The Somnium

Jingyu “Olivia” Liu is an MFA student at Chapman University in directing major. She has been passionate about filmmaking ever since she was a child, however, growing up in a small town in China, she never had the opportunity to pursue it as a career. Unfortunately, the only “right path” for a small-town girl like her is to have a safe and stable job. After graduating from one of the best Engineering school in China, Olivia earned her first Master’s degree in the US and then became an engineer.

However, 12 years of studying and working in engineering only proves it’s absolutely not the life she wants, everyday she felt a calling for her true passion: story telling. Olivia built up the courage to chase the dream that never faded throughout her life, despite little formal education in film, and started over at the age of 30 to pursue that passion. Fortunately for her, amongst the many applicants, Chapman University selected her for their prestigious program. Her first year short film, Shallow Grave, was selected at a number of film festivals, and screened at Golden Reel Award’s showcase for nominated student films. With a profound understanding of both eastern and western cultures, garnered from her years in both countries, she is open to film making in any genre and believes the best films are those that touch your heart in their portrayal of humanity.