milla nguyen
Editor in Chief & founder
Photograph taken by Orlando Pelagio @orlandopelagio
Milla Nguyen is the Editor in Chief and founder of Allusion Magazine. She is from Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in film & media production directing and a minor in fashion design. Currently, she has written and directed her own thesis short film, titled, I Want You to Live which follows the story of Lia Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American teenager, through her journey of grief, loss, and acceptance. She discovers her mother's journal which details their family's experience as war-displaced refugees during the Vietnam War and their immigration to America. This film is based on the real-life story of Milla's parents.
She has worked on a number of fashion design projects, most can be viewed on her portfolio website. Some notable collaborations include the We Have Always Been Here project photographed by Micah Rind. The project was created for the release of the debut sci-fi thriller novel of the same name, written by Lena Nguyen, Milla's sister. Another is the East Meets West project in collaboration with NYC photographer, Julian Valgora (featuring Milla Nguyen, Ananyaa Mahajan, and Anusha Natarajan). Milla utilized her fashion design skills by sewing face masks with a Southeast Asian theme. Her design work has been displayed by the fashion school at Arizona State University.
She served as the chief magazine editor and co-founder of Culture Talk alongside Anusha Natarajan for three years, an educational non-profit organization started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission upheld the importance of diversity, combatting of misinformation, and celebration of cultural communities. The Culture Talk organization was made up of a network of over 38+ international and national students. Together, the platform hosts the "Culture Talk: This is US" podcast, a bi-monthly magazine, a blog, a website, social media, and more. Simultaneously, Milla Nguyen uses her brand, Eclipse the Record to not only to showcase her own work but to also facilitate creative collaborations among her peers. The signature name is alluded from the idea that you are the creator of your own universe and the will to surpass your own personal best is what will continue to motivate you through life. On the side, she also loves to graphic design logos, posters, and promotional materials. She partners with filmmakers in creating their short film posters and recently designed promos for “Rise to the Top”, an Asian-American musical written by Weiko Lin & Christopher Wong. At this current moment of her career, she is a MFA screenwriting student at Loyola Marymount University where she will continue to pursue her passion for storytelling in the heart of Hollywood.
In terms of unique qualities, Milla describes herself as someone who feels empowered to not only create original ideas but to also open doors for her community along the way. Her mantra is: “Successes will always be successes. Losses will always be losses. But the journey is only meaningful when you share it with those you love and those who share the same true values.” She believes in real authenticity, integrity, and creativity always.
Before discovering the arts, Milla wanted to be an equestrian rider and a fashion designer. After jumping through life’s hoops, all Milla wanted to be was a storyteller. Someone who could evoke emotions out of an audience and draw them closer to the world, physically and mentally. That’s when she found filmmaking. Milla’s favorite films & directors include: The Farewell (Lulu Wang), Joy Luck Club (Wayne Wang), Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky), Crazy Rich Asians (Jon Chu), Civil War (Alex Garland), The Hunger Games series (Francis Lawrence), and the Harry Potter series. Her favorite television shows include: Stranger Things (The Duffer Brothers), The Walking Dead series, Outer Banks (Jonas Pate), The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han), and The Last of Us (Neil Druckmann).
After arriving to Loyola Marymount University and moving to Los Angeles, she worked as Professor Weiko Lin’s bright-eyed graduate assistant. She’s also received many amazing opportunities to create and utilize her skills. That’s when Allusion Magazine was born. She felt the desire to change the environments around her which felt competitive and stressful at the time. She wanted to start a platform where filmmakers could bond and be highlighted exclusively regardless of their background or status. She is most excited to see her peers come together, celebrate, and champion local talent. She is also ready to see how Allusion Magazine will evolve in the future of the film industry.
She would like to give a tremendous thanks to her mom, dad, her sister Lena, and brother in law, Jeremy for always loving her and supporting her dreams. She is thankful towards her whole family, especially her rambunctious ten cousins. Furthermore, she would not be able to move forward without her mentor, Professor Weiko Lin, who not only continues to support the Los Angeles AAPI community but also carries the LMU student community too. She is thankful towards all of the staff, coordinators, and LMU faculty professors who have supported her on this journey. She would not be able to run the magazine without her brilliant team: Evan Odinsoff (director of visual media), Kurtis Williams (director of content), Anna Lei (director of events), and Anusha Natarajan (business & data consultant). And last but not least, Milla’s best friends: Ananyaa Mahajan, Aarushi Bharti, Anusha Natarajan, Heddie Lui, Mercedes Molina, and Toya Liu for their unwavering friendship over the years. Milla is unable to mention all of her mentors, peers, and friends by name but she is eternally grateful for anyone who has treated her with sincerity and kindness unconditionally throughout the years.
Email: milla.29.nguyen@gmail.com
Portfolio website: https://eclipsetherecord.wixsite.com/etrthelabel
Instagram (personal): @milla_nguyen.co https://www.instagram.com/milla_nguyen.co/
Instagram (magazine): @allusionmagazine