We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yihan”Lynn” Yu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yihan”Lynn” below.
Yihan”Lynn”, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose when I realized that storytelling through film—could be a form of resistance, of healing, and of truth-telling.
I’ve always loved literature, film, and music since I was young. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I truly understood the kind of stories I needed to tell. I came across a news report about a high school in China, where a body was discovered buried beneath the school’s track—sixteen years after the murder. The victim was a teacher who had tried to report construction issues. He was killed by the contractor, and the crime was buried—by the school and local authorities. His family reported it countless times, but for sixteen years, there was no justice.
Around that same time, I read news about the suffering of trafficked women, and I read Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise by Lin Yi-Han. These things deeply shook me. I felt a kind of heartbreak that turned into anger, and then into a desire: I needed to do something.
That’s when I knew I wanted to direct films—not for entertainment, but to create space for the stories that aren’t being heard. I want to make films that I write myself, or that reflect deep emotional truths. I want to tell stories for the silenced, the forgotten, the hurt. Film, to me, is a way of fighting back. It’s a way to mourn, to expose, and maybe, to heal.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m an independent film director and writer. And there are two main themes I want to develop: The first theme is the crime films adapted from real cases. As many crimes are concentrated outbreaks of social contradictions, from a case I wish to reflect social problems, cultural environment, and human nature. At the same time, I want to put these discussions about reality in a suspenseful dramatic story, which will be attractive to audience. The second theme I want to focus is to tell a story of an individual or a family, which represents a miniature of the history, to explore the tragedy caused by policies and ideologies, and to show compassion for the people in the process of social development.
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?
Looking back, three things have been especially meaningful in my journey: perseverance, social awareness, and artistic instinct.
First, perseverance. I believe that if you truly love something, you’ll stay with it even when it’s exhausting, uncertain, or painful. Passion isn’t always light—it can come with doubt and burnout. But choosing to return to what you love again and again, even in those moments, is what gives your work depth. For anyone starting out, I would say: don’t let external trends define your path. Follow what’s honest. Stay loyal to your vision, and give it time to grow.
Second, social awareness. I see filmmaking as a way to engage with the world, to question it, and to reflect on the people living within it. That requires not just observing society from a distance, but truly caring—about injustices, about human stories, about the impact of policies and ideologies on everyday life. To create meaningful work, we need to remain emotionally open and intellectually awake. I also believe it’s important to express freely and bravely—to not constantly censor ourselves out of fear or conformity. Creativity requires risk. We need space to ask hard questions, to be honest, and to imagine otherwise.
Third, artistic instinct. This is the intuitive sense that helps you recognize beauty, tension, or emotion in unexpected places. It’s about more than aesthetics—it’s about noticing the world, noticing people, and knowing when something has the potential to become a story. This instinct grows the more you watch, read, listen, and live with your eyes open. So stay curious. Let real life inform your art.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes, I’m always eager to collaborate with individuals who share a passion for creating thought-provoking, emotionally rich stories, whether that’s through producing, writing, cinematography, sound design, production design or other. I believe in the power of collaboration and the unique perspectives that different creators bring to the table. Currently, I’m focusing on projects that delve into complex societal themes, often exploring human nature and the impact of policies on individuals.
Feel free to reach out to me via my email([email protected]), and let’s see how we can collaborate on something meaningful.
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