Lured by the idea of exploring the rugged mountains and artistic culture of rural British Columbia, in 2014 Lynn Trinh made the bold decision to pack up her life in Brampton, Ontario and make the move out west.
She had recently completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Media, Information and Technoculture from Western University and was ready to launch her career in British Columbia. As she grew her roots in the Kootenays, her background in media and passion for authentic storytelling through film eventually led her to the Digital Arts Program at Selkirk College.
“I have always been driven by creative curiosity and a desire to tell stories through digital media. My bachelor’s degree provided a foundational knowledge of how to harness the power of media to foster culture, community, diversity and environmental awareness. Now I was looking for a program that would further develop my technical skillset.”
As a student, Lynn appreciated the small class sizes and the hands-on experience offered at Selkirk College.
“The program helped me to develop my potential as an artist, especially in film and graphic design. Because of the small classes, I became close with my classmates who are now working alongside me in the industry. It’s exciting to know we got our start together, but have all ended up in really interesting, different places.”
Lynn’s unique skillset and passion landed her for the digital arts sector has led her to become the Kootenay Screen-Based Industry’s first Regional Program Manager. Her current role is dedicated to empowering and supporting local filmmakers with the aim of making more film production possible in our rural region.
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Beyond creating a home for the Kootenay’s screen-based professionals, Lynn uses digital arts as a tool to advocate for social and environmental change. Most recently she produced a series of films to educate viewers on the ecological importance of the Upper Columbia region for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.
As a Vietnamese Canadian filmmaker, Lynn is passionate about using her films to fuel conversations about cultural diversity in rural British Columbia.
"I think we are seeing a really incredible shift in film right now towards stories being told through a more diverse lens. The Black Lives Matter Movement was pivotal in that shift, and it has really stirred up so much great conversation in the arts and culture realm about diversity, equity and inclusion. I think film and visual media is so integral in bringing these changes into effect. Film is not only how we make meaning of our world, through relating to the narratives and characters we see on screen, but it is a way for us all to gain an understanding of others by teleporting us into someone else's shoes and making the invisible, visible."
Lynn is grateful for the Selkirk College Digital Arts Program as an important step in her development as an artist, both professionally and personally.