Lily Wan
Producer / Director / Strategist
New York / Mexico City
www.here.productions
instagram @lilywankenobi
vimeo
Q What do you do?
“I’m a producer, director, and content strategist.”
And I’m here to tell real stories. What’s “real”? It means human—it means highlighting The Why, Who, and How and not The What. Launching a new shoe? Cool. I don’t care about the shoe. Why the shoe? Who made it? What subcultures influenced the design? Who is it for? Let’s tell this story together.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
While I went to university for environmental science, my professional background even beginning in uni has been in journalism. First, investigative journalism reporting on social, political, and environmental justice issues. Then after moving to New York, I worked at the design magazine Surface where I helped launch their branded content arm Surface Studios. After my time as managing editor there, I moved onto video production for a luxury spirits brand then on to help open and establish New York’s new arts center The Shed, the city’s biggest cultural entity since the Lincoln Center opened in the ’60s. I worked in their editorial department as the institution’s digital content producer for nearly 3 years before going freelance and starting my own storytelling studio Here Productions (www.here.productions).
Always, my work has been about assembling the best team to tell the truest story to the right audiences. Video in particular is my favorite medium to work with because of the power you have to summon emotion through visuals, sound, color, and time.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
With an editorial background and expertise in the arts, I produce and direct multimedia projects and also do content strategy. When I have my producer hat on, my background as a strategist allows me to get clients maximum ROI from what we make together. When I have my content strategist hat on, my experience as a producer steps in to propose beautiful, real, resonating, and executable ideas for brands.
My experience and versatile skill set across art direction, production, and post in concert with a wide, diverse network of collaborators makes me a very creative and efficient producer who is working toward creating a more equitable industry.
Q What are you working on right now?
A mezcal company’s earth month campaign, and biz dev, baby!
Q What’s your style?
I like things that make people do a double-take. I like abstraction, suggestion, and subtlety.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Video direction—specifically docu-style projects and brand campaigns featuring artists.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Carving out time for myself to push forward my own creative projects—shorts films, proof-of-concept pilots for a couple of series I have in mind that could be a-ma-zing for the right brands.
Because I majored in a science in university and have been incredibly busy with work since starting my career (grateful 🙏), all of my creative development has been on-the-job and my applying my perspective and taste to someone else’s goals. I’m very proud of how I’ve grown my creative approach, but I want to hone in on this more and create space for me to play and push myself on my own terms.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Make a target list of biz dev opportunities and dig up the right folks’ contact info, etc.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Start of university: Study film or something not science. Your fear driving you to please your [very traditional Chinese] dad’s expectations is slowing your life down.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I really want to learn to film better. It’s so complicated. But realistically, to take myself to the next level creatively, I need to get a better grasp on camera operation and all the annoying settings and gear and all that blahblah that I normally pay other people to be experts at ;)
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Would love to work with more with mission-driven brands on campaigns that highlight any of the following: mental wellness, nature, representation, artistic process, or expertise in a certain craft.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
A recent dream project was a short film series I pitched, directed, and produced for Delta Air Lines, in collaboration with the Queens Museum. Six short films profiling each of the artists Delta commissioned for permanent installations in its new terminal at La Guardia Airport. You can view the series on my website www.here.productions , or Delta’s YouTube channel.
Q What is your rate?
End-to-end production of a video or series for a commercial client can be anywhere from $17,000 to $300,000. For non-profits, editorials, or individuals, I’m open to working with lower budgets depending on the project. Let’s chat about it.
If not, I know dozens of people I can suggest for you to continue your search with. Always happy to share recommendations.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email me and let’s set up a time to connect on the phone, facetime, zoom, IRL, whatever.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Mohamed Sadek My favorite DP to work with in New York. Energy, patience, creativity, we flow well together and he always gets what I’m going for. A little chaotic but in a good way…and hilarious and just gets it.
Filmmaker duo Daniel Patlán and Conrado Del Campo in Mexico City for production.
Sophia Lou - amazing editor and has my full trust with everything always.
And some of my favorite photographers are Robert Reiger, Ike Edeani, and Cait Oppermann.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Walking around without music. Waking up super early. Spending time with art. Making small mutated ceramic sculptures. Quiet time is creative time.
This member profile was originally published in February 2023