Wanna Choy
In 2015 after attending Seattle Film Institute courses, Wanna Choy; author, actress and filmmaker based in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Seattle, WA, began her film career. Even though she spent over 25 years honing her skills as an Entrepreneur with degrees in Business Administration and Real Estate Brokerage Management, she always loved film since a young girl watching outdoor movies in Hong Kong. Wanna is CEO of Background Studios and COO of Soul Element Films. She is a content creator and writer, collaborating with other filmmakers to bring empowering stories to the big screen. As a member of Women In Film and the Assistant Director of the Santa Fe Native Cinema Film Festival 2020, and the former Director of The Sisters of the Cinema through the coveted Santa Fe Film Festival, Wanna is bringing valuable awareness for diversity and equality for women and the disabled in the international film community.
Wanna's business management and marketing background made it an easy transition from Entrepreneur to Filmmaker and Investor. Her desire to tell compelling stories with a message of hope and change, giving a voice to those who haven't had one, is that it finally comes out and allows people who didn't know to understand and have more cultural sensitivity and support. Films cross the boundaries of race and gender and social issues that's why she wants to do this all the time. Her show in development is her compelling series of Eco-renovations for veterans which truly gives veterans the opportunity at a more stable, sustainable living environment.
Words of advice Wanna gives to anyone pursuing a career in this industry is to stay true to what inspires you, what drives you and what you are passionate about telling and sharing. Don't give up and no matter how hard it may seem keep trying to improve your skills and study. This path takes study and experience. If this is your passion and you feel pressed to do this then don't stop until you achieve it. Wanna wants to be a role model for women and an example for her culture. She advises "that every chance you get, is an opportunity to be greater and have more exposure to things you want to experience."
Wanna worked with Academy Award-Winning actor, Wes Studi in a Native American short film, 'Saynday.' she is the Co-Executive Producer for "Apache Junction", Associate Producer for "Out of Exile", with Emmy-winning filmmaker Kyle Kauwika Harris, Executive Producer for 'Midnight Shanghai the Movie.' Producer for 'Paranormal Investigators' and 'Shifters'. She wrote, directed and produced 'Operation Eco-Renovation' in 2015. Highlights of Wanna's recent acting credits: Alt (Moviegoer 2019), Roswell Season 2, Episode 12 (Alien 2019), Roswell Season 2, Episode 8 (Artist 2019), Deliverance of Amy Stronghold (Cellmate1 2019) Big Trouble In Seattle (Michelle 2019), Paranormal Investigators (Female Ghost 2019), Candy Bar Heist (Customer 2019), Silence (Police Officer 2019), Half Brothers (Bus Passenger 2019), The Darkening 48 Hour Horror (Demon 2018), Midnight Shanghai the Pilot (Mrs. Chan 2017), Lean On Me (Student 2017), Season of the Witch (Doctor 2017), The Spill Effect (Micki 2015).