We were lucky to catch up with Alix Yumi Cho recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alix Yumi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.

My first short film was born out of a moment of panic. It portrayed the true story of my friend Jin Hee Lee, who is now with God, and it was very special to me because she was not only my best friend for 20 years, but also the only one who encouraged me to pursue my passion. Just a day before the shoot, my first assistant director, makeup artist, and production assistant notified me that they couldn’t be on set due to COVID. Despite finding a replacement PA, I had to work without the AD and makeup artist. There was a scene involving bleeding that required special effect makeup. On the day of filming, I had to decide whether to proceed with what I have or postpone it. I decided to seek guidance through tears and prayer rather than feeling scared and worried. I informed my team about the shortage of staff and asked permission to extend shooting for an additional day as a precaution against any delays. To create the special effect makeup, I mixed ketchup, tobacco sauce, Korean spicy BBQ sauce, and acrylic paint. Surprisingly, it was very successful! It looked like real blood! Everything else also worked out too. All of our staff had a wonderful time and I’ve been continuously working with most of the crew ever since.

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

I am a founder of Story Castel LLC, a film and TV production company, a film and theatre creator, and an actress. Our name symbolizes storytelling as a refuge where narratives come to life. I believe stories have the power to provide comfort and unite people from different backgrounds. I have been creating stories ever since I was able to read and write. I wrote stories, turned them into plays, and then performed them in front of my parents and relatives. My first complete script was in 1997, a gender reversed version of Cinderella. Where at the end of the play his stepmother and brothers got community service for a decade and eventually abolished the class system, ensuring equal rights for all nations. As you can see, I have always had a keen interested in human rights, equality, and inclusion. After living in various countries, China, Taiwan, UK, and the USA, I have continued concern about racial discrimination. My company’s goal is to always deliver diverse perspectives in storytelling, work with diverse crew members and talents, and address social issues through maintaining a high-quality of production.

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

My first goal is to create stories giving voice to those who have not been heard, as well as testimonies who’ve overcome life’s challenges. My second goal is to protect my team members by offering financial resources, creating safe and joyful work environments, and providing benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. Before establishing the company, there were instances when my team and I worked without receiving payment. After we discussed our experiences, I decided to establish the company and chose the name “Story Castel ” as a commitment to being a refuge for people, including my team members.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my co-founder, Younhee Cho, on the set of an OTT drama called “Western Avenue”. She’s an introverted person, and her initial response to my greeting was, “I’m sorry, but I need some personal space because I’m exhausted after a long day of work.” My initial thought was, wow, she was direct, honest, and tried to share her status without going into excessive detail. I appreciated that very much because most people don’t care enough to express what they need. She has been one of the easiest people I’ve worked with thus far and why we have continued to work together ever since. After about a month and a half, we had complete trust in each other and try our best to communicate effectively by understanding and using each other’s communication language (spoken word is only on form of communication, each individual has their unique way of articulating their thoughts.)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://storycastel.com/

Image Credits
Asian World Film Festival, Diversity Fashion Show, Dejong Film, Gabe Figueroa, Hero Theatre