In 2022, Austin-based writer, comedian and actor Yola Jean Lu partook in an Austin Film Festival (AFF) writing retreat where screenwriters hunkered down and dedicated time to their craft. Little did Lu know, the short film she wrote at the retreat would feature in Austin Film Festival’s Best Lil’ Shorts in Texas program two years later. “Patsy” follows a comedian, played by Lu, navigating the general ebb and flow of life after a divorce. The Daily Texan sat down with Lu to discuss the creation of this film and her festival experience. 

The Daily Texan: What was it like for you to see “Patsy” on the big screen with an audience? 

Yola Jean Lu: It was absolutely insane … I feel like an underdog in filmmaking because “Patsy” is actually my first ever film I’ve made, and this was probably the biggest audience we’ve had at a screening. Everybody seemed really engaged with what they were watching. It was nice to get laughs throughout it too, and actually hear the audience’s laughter. It was nice to be able to also look back on the work we did. … It was just thrilling … to get people saying how much they loved the film afterwards and it gave me validation that I really needed with the film — that this is actually a film worthy of some praise. 

DT: You’re an Austin-based comedian, writer, actor and more. How big of a role has Austin played in your creative career? 

YJL: It has honestly made my creative career. … I started taking improv classes through Coldtowne theater. It changed my life and opened up my eyes to a new community of what you could do in comedy and in the arts. About six or seven years ago, I took my first acting class and then got hooked into it. After that, I decided I wanted to get roles, but then I wasn’t getting booked for the roles that I really wanted to be booked for. … That’s why I began making my own projects. Austin has played a huge role. I’ve met a lot of collaborators here. I met really talented people, filmmakers, people who work on films and everything. I think the level of talent here is just insane. It’s also inspiring to be surrounded by really talented people. 

DT: You wrote and starred in “Patsy.” How much of yourself did you put into this project?  

YJL: I put basically my whole self into this. I originally wanted to tell it with the narrative of doing the stand up, because I felt like it could make the storyboard without having to show too much. I sillily thought that would make things cheaper to make. … It was almost like everything in the movie was very true (to me). It’s basically years of therapy, unraveling things about myself. The theme in the film is about learning how to say no, and that is something that I struggle with deeply in my personal life.