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

Alright, Chyan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

My works stem from my observations and reflections on life, society, and people. I believe that creators and their stories are inseparable. One must first understand oneself and the surrounding environment, including social roles and positions, in order to tell a story with an appropriate perspective and emotions. My stories focus on exploring the female experience, examining life patterns and challenges within different social frameworks, intimate relationships, and the identity of being Taiwanese.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Chyan Lo, a Taiwanese writer/director born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan; I moved to New York two years ago and am now based in Brooklyn. Inspired by magical realism, feminism, and slow cinema along with the controversial political status of my country, I am drawn to explore stories about the mental predicament of my generation, shed light on the diverse lived experiences of women across various cultural and societal frameworks, and the complexities of cultural identity from a Taiwanese perspective.

I wrote and directed Sorry for Your Loss in my first year in New York with limited resources, a short film that won at the Indie Short Fest and was selected by Asian American International Film Festival, Bushwick Film Festival, and other festivals; I also ventured into new territories and successfully completed several documentary shorts. Presently, I am preparing for my festival submission for my latest psychodrama short film, “Yesterday, I Dreamt About” while concurrently nurturing the script for my next project.

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

I aspire to continue being a writer/director who gives voice to underrepresented groups worldwide, whether through narrative films or documentaries so that more hidden stories of women can be brought to light. I hope for society to break free from social constraints and unequal power structures, witnessing the industry evolve into a more inclusive and equitable space. This evolution should encourage women and minority artists to find their own voice and platform.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In the realm of storytelling, immersed in an era of information overload and multimedia, we inevitably encounter a plethora of stimuli. For me, the need to “unlearn” involves refraining from a definitive judgment of the immediate events and instead delving into the context, complex causes, and the structural impacts of societal influences.

In my journey of learning filmmaking, I gradually comprehended that to approach the core of a story and emotion, meticulous layering is crucial, yet simultaneously, one must discard insincere embellishments. I believe that style and form should not overshadow the essence of the theme. Therefore, the most challenging aspect lies in carefully filtering and extracting essential nutrients and essence from others’ works and experiences, rather than being swayed by dazzling techniques and gimmicks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chyanlo.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: @chyanzlo