We were lucky to catch up with Negan Fu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Negan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My senior thesis film “Living Dead” is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far. It felt like the culmination of everything I had made and contributed to creatively throughout my time at SCAD. I came up with the rough concept back in my sophomore year, and it wasn’t until literal days before the start of my Senior I class when I pivoted to it for my senior thesis. My friend and frequent writing collaborator Will Fritz helped me flesh out the concept into a script that both of us were proud of. I assembled a team of previous collaborators and new faces and shot it in October 2022. Although I was nervous going into my senior thesis shoot, it turned out to be one of my favorite sets at SCAD and I could not have asked for a better team or experience. I’m still super happy with the final product and can’t wait to apply what I learned about directing and writing from it to my next project.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I became heavily interested in video production, particularly editing, all the way back in 8th grade. When I got to high school, my interest in film only grew and I eventually served as co-president of the film club during my senior year. My path brought me to the Savannah College of Art & Design, where I studied Film & TV and minored in Sound Editing. I have sound designed numerous short films since picking up the minor, often building the soundscape from the ground up. The tedious nature of sound editing appeals to my detail-oriented mind and I’m always looking for projects that will challenge and improve my technical ability.

Despite my love of post-sound, I focused primarily on directing while in film school. I have had the chance to direct three narrative shorts, multiple music videos and a branded spot for the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. I’m passionate about out-of-the-box, imaginative stories with colorful characters. Bringing those characters to life through casting and costumes is my favorite part of the directorial process, and you can often find me choosing an actor for a part before the script is even complete. To me, crafting a character feels the most like play, and my inner 10-year old can never get enough.

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

Being a creative and sharing your work for others to see is undoubtedly validating, but it’s probably the collaboration aspect that is the most rewarding for me. Getting to create with friends and peers makes the overall process a lot more gratifying. Strangers can become friends just by working together on a creative project. The end result is of course a motivator, but the process of getting to that end result by collaborating with peers often far more talented and hard-working than I is what I always cherish the most.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started posting a lot more frequently on TikTok after graduating last year, using the app as a creative outlet. While I still have a humble number of followers, I’ve been able to carve out a spot for myself in the ever-confusing algorithm and can expect a decent return on the majority of my videos. I started by just trying out different niches and types of comedy. It was really whatever semi-funny joke came to mind. Eventually, I found my niche in the form of Letterboxd and movies & TV, and have since generated numerous viral videos within this general area. People want consistency, so finding and establishing your personal brand is key to building any sort of audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.negan.com/
• Instagram: @negantheestallion_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/negan-fu-3075b1199/
• Twitter: @NeganFu
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl1QcFY8F8RHtx3ofJk9Ncg
• Other: TikTok: @negantheestallion_
  Letterboxd: @negan2000

Image Credits

Val Higgins
Rachele Terranova
Gaby Martinez
Cameron Ottea
Andrew Angel
Blake Hunter