We recently connected with Josh Lieu and have shared our conversation below.

Josh, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently created a short film called “three hundred sixty,” which is about growing up and recognizing full-circle moments. This project has been the most meaningful to me because it’s based on the Bible verse Romans 8:28. With the central idea that everything works together for the good of those who love God, it was important for me to portray life as authentically as possible. The main character, Eve, faces various trials and tribulations during her adolescence, and before she turns 18, she realizes that God has been working through her challenges to make her stronger, wiser, and more mature.

While this project isn’t an exact replication of my own experiences, it serves as a creative outlet meant to inspire and encourage others going through life’s difficulties. I’ve faced similar struggles, including the loss of family members and stress about my future, but ultimately, I rely on giving my worries to God, trusting that He will work everything out for good. Being able to convey those comforting truths through my film was an incredible experience. I’m excited to create more projects that encourage and uplift others as much as “three hundred sixty” has.

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.

I started making short movies on iMovie, like many aspiring filmmakers. I initially tried creating a TV show with my cousins, which eventually led me to purchase an iPad and Apple Pencil, sparking my interest in animation. I practiced animation for about two years and won Chapman University’s Holocaust Remembrance Contest in 2022 with my short animated documentary about the life of Holocaust survivor Felix Goldberg. Realizing my success with those rough animations, I thought, “Whoa, maybe I should do this more often.” I began drawing more and experimenting with creating small animations.
However, as I transitioned into high school, I wanted to join a film program as part of an arts school. Making the significant decision to leave my middle school friends to pursue media was a challenging time, but I was accepted into the Media Department and have loved it ever since. I now create at least two short films each year. My freshman project (not my best) was a comedic story about a man and a “Karen” fighting over the last grape jelly at a grocery store—I promise I’ve improved since then!
Every year, I co-direct a music video with my favorite co-director and friend, Jewelyssa Sedillo. Recently, I’ve been doing more social media filming for businesses and pursuing personal online growth. I also enjoy filming concerts and local events and have had great experiences working with the Orange County Artist Collective. Currently, I am a junior in my film program and am excited to create more short films this year. I love making all types of films, music videos, and promotional videos. Additionally, I’ve taken on the role of lead videographer for a brand called Forever Grateful. A significant part of my filmmaking is ensuring that viewers take something meaningful away from each film—whether it’s a good laugh or a moment of deep reflection.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is sharing my work and seeing its impact on others. No matter how small, I love watching how a crowd reacts to my films or photography. My freshman film, “grape jelly,” was poorly made, but it still got a lot of laughs. My goal as a creative is to provide a memorable experience for my viewers, evoking emotion. It’s incredibly rewarding to see an audience enjoy a film as much as I do. The hard work and countless hours of editing are definitely worth it. However, it’s also important to ensure that your product reflects your creativity and who you are, because that’s what makes good films great—you can tell when there is intentionality or even the deliberate absence of it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that there is no set standard of perfection when it comes to being creative. I consider myself a perfectionist, and that mindset often follows me whenever I create something new. However, I learned that being creative doesn’t mean achieving perfection. With my project “three hundred sixty,” I realized that I could still evoke emotion and convey my vision without meeting a standard of perfection in terms of quality, audio, or set design. Even so, I believe it remains my most creatively reflective piece of work, despite its imperfections. Ultimately, don’t stress about achieving perfection; instead, focus on your vision and message for your audience. Embracing imperfection can often lead to the greatest creativity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josh.filmss/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshualieu

Image Credits

Joice Ngo