We were lucky to catch up with Dianne Wulf recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dianne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I was already in my teens when I got cast as a TV Host for an anime channel in Asia. But ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to be a creator. Before I knew what a film director or a screenwriter is, I was doing just that; making believe and creating scenes, acting with my toys and taking videos with our family camcorder. I wrote endless stories and was always hungry for more. Sadly, my parents were the traditional kind. They wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer and so I never really got support for a career in the Arts or Film.

It was not until I started my hobby of cosplaying that I got approached and discovered to host for an anime channel that I got my first taste of film/TV production. I fell in love. Seeing how everything worked behind the scenes made me want to learn the technical aspect of it. But because of how strict my parents were, I had to finish a degree with their approval. After that, I went to Vancouver to study digital filmmaking in 2008 but It won’t be ten years later in 2018 that I finally made the leap and applied for a job in filmmaking, and I haven’t stopped since.

Sometimes I do wish I started sooner. I wish I had the support. Sometimes I feel like I missed out on opportunities that could have helped me gain more experience, exposure, or connections in my creative field. However, I do believe that everything also happens for a reason. Things are aligning for me right now and maybe it was meant to be this way.

Dianne, 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 an emerging Filipino-Canadian actor/writer/director originally from Alberta. My work includes commercials, music videos and films including a Telus Optik TV web series and numerous Telus STORYHIVE-funded projects, three of which I wrote, four that I directed and seven that I co-produced.

In 2018 I got my start in the film industry by applying as a Set Decorator/Wardrobe for a short film. With my background in costuming, it was the position that made sense. But what I truly wanted to do was write and direct. Shortly after, I was chosen to participate as a Junior Writer with the Writers Room for an undisclosed new TV series for APTN and I knew I wanted to keep working in the industry. As someone who didn’t really know how to navigate the film world, I started applying for mentorships and fellowships and some of the accomplishments I am proud of thus far is being nominated for an AMPIA Rosie in 2019, when I was selected as one of the 25 finalists across Canada for the 2019 Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices for my original concept series, and again in 2021. When I was selected as one of the participants of the Reel World Emerging 20 Program for my feature script, it was pivotal for me and the same year, a short film I directed became one of the 9 finalists in the 2019 CBC Short Film Face Off. Recently, I have been recognized as a recipient by the Alberta Media Arts Alliance (AMAAS) and by Women in Television and Film Alberta (WIFTA), and became one of the 8 alumni of Women in the Director’s Chair (WIDC).

My work explores female-centric themes, trauma, and depiction of complex and flawed characters, and offers new perspectives on family, identity, and culture. I am also an ACTRA member and an advocate for women and diversity in film and continue to tell stories that bring much-needed representation to the Industry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Like many artists, the most rewarding aspect of my work is the ability to express myself creatively and share my ideas and perspectives with the world. Art provides an outlet for emotions, thoughts, and experiences that may be difficult to articulate through words alone. Through my writing, I can communicate with the audience and create connections that transcend language barriers.

In addition to personal expression, I find fulfillment in the process of creating. The act of bringing an idea to life, whether it’s through painting, sculpture, music, or another medium, can be deeply satisfying. The satisfaction of seeing a finished piece and knowing that it is a result of their hard work and dedication can be incredibly rewarding.

Finally, I greatly find meaning in the impact my work has on others. Art can inspire, challenge, and educate people, and artists often create work with the goal of making a positive difference in the world. Knowing that my work has touched someone’s life, increased diversity and representation; told stories for those who don’t have a voice or made a positive impact on society is incredibly rewarding for me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As a woman and visible minority, I am passionate about female representation and diversity in entertainment. I never truly felt I had proper representation growing up. Even now, I still don’t see a lot of people representing Filipinos and the Asian diaspora beyond the stereotypes. So my craft is heavily influenced by this. Whenever I start writing a project, I make sure it has at least one of these three things: to have minorities as lead characters who are not caricatures, strong female characters who inspire and break stereotypes beyond the male gaze and/or shed light on people and topic not often genuinely depicted.

My goal is to develop stories about strong female characters, minorities and people who don’t always have a voice and tell stories that need to be told. This has been extremely challenging to do as a filmmaker in Alberta, where it has a particular
outlook in which people like me are not represented in the cultural landscape. I want to break out of that mould; more than anything, I am ready to keep inspiring and being a part of changing that. I hope I am already making a difference in my current career trajectory because I truly believe I could bring a fresh perspective as well as some much-needed representation.

My mission is to keep telling stories for and about the underrepresented. By creating these projects, I am not only able to gain experience and build our careers. I would be able to increase representation behind the camera as well as also open doors for others like myself to be seen and be represented authentically on screen.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.diannewulf.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/diannewulf