LIFE COACHING

I never knew the important role a producer plays until I made my first feature. Daniel empowered me both as a director and a writer. I had a separate writer helping me but the entire process became inspiring when Daniel was involved in the process. He involved the other talents, the actors, the line producers, the designers, art director, and some members of the crew. 

There were many meetings but every one was focused, purposeful and whenever someone was no longer needed in a meeting, he or she was excused to get on with their work. The shoot was a blast in every sense of the word. Daniel was a presence and he made every take a worthy endeavor. After the shoot, from editing to release marketing, Daniel was a force to reckon with. He negotiated with the exhibitors fiercely, politely, whatever it took to ensure the best for the feature film. It was an experience to treasure and I look forward to another experience with Daniel. 

Everytime I am back in Singapore, I will set aside time to meet Daniel. I am a musician who ventured to China, Beijing to be exact. Before going, I spoke to many people. Only one person, not even my parents who told me they would support me in whatever I do, told me to plunk the courage to go forth. I am now based in Beijing. Being out of Singapore as a musician, my world, both professional and personal, opened up. In ways only experiencing it can attest to the right decision I made to go overseas. 

Recently I went on stage to share my experience. I asked Daniel to say something on a video which I played while relating my story. I am also married. My parents came to meet with my in-laws. They are very happy for me. Once in a while, I will look around me and feel blessed. I have worked hard. I thank the people who helped me get where I am today. On the top of this list is Daniel. He always says it is all my hard work. It is. But it started with a window of opportunity. And having someone like Daniel push me to embrace it. Thank you Daniel.

I am asked by Daniel to talk about my career. I thought about it and decided to talk about my education. How it has been influenced by him. I am academically very proficient. I do quite well when I focus and when I work hard at it. Daniel taught me to think out of the box.Yes, but what do you want to do? What do you want? 

This is the Daniel Yun question – what do you want? What do you really want? It made me think hard. Besides working hard at it, he asked me to put my heart into it. When I did, I excelled. I found myself. I found what I really want to do, what I think I am born to do. With Daniel’s help, my education becomes a part of me, my education helps define who I am and what I am about. Studying something that feels an integral part of me, I became a designer. Now I cannot see myself doing anything else.