We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shuyue Su. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shuyue below.

Shuyue, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects(films) I have worked on will definitely be my short film – LIKES. It was my thesis project at American Film Institute.

LIKES is a 18-minute coming-of-age drama with fantasy elements about a Chinese teenager girl, shedding innocence to confront the truth about patriarchy in order to embrace her authentic female identity while struggling between a stocking scam and school principles.

A thesis project at AFI is challenging because it’s not just a regular film production but also an educational process. The whole story from its first idea to its completion took exactly two years while one and half of that was being tortured from the harsh critical practices at school. But I think it worth all the energy my team member and I have put in.

Growing up under an oppressive school system and wild entertainment influence, I had a ridiculous experience of the scam of stockings with a total stranger when I was fifteen. The incident is very personal, yet somehow surreal when I try to retell the story to my friends. It stuck with me and I feel the urge to tell it cause it reminded me of how often sexuality and the way women present themselves is often trivialized and ignored in mainstream society.

Chinese pre-college schools often have strict school policies regarding physical appearance. Such an oppressive school system only cares about grades but neglects personal growth. Even worse, Sex education is not often talked out-load in Eastern society, teenagers like myself were often raised up under skewed sexual beliefs via social media and entertainments.

Therefore, I wanted to tell this story about Self-identity so badly to encourage average teenage girls to keep being themselves regardless of how dangerous the patriarchal world is, and the world can be defined by the way we choose to look at it.

Thankfully, I have met the team members at AFI who understand and share the same understanding for the essence of this story.

My producer has held my hands from the very beginning from seeing the beauty of the story to all the panic attack being triggered as the story evolves itself, to the end reminding me the heart of our story whenever any kinds of difficulties target to destroy us. My cinematographer has always been there trying to understand all the crazy ideas I had in mind and performs his master skills to make the magic come true, and share the incredible sensitivity which is so crucial to the story. My production designers are the sweetest and most hard working people, and I am so honored to have them trust me and perform the magic to bring China to Los Angeles. My editor has handled so much of the emotional turbulence in the editing bay yet still manages to have the most creative ways to hit the core from all the footage.

All the cast members are just magical. When we all hangout after wrap and don’t want to leave the set, I know LIKES is special like a dream.

Ultimately, LIKES is about challenging myself, chasing the dream, and a wild adventure with friends for a life time. I wish it can remain the most meaningful project so whenever I have doubts I can just look back to remember what’s our LIKES like and keep trying.

Shuyue, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Shanghai/Los Angeles based Chinese director, writer with a MFA in Directing from American Film Institute and an BA in VIsual Arts, Media from UC San Diego. My shorts prior to AFI have been shortlisted in various international festivals. She has freelanced in writing and directing for short films, commercials and large-scale TV productions in China. My works mix experimental and narrative storytelling and often focus on women’s social issues through a combination of surrealism and realism. I currently teach directing remotely and freelance as writer, director, assistant director, script supervisor, and casting director.

My short film LIKES, a 18-minute coming-of-age drama with fantasy elements will be out for festivals run in 2024, excited to share and invite interested party to come for special screenings.

My journey to become a filmmaker is wild and fun. During my undergraduate, I was admitted to the college under one of the most challenging major – Neuroscience and Physiology. Later while attending all the classes, I realized my fantasy of being a cool doctor or a pharmacist is too naive with all the lab and restricted work ethic. Therefore I transferred major to Visual Arts, Media where I learned all kinds of entry level skills to film production, which ultimately helped me to understand my passion to pursue directing.

The diverse background helps me to keep a broad perspective for storytelling. During my education, I have learned the lesson to keep learning while making, and to treat every challenge as opportunity, even to turn life difficulty into treasure for recreating authentic experience in making movies.

I work well under stressful environment and directing is always a creative job in any circumstances. I love the life with creativity and diverse interactions among people. Film and media are beautiful ways to connect to people, I always want to be part of that. I hope to have more opportunities to bring seemingly ordinary life stories to the big screen or to more people who can relate.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When any other people understand exactly what my story is about.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Finding more ways to make connections when we are all so alone in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ssywasdreaming.com/
• Instagram: ss._______.y
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E5%A7%9D%E6%9C%88-%E8%8B%8F-94b148238/

Image Credits
Image credit to Xiangyu Dong & Austin Chen & Tim Toda.