We recently connected with Kelsey Sha and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kelsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I was on a call with my grandmother a couple of weeks ago. The first thing she asked me was, “Are you still doing that art thing?” Not in those exact words, obviously, for she spoke in Chinese, but that was basically what it boiled down to. “Yeah,” I told her. “I’m still doing that ‘art thing.’” There was a bit of a pause. “You know, there comes a time when you have to get a real job…”

Perhaps deep down, I always knew I wasn’t meant for a 9-5. Knowing what my day will be like tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that would simply drive me crazy. But that doesn’t stop me from wondering sometimes, what would my life be like if I had a “real job?” In some ways, my grandmother is right. For me, it still feels like summer camp. There is an impermanence to it, a feeling like it’s merely a break from real life. It feels too good to be true. Can I really sustain myself by doing… art? I have no clue. But what I do know is that I am happy—happier than I’ve ever been. Do I have stability? Not necessarily. Do I know where I’ll be or where I even want to be in five years? No, not really. For the longest time, that scared me to the core—that void I see when I peer into my future.

I’ve been freelancing a lot this past year, and have gotten the opportunity to talk to people who have worked in the film industry much longer than I have. And frankly, seeing all these talented and motivated people brings me to life. “Does it ever get easier?” I ask. “No.” They reply. “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

As of late, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s okay to not know what’s to come or even what you want. It’s okay to not have a plan. As cheesy as it might sound, life is about the journey, not the destination. So I’ll take it day by day, one step at a time. Perhaps a day will come when I become exhausted by “this art thing,” but until that day comes, yeah, until that day comes.

Kelsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, my name is Kelsey Sha, and chances are that you have no idea who I am. In some ways, I am a nobody—nobody important, nobody with any out-of-this-world achievements. When I was referred for this interview, I was initially hesitant and asked my referrer why she thought it was a good idea to refer me, of all people. I told her I have yet to achieve anything, and that I am merely an artist in the making. But she looked me in the eye and told me that that wasn’t true. You are an artist, she said, and a talented one. Your voice deserves to be heard. Who cares if you’re still a student and have yet to make it “big?” You are a creative. Be proud of it. And so, here I am. My name is Kelsey Sha and I am an Asian-American writer, filmmaker, and producer raised in Hong Kong. Although I haven’t shot an award-winning film nor started a company, I am a creative nevertheless. I have a passion for storytelling and a wish to help advocate Asian voices in the film industry. I moved to Los Angeles a couple of years ago in search of not just a career but of myself. Since then, I have worked on numerous short films and series, and my work as a producer has been selected for festivals such as LA Shorts. I know I still have a long way to go, but at least I’m here and working towards my goal. Life is too short to sit around and think about the what-ifs, too short to doubt your every step. I hope that whoever is reading this will take this as a sign, and go do that thing you’ve been thinking about all this time.

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

Growing up, I was taught to never rely on people. You never want to be a burden. If you can do something yourself, do it yourself. But that is often not how it works in the creative world. When working on a project, it is all about teamwork. Obviously, it’s good to be able to take on more, but you also need to learn how to lean on others. At first, I struggled a lot with that. Frankly, I didn’t know how to delegate. How could I possibly trust other people to do the job to my standards? But that is exactly what teamwork is about. Sometimes you need to let go a little. You can’t be a control freak. Perhaps things won’t turn out exactly the way you had planned for, but you need to trust the process. And who knows, you might just learn a thing or two. The point is, it’s all about trust—because as capable as you are, you can’t do everything by yourself.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the people. Since I moved to LA, I’ve met so many amazing and talented people from all over the world. Everyone has their own story and dreams they are pursuing. As a writer, I’ve always been drawn to people. That is why my stories are often character-driven—because to me, the people are always the most interesting part. I will never get bored of going on set and meeting a group of strangers who quickly become friends. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I’ve gotten close to so many people who I’d otherwise never have met and definitely would not have talked to. I guess when people say that “it’s all about the connections,” they’re right. It’s all about the connections that come from unexpected places and the friends you make along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kelseysha.com/
• Instagram: @kelsey.sha
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-sha-798628209/

Image Credits
Ashwin Mitchell, Aarit Rao, Xingyu Chen, Cary Qian