061: The Dream Phase with Lynn Chen

As a creative there will likely come times when you pivot and try new things within your industry. That’s what Lynn Chen did when she decided to create her debut film, I Will Make You Mine which she wrote, produced, directed and starred in. Lynn is an actor that has been featured in television shows, films, audiobooks and video games. In this episode, we chat about how her experience as a food blogger helped her career as a filmmaker and while she created her debut film. She tells us why she was inspired to create her movie and how a lack of diversity on-screen affected her. Lynn shares her advice for people who want to break into the industry and her plans for ditching uncertainty and honing in on her dream phase. (This episode was pre-recorded on June 10, 2020)

What’s in this episode:

• What brought Lynn to the point of making a film

• How having a lack of Asian diversity on-screen affected her as an actress

• Why she wanted to create a movie about Asian Americans

• Her experience of acting and directing in her film

• Lynn’s BuzzFeed food series and how it came about

• Why it’s okay to pivot and try new things

• How her past as a food blogger helped her as a filmmaker

• Her experience with loneliness in creative fields

• Lynn’s thoughts on her movie being selected for the 2020 SXSW Film Festival

• Her advice for someone who wants to break into the industry

• What Lynn’s planning to do next

About Lynn:
Lynn Chen makes her filmmaking debut with I WILL MAKE YOU MINE, a feature film which she wrote, produced, directed and stars in. The movie is an Official Selection of the 2020 SXSW Film Festival and is available on cable/digital streaming/DVD through Gravitas Ventures. She is best known as an actor, with credits in over 50 television shows (SHAMELESS, SILICON VALLEY), films (SAVING FACE, GO BACK TO CHINA) audiobooks (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) and video games (CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III & IV). She first discovered her love of storytelling behind the camera by writing a comedy pilot during her year-long talent holding deal with NBC.

Lynn co-wrote, produced, and starred in the one-woman short film VIA TEXT and was a co-producer/series regular on NICE GIRLS CREW, which aired for two seasons on Comcast. Lynn has produced, directed, and hosted non-scripted content for outlets like BuzzFeed, Tastemade, Hello Giggles, and ISATV that have seen over 40 million views. She created the blogs/podcasts The Actor’s Diet and Thick Dumpling Skin which have won numerous awards, including the BlogHer “Voices of the Year” and the Editor’s Choice for CBS LA’s “Most Valuable Blogger.” Lynn was selected in Marie Claire Magazine as part of their feature on the “Next Generation of Social Activists.”

Lynn has also been a spokesperson for The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), has worked with Time’s Up, the National Organization of Women (NOW), and is an Ambassador for Miry’s List. She has spoken at Disneyland California Food and Wine, WonderCon, Stanford, Dartmouth, and Wellesley University.

Connect with Lynn:
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Links:
I Will Make You Mine

Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired.