We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edyta Deng a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Edyta , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

From a very young age, I found myself drawn to questioning conventional thinking, although I didn’t quite have the words to describe this inclination as “creative” or “artistic” at the time. I simply felt that I might see things a bit differently than others.

This difference became apparent during a writing assignment in elementary school. When asked to write about “my pet,” my classmates waxed poetic about their adorable, fluffy companions, but I chose to write about two silkworms I had nurtured with devotion until they met an untimely demise beneath my father’s gargantuan slippers. “I looked at their crushed remains on the ground – two puddles of green goo, I realized, love can sometimes be very ugly,” I concluded in my essay. My teacher, perplexed by the morbid musings of a seven-year-old, summoned my parents to discuss the “issue,” as “that’s not the right thing to write.” I was bewildered, struck by the profound impact of the silkworms’ deaths, and couldn’t fathom why I was not allowed to depict death or express my authentic emotions simply because they deviated from societal expectations.

A few Years passed, and a book found its way into my hands: “To Live: A Novel” by Yu Hua, which was the very first literature i was exposed to. As I turned the pages, I discovered a kindred spirit who fearlessly explored the harsh realities of life. Suddenly, my own “weird” thoughts had found a home, a validation in the realm of art and literature. It was a calling to embark on creative journey that I couldn’t ignore.

Fast forward to high school, where a pivotal moment occurred during a viewing of “2001: A Space Odyssey” with my father. As the film unfolded, I realized that my earlier musings on technology, human civilization, and self-existence had been given form on the screen. At that moment, a spark was ignited within me – a strong desire to pursue filmmaking. I recognized that cinema had the power to effectively combine various art forms to convey complex ideas. With a newfound sense of purpose, I turned to my father and declared, “I will apply to film school.”

And so, my storytelling journey began, a path paved by the very things that once made me feel like an outsider – a penchant for challenging norms, a fascination with the darker aspects of life, and a burning need to express the inexpressible.

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.

Hey there! I’m Edyta Yutong Deng, a film producer and entrepreneur on a mission to create captivating stories and push the boundaries of creativity in the entertainment industry.

Storytelling has always been my jam, which drove me to get my bachelor’s degree in producing at Beijing Film Academy. There, I had the privilege of collaborating with talented filmmakers to produce award-winning shorts and gained invaluable hands-on experience in physical production. Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s degree in UCLA’s prestigious producers’ program, focusing on creative producing.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, from short films, fashion videos and commercials to feature film and shows. What sets me apart is my global perspective and ability to bridge cultural gaps, having worked in both China and the United States. I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with producing content for international audiences, and and I’m always on the lookout for cutting-edge technologies and techniques to take storytelling to the next level.

Right now, I’m in the process of launching my own production company! Chinese platforms have been reaching out to me to produce vertical mini-shows for the US market, and it’s been a game-changer. Producing these shows has made me realize that it’s an amazing opportunity to help emerging storytellers bring their visions to life in a new, profitable way. However, the mini-series market is currently plagued by homogenization, with most shows being cheesy soap operas. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have platforms that want me to try a wide range of genres and themes.

Several directors have already reached out to me, showing great interest in adapting their feature film ideas into short-form formats. This is a much more practical way to get their stories made and also paves the way for future feature films or TV series if the market proves the story has potential. In addition to the vertical shows, I’m also developing several short and feature films with some incredibly talented writers and directors. I’m open to any format that can effectively convey impactful stories and visions.

Btw, If you’re a creative professional looking for an experienced producer to help bring your vision to life, I’d love to connect with you;)

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I once produced an independent sci-fi feature film that exemplifies my resilience. We struggled for a long time to secure financing for the project, but just as we were ready to start, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Everything began to fall apart – we had to postpone the shooting indefinitely, and financiers started to withdraw their investments. When we were finally able to shoot, the production costs had skyrocketed due to the new restrictions and safety measures. We managed to complete the shooting, but we faced a new dilemma: there was no budget left for post-production.

As the situation worsened, core team members started to leave one by one, believing the project was a lost cause. In the end, only the director and I remained, fighting for the project’s survival. We encountered numerous difficulties and faced countless failures while trying to secure additional financing, but neither of us gave up.

Interestingly enough, an NFT company recognized the value of our main character and decided to buy the IP to create NFT products. We always hear about the challenges of independent filmmaking, but this hands-on experience truly opened my eyes to the reality of its difficulties. But despite the hardships, I found myself enjoying the process of navigating all the obstacles.

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

For me, being a filmmaker is akin to being a researcher of humanities, with films serving as their studies. I believe that films should serve society rather than merely being a means for personal artistic expression. Through the craft of filmmaking, my goal is to provide a fearless voice for the oppressed and persecuted. As a producer, I hope to one day bear witness to the unspoken stories from my region and bring them to light. This mission drives my creative journey, as I strive to create films that not only entertain but also shed light on important social issues and give a platform to those whose voices are often silenced.

Contact Info:

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