WRITER | FILM PRODUCER | FOUNDER
REBECCA CHU
Bridging East and West sensibilities from Asia to Los Angeles, I write and produce coming-of-age, family and kids' films.
Check Out Rebecca's ShoutoutLA Interview
Rebecca talks hopes for her legacy, representation for the next generation, modeling growth for her kids, honing the craft, and Westside LA recs!
"It took some serious soul searching to realize I am not serving anyone—not myself, my kids, or my community—by playing small and risk-free. I want to be remembered for being brave, for choosing growth over comfort, for being the one in the arena daring greatly. I hope through exhibiting resilience and savoring the journey over the outcome, that others will learn the value of stepping outside of their comfort zone to truly live a rich life."
"I have a much more holistic approach to work and family than I ever have before, creating an integrated life for myself where my kids inspire my work and the stories I champion, and in turn the content of my work inspires my kids. I am energized every day as I remember why I do what I do—to positively impact the next generation."
Moonbeam Literary & Media Featured in VoyageLA Magazine
Sharing Moonbeam's Mission and What Sets Us Apart
"We love our brand story and identity, beginning with our company name “Moonbeam.” We carefully selected our name to be more than just an identifier–it’s a reflection of our core values and aspirations. Just like a moonbeam illuminates the darkness, we strive to shed light on stories, characters, and ideas that might otherwise go unnoticed. Picture a night sky and the gentle glow of the moon–we aim to capture a feeling that evokes child-like wonder, possibility, and endless exploration."
2024 Sesame Workshop Writers' Room Fellowship
Rebecca is writing and developing THE BRAIN TRUST, an animated episodic series for bridge audiences.
THE BRAIN TRUST follows a group of young, neurodivergent superheroes-in-training who use their unique ways of thinking differently to solve problems.
The Sesame Workshop Writer’s Room is an 8 week writing intensive program for writers who reflect the vast diversity of our audience. The 2024 Writing Fellows each develop and workshop their own original children’s television concept and script, with guidance from a wide range of industry leaders. Select fellows will have their work featured in a staged reading and will be awarded developmental deals from Sesame Workshop.
Jen Bosworth-Ramirez, Rebecca Chu, Marc Morales, Batoul Mourad, Natasha Tarpley, Dejen Tesfagiorgis
Welcome, nice to meet you. What's your Narrative?
My narrative--a dream deferred and a purpose renewed
When I was a child growing up in the suburbs of Orange County, my immigrant father instilled in me a love of American cinema. I was often his default movie date at our neighborhood theater, which amazingly is still in operation today as an AMC Classic offering a $4.99 matinee.
Through moving images, I was exposed to rich stories that my young psyche could not fully comprehend, but the emotional resonance within me left an indelible impression. I still remember being swept away by Dances with Wolves, as I bore witness to the plight of the Lakota Sioux tribe tragically losing their way of life to Manifest Destiny, while a lone Union soldier's isolation was underscored by a cinematic landscape of the boundless Western frontier and John Barry’s poignant musical score.
I was hooked on the art of motion pictures. But back then, with few industry role models who looked like me either behind the camera or in front of it, a career as a filmmaker seemed like an impossible dream. My early creative values and visions eventually shared their space with other commercial interests. Filmmaking became a dream deferred as I leveraged my business acumen for Fortune 100 companies such as Disney and Apple.
Yet the "impossible dream" lingered, along with a deep desire to serve others, to create and build things from scratch, and to resonate with diverse audiences. I was inspired by the cultural shifts taking place at the time, with the critical and commercial success of films with diverse storytellers both in front of and behind the camera--such as Moonlight, Parasite, Black Panther, The Farewell and Crazy Rich Asians. Armed with a growth mindset and a renewed purpose to positively impact the next generation, I took the leap into creating in the unknown.
Underrepresented communities need to be seen, their voices heard, their stories championed beyond the marginal. Today, audiences demand more diverse perspectives from women and people of color, and access that I once perceived to be non-existent has opened up. I reflect on the power of media on my immigrant father who loved Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as well as on my first-generation American, younger self navigating self-discovery through 90's pop culture. And I consider the endless possibilities to shape fresh narratives that will impact majorities and minorities alike.
As a writer, creative producer, and founder, I aim to evolve and redefine our shared narrative. And as the tide of representation in media changes, I pledge to be an integral part of the revolution.
Now tell me, what's your narrative?
All my best,
Rebecca
Rebecca founded Shadowlight and earned her MFA in film producing at USC School of Cinematic Arts.