Conversations with Luu Dagda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Luu Dagda.

Hi Luu, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi! My name is Luu, and I grew up in Gilbert, Arizona back when there wasn’t a whole lot to do in…well, Gilbert, Arizona. To get through lazy summers, I would convince my younger brothers to star in my “Luu Productions”. I would race home after filming these short films and edit on our family computer, and from there I discovered a love for filmmaking, specifically film editing.

After graduating from ASU early, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue film editing, and worked on different projects, including The Walking Dead, The Flash, and most recently, Dreamworks’ The Bad Guys. In 2019, I faced some heavy burnout after back to back shows and decided to relocate back to Arizona to recenter myself.

During this time a lot of things fell into place. On a personal note, I met the love of my life after moving back to Arizona. I also reconnected with an old friend from high school, who became my business partner in our video editing agency, side haus. I also took up a love for acting, and signed with the Ford Robert Black Agency and have been a part of some great campaigns for Travel + Leisure and Hempz!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t necessarily been smooth, but like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s saying goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”. That moment in 2019 when I decided to put my dream of becoming a film editor in animation on pause and move back to take care of my mental health was a really difficult time for me. Thankfully after a lot of self reflection and therapy, I learned that it was more important to craft my dream life rather than my dream job. During this time, I was getting offers for shows I once only imagined being offered, but each time I politely declined, little did I know that these small moments of choosing myself would lead to me being able to find out I loved acting and can still edit in a different capacity.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a self proclaimed actor-entrepreneur. Though I’m previously known for my editing work, I’m proud to now be noticed on various billboards/buses for campaigns I’m so grateful to be a part of! This, alongside co-founding the video editing agency, side haus, are both things I’m proud of, but I think what I’m most proud of today is being known for my kindness.

The best compliment I’ve ever received on set wasn’t for my acting capabilities, but was for making every person involved on set feel heard and seen. Because of my background behind the camera editing, I know first hand how it truly takes a whole team of talented, hardworking people across the board to make film projects come to life.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love about Phoenix is the small, tight knit community feel it brings, while also balancing the big city perks! We have a wonderful creative community, and once you find your “tribe”, they help support and uplift as opposed to compete with you. I also think we have really great food, but that might just be my biased foodie take!

What I like least about our city is the heat! The “dry” heat and summers are always hard on my mental/physical health, and it’s hard to see our Husky, Coconut, experience a seasonal depression every time summer rolls around. I think the heat is brutal and affects the community aspect of our city hard, because we tend to have to stay indoors!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sidehaus.agency/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luudagda/
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/luudagda
• Other: https://www.luudagda.com/

Image Credits
Griswold House