking positively, even when things weren’t going as planned.

Looking back on my childhood, my parents were typical hard-working Asian parents, not overly encouraging. I was often compared to my older brother, who excelled academically, while I struggled. I believe part of my drive stems from that experience. I always felt the need to prove myself, yet he was very competitive and never gave me a chance to win. When you’re constantly outdone, you have two choices: accept defeat and give up, or keep pushing until you succeed.

I can think of countless times when circumstances weren’t in my favor, or someone or something got the better of me. I’m not sure where my competitive streak came from—it certainly wasn’t sports or academics—but I always had this mindset that if I was beaten, I had to find a way to prove them wrong.

That constant pressure and being pushed down and compared to only made me stronger, especially when I pursued becoming a film director. It was the one thing I knew I was good at, and I refused to let anyone be better than me. Of course, I’ve matured and mellowed over the years, but that was my mindset back then. And throughout the years—whether it was getting work, losing jobs, or being financially broke—when anything could have broken me, I kept holding on to my dreams. So, I guess when your mind is locked onto something, that passion becomes your refuge during tough times. Believe me, I had every reason to give up and take a stable job, but I knew I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t pursue what I truly wanted.

I guess if you get things too easy, the hunger isn’t there. The drive and passion isn’t there because it wasn’t earned. And so that optimism can only come from somewhere deep down, where the world may seem like chaos around you, but that thing inside keeps you in place.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a film director specializing in TV commercials for global brands, and I absolutely love what I do. It’s always been a dream of mine to be on set with a large crew, working with high-end camera equipment and gear. What makes it even more exciting is that every project is different, each bringing its own unique set of challenges. The industry itself is so diverse—I get to collaborate with advertising agencies, amazing cinematographers, art directors, wardrobe stylists, illustrators, concept artists, VFX/CGI artists, musicians, and more. Some projects even take me to different countries, and occasionally, I have the opportunity to work with celebrities, which is the ultimate cherry on top.

As a director, I bring all these departments together to create my vision. It’s a big role with a lot of responsibility, but even after several years, I’m still learning, and that’s what keeps it exciting for me. Recently, I’ve been particularly interested in working on automotive commercials. However, in this line of work, the client always has the final say, so your creative vision isn’t always fully realized.

That’s why I’m currently working on a passion project called *The BYND*. I’ve shot most of it, but there’s still a way to go. I recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise additional funds to complete it. This project reflects my personal style and everything I’ve always wanted to showcase. Alongside the exciting car scenes, there’s some intense martial arts and a story to tie it all together. I’ve been sharing a few stills and snippets on my socials, and I can’t wait for the day it’s finished so I can share it with all of you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Read books. Just kidding. That seems to be the go-to advice from most influencers.

Let’s talk about communication. I’m not saying I’m great at it, but it’s definitely something you can improve over time. If you’re a natural communicator or salesperson, congrats—don’t let that skill go to waste. I’ve seen people land opportunities simply because they’re good at talking, even when they lack the qualifications.

I often joke with friends that if I could live my life over again, I’d push myself to do door-to-door sales or stand-up comedy. If you can handle humiliation and are brave enough to approach strangers, that’s a powerful skill that’ll take you far.

I was a shy kid, and even now, I can be reserved at times, but my career has forced me to become a better communicator. In my job, I often have to pitch ideas to agencies and clients, so I’ve had to learn how to present and persuade them that my vision is the best direction. I’ve had my share of failed pitches, but each one made me better with practice.

Learning new skills has also been key. Before becoming a director, I took an acting course—not because I wanted to act, but because I didn’t know how to communicate with actors at the time. I’m a terrible actor, but that experience helped me understand their perspective and how to give clearer direction.

I also learned editing, which continues to be incredibly useful. While I now have a team that handles post-production, knowing how to piece scenes together helps me plan better. Sometimes, I come up with ideas on set that aren’t in the original plan, but because I understand editing, I know they’ll work and enhance the final product.

This might sound a bit unconventional, but I believe in embracing different cultures. For me, food is a big part of that. I love trying unique dishes from around the world—it’s a way to understand different traditions and the meaning behind them. When you genuinely enjoy someone’s food, they see your appreciation. In my experience, when you embrace someone’s culture, it breaks down barriers and opens doors. Of course, I don’t do it with the intention of winning people over—I just really love food and exploring new culinary experiences.

So, from communication to learning technical skills to appreciating different cultures, it’s all about creating opportunities and enjoying the journey. Everyone’s path will be different, but ultimately keep your eye on the prize—your dream. And as cliché as it sounds, don’t ever let go of that dream.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always on the lookout! Like I mentioned earlier, there are so many departments involved in my industry, and I definitely can’t do it all on my own. My work is what it is thanks to the amazing team behind each aspect of production. It’s like an orchestra—every person, like an instrument, plays a crucial role, and as the director (or conductor), I bring it all together to create something special.

I’m always searching for talented music composers, cinematographers, VFX, and CGI artists. Each person has their own distinct style, and it never ceases to amaze me. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, someone’s creativity surprises me again.

Instagram has been my go-to platform for discovering new artists and filmmakers. I often find incredible work there, and I save anything that stands out to me. It’s been a fantastic tool for connecting with artists, building a community, and showcasing my own work.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m in the final stages of completing my passion project and still looking for unique talent to collaborate with. Right now, I’m specifically searching for a skilled video editor. While I’ve been editing the footage myself, I’d love to see someone else’s take on it. Sometimes, I’m just too close to the project to be fully objective.

As an exclusive for this issue, I’ve shared some never-before-seen images from the project. I would greatly appreciate your support! If you’re interested in collaborating, please feel free to reach out. You can connect with me via direct message on Instagram or through email!

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