We were lucky to catch up with Debbie Vu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Debbie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

I broke three rules to produce my third short film.

1. I paid for it myself.
2. I made it public.
3. I produced it in my home.

Having encountered a lot of naysayers in the film industry, I was constantly put in boxes that limited me and my eventual success. As a result, I rejected the warnings and carved out my own path so that others had a way to follow me down the rabbit hole. I know those people want to help but why warn me when they can advise me? Don’t smother me with the boundaries set up from our predecessors. Tell me what I should do. Guide me. Mentor me. Or just get out of my way!

1. I was told, “Don’t spend your own money!”

Why not? Nobody else is going to bankroll my production if they don’t know what I’m capable of. So I saved up and put every penny of my earnings into self-funding my productions. My first short film cost me less than $400 after a failed crowdfunding campaign of $9500! Then, I saved up $5,000 to produce my second short film which won over 11 awards in the film festival circuit but was rejected from more than 70 film festivals. Some awards included best short narrative film, best LGBT film, best action film, best female director, best original music, best actress, and best editing. My third short film cost $10,000, half of which was self-funded and the other half was an accumulation of 5 grants awarded by Filmed in NC, Durham Arts Council, Uptilt Film Festival, Asian American Business Development Center, and INCite Stories.

After a life-changing connection, an investor for my first full-length feature film wants to raise $3 million!

WARNING: Don’t… wait around for someone else to back you up. You can’t buy time back.
LESSON: Go… use your funds wisely and save up. You will have creative control and a fun time.

2. I was told, “Don’t make your film public!”

Why not? Because I won’t qualify for certain film festivals who want premiere status? Basically, some film festivals want to be able to screen your work before it’s made public. What an elitist attitude. So I have to hold back at least a year while it makes its rounds in the film festival circuit? Why shouldn’t I share it with the world as soon as it’s finished? So I figured out to submit my film to film festivals that don’t care about premiere status. Making my film public has caught a lot of buzz. People are seeing it and responding positively to the message; my presence is finally getting noticed. People come up to me to talk because they saw my work. Traveling nationally and locally to attend film festivals, I get invited to do Q&As so that viewers can learn more about my process. I am receptive to feedback so it feels good to commune with my audience.

WARNING: Don’t… waste your time on film festivals that require premiere status. Get your work out there!
LESSON: Go… to film festivals! You will meet your audience and potential collaborators.

3. I was told, “Don’t film it in your home.”

Why not? Why spend the money elsewhere when I’m already paying rent for my place? Sometimes you have to wait to get the ideal location. I couldn’t have produced this anywhere I used to live. My current kitchen reads so beautifully on camera. The aesthetic, the control of the location, and the space allowed every crew member to thrive. Some filmmakers advise against using your own home because of unforeseen issues and the possible damage of floors and walls as the crew bring in their gear. Fortunately, nothing got damaged.

WARNING: Don’t… hold back. Leverage your resources.
LESSON: Go… get some insurance just in case. Be careful.

Debbie, 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?

My name is Debbie Vu and I am an award-winning filmmaker based in Durham, NC where I have run my content creation agency IronWorx Media for seven years.

I started my video production career during my undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill where I double-majored in electronic journalism and media studies and production in hopes of being a news anchor. After an internship at a news station, I set aside this particular ambition to become a documentarian. News reporting can be insensitive because most times, the reporters drop into the interview subjects’ lives for a soundbite or two while they are either suffering or thriving. A short-term relationship wasn’t what I wanted. In contrast, documentary filmmaking enabled me to produce more long-form storytelling and bolster long-lasting relationships with my interview subjects.

At IronWorx Media, we produce documentaries for non-profits and businesses and narrative films written, directed, and produced by me and my team. Our documentary video services have been used for fundraising efforts, events, and websites. We are growing everyday in quality and compassion. I also run a robust internship program for any demographic. So far, over 20 university students have been interns and I have built a roster of dozens of local professional filmmakers and contractors.

Iron Sharpens Iron. When you get a strong individual like iron and another strong individual like iron, they smooth out the jagged edges and as a result, they grow stronger! This was the inspiration behind the business. Starting as a one-woman band was lonely, having to be a generalist by learning new skills. Through the years, I realized there were skills that I didn’t particularly care for. Knowing this about myself, I figured out how to delegate by giving opportunities to my team that were weaknesses for me. Finding people to do the things you don’t want to do is an easy way to pass on responsibilities so you can focus on the future.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My seven-year-old content creation agency, IronWorx Media, has had its ups and downs, often feeling like a roller coaster!

The first two years of my business, we produced over 20 short documentaries. I was busy saying yes to gigs even for super low rates. Then the following two years, I channeled my energy to produce more narrative films which coincided with the Covid-19 outbreak. I wrote my semi-autographical feature film about me and my mom in three months. I produced the short film version in the thick of Covid-19 where everyone had to wear masks and have negative results. Fortunately, everyone tested negative so really, the universe looked out for us big-time! During those two years, I was busy saying no which was a powerful response that I overlooked when I first started. As a result, we only produced 3 short documentaries. The following three years, I traveled to film festivals and wrote more scripts.

With the onset of Covid-19, I thought my business wouldn’t survive since it depended a lot on in-person video shoots. But I got to thinking and figured there were stages in filmmaking that could be done virtually such as writing, producing, and editing. So I didn’t slow down my efforts but what did was the lack of capital. If someone would just give me a bunch of money, I can work with any budget. In my roster of filmmakers, there is a wide range of skill levels and experience that I can book.

Pivoting is crucial when running a business. If something’s not working, look at it in a different angle. Maybe ask someone else what their perspective is. Pick their brain.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is existing on a film set. The first time I stepped on a film set sealed my fate as a filmmaker. I learned more about myself and how to grow. Seeing the different elements of film production put together and witnessing the magic behind the production motivate me to become a better version of myself.

The energy is palpable. There’s nothing like it. I want my cast and crew to have a good time on my film sets because making a movie is a lot of fun! I want to inspire others to produce their own work, to become award-winning themselves. By creating art and leading the charge, you can invite others to thrive alongside you.

I must learn to adapt to the circumstances that are sometimes out of my control. I can try to forecast issues and obstacles but sometimes there’s nothing I can do but wait. Rolling with the punches helps you become more flexible despite any setbacks. Understanding this will help you with your attitude throughout the process. You can let things bother you or you can let them go and brainstorm how to move forward with your team.

Networking is how you will find success. Connect and plug into your local filmmaking community – you don’t have to live in LA or NYC to find your people. Video production can be done anywhere. It can even send you across the country or around the world if you play your cards right.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ironworxmedia.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ironworxmedianc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.vu/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbienvu/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/435942792

Image Credits

Craig Worthington
Calista Poarch
Megan Hollenbeck
Rashaun Evans