Yijun Zhu is a bilingual screenwriter born and bred in Shanghai, China.

She often ponders upon her grandparents’ generation born in the disturbing 1920s China. During the unrest of the country, Grandpa Zhu didn’t abandon Shanghai. Thus, the Zhu family took root in this booming city. 

By the 1980s, Grandpa Zhu became a real grandpa. But to his worst nightmare and most puzzling odds, none of his five grandchildren were boys. None. By the time these girls grow up and get married, the Zhu surname could not be passed on to their offspring.

Inspired by her grandpa’s audacity albeit his long-lasting ‘grudge,’ Yijun embarked on her own adventure to the U.S. in the fall of 2015 as an East-meets-West storyteller. She strives to unveil stories that resonate with people of different backgrounds—What’s true in one culture can also ring true to another.

Favorite Movies:
• The Last Emperor (1987)
• Farewell My Concubine (1993)
• The King's Speech (2010)
• Lincoln (2012)

Favorite TV Shows: 
• 11.22.63
• Breaking Bad

Awards:
• 2017 UCLA Screenwriters’ Showcase - Honorable Mention for her Historical Drama Screenplay “The Red String”
• 2016 Kurnitz Creative Writing Award - Third Place for her Comedy Feature Screenplay "Miss Worldwide" 

Email: JulieYijunZhu@gmail.com