Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ziyu ‘arwen’ Wang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ziyu ‘Arwen’, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In my past two years at USC, I have worked extensively as a producer on many SCA projects. The most meaningful experience was “The Teapot Incident” during the production of Comet Orphan, a comedy mockumentary about a woman convinced she’s an alien. Drawn to its sensitive exploration of alienation, I eagerly joined as a producer.

With limited funding, we secured sponsorship from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, whose students joined our cast and crew. However, creative tensions quickly arose. Strasberg actors favored traditional, performance-driven storytelling, while the director and I envisioned an experimental, non-linear approach. This divide even surfaced in trivial debates, like which tea to stock in the lounge teapot.

As conflicts escalated, morale declined, and I stepped in to mediate. Listening to both sides separately, I uncovered misunderstandings and sought common ground. During a structured meeting with turn-based speaking, I facilitated a dialogue that helped the team see how traditional and experimental elements could coexist, resulting in a unique creative synthesis. This collaboration not only revitalized the team but elevated the film beyond our initial vision.

Comet Orphan received positive feedback for its innovative storytelling and heartfelt performances. The Teapot Incident taught me that creative conflicts, when approached with openness and empathy, can be opportunities for growth. As a producer and creative, I learned to embrace differing perspectives, transforming challenges into catalysts for innovation.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a producer and director passionate about telling genuine and powerful stories that connect deeply with audiences. My journey into filmmaking began with a personal and transformative moment—coming out to my mother. That windy afternoon, amidst her tears and silence, I felt the profound fragility of truth and its capacity to reshape relationships. Sorting through old DV recordings on her camera later that day, I began to reflect on how people and relationships evolve over time.

This introspection led me to USC, where I took my first documentary course and decided to explore the nuances of my identity and my relationship with my mother through film. Inspired by Prof. Pablo Frasconi’s class on poetic cinema, I created a documentary intertwining candid interviews with archival footage. Through this process, I saw my mother not just as a parent but as a person with dreams and struggles shaped by a world that made it difficult for her to accept me fully. This realization deepened my empathy and reinforced my belief in the power of storytelling to reveal and heal.

My work as a filmmaker centers on intimate documentaries that capture raw, candid moments. I draw inspiration from films like Shuli Huang’s Will You Look at Me, which uses decades of personal footage to evoke deep emotional truths. Through my films, I aim to create a space where others can share their stories—stories that burn, shatter, and reveal the beauty of vulnerability. I believe that admitting fragility is one of the bravest acts, and I strive to portray this strength in my work.

Revisiting the old footage of myself as a toddler, filmed by my mother, feels like a promise to my future self. It reminds me of the kind of filmmaker I aspire to be: one who tells stories that are brave, personal, and capable of inspiring love and connection. Whether producing or directing, my goal is to foster understanding and empathy, creating works that resonate deeply with audiences and encourage them to see themselves and others in new, transformative ways.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As a filmmaker, my creative journey is rooted in a desire to create my own narrative, my own style, and my own story. I am driven by a mission to illuminate the unseen and amplify marginalized voices, but equally, I want to define a cinematic language that is uniquely mine.

I believe in the power of storytelling to bridge divides and foster understanding across cultures, identities, and experiences. My goal is to craft narratives that challenge perceptions, evoke empathy, and encourage audiences to engage with the world in a more compassionate way—all while remaining true to a distinct, personal vision.

What motivates me most is the idea of connection—between people, between past and present, and between personal and universal truths. I’m fascinated by the stories that lie in the shadows, the quiet lives and overlooked moments that hold profound significance. Whether producing or directing, I seek to uncover these narratives, using the lens to reveal beauty in places others might not think to look.

This mission isn’t just about representation; it’s about creating a space where audiences can reflect on their own experiences through the stories of others. By focusing on raw, intimate details, I hope to inspire viewers to question their assumptions and see the humanity in every individual. My creative journey is a pursuit of connection, transformation, and above all, authenticity—both for myself and for those who encounter my work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As a filmmaker, I’ve always been driven by the need to tell powerful, authentic stories. I’ve poured countless hours into every detail of my work, striving to control the narrative, the visuals, and every frame. But early in my journey, I learned the hard way that this need for perfection isn’t always conducive to the creative process.

The lesson I had to unlearn was that perfection equals success. In fact, it was only when I let go of the belief that every detail had to be flawless that I began to understand what true creativity is.

This realization came during a documentary project I was working on. The planning stages had been meticulous, every shot, every angle considered. But when I stepped into the field, I quickly encountered challenges that no amount of preparation could have anticipated. Unscripted events, spontaneous moments, and technical glitches disrupted my plans, and initially, I saw them as failures. I believed that a great film had to be the product of control, and that nothing should deviate from the vision I had meticulously laid out.

It wasn’t until later, as I reviewed the footage, that I saw the power in those moments of imperfection. The candid interactions, the unanticipated moments that didn’t fit into the neat box I had envisioned, were the ones that brought my film to life. Those flaws—the unexpected laughter, the pauses between words—gave the narrative a depth I hadn’t anticipated. It was in the unplanned moments that the most authentic stories emerged.

This experience taught me something crucial: creativity thrives in spontaneity. It’s not about executing every detail perfectly but about remaining open to the unexpected and allowing a story to unfold naturally. As filmmakers, we are not just directors of a story, but facilitators of it, guiding it while leaving room for the unexpected to shape its direction.

Embracing imperfection changed how I view both filmmaking and storytelling. It made me realize that success isn’t about being flawless; it’s about being open, being vulnerable, and being willing to embrace the journey—one that may not always go according to plan. This lesson has reshaped how I approach my work. Now, I focus less on controlling every outcome and more on allowing space for the story to reveal itself, trusting that even in moments of chaos, there is beauty.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arwennn_wang/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyu-arwen-wang/