YAY Wah

filmmaker

filmmaker

BIOGRAPHY

Yay Wah, also known as Poe, is an emerging digital artist and storyteller based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was born in Myanmar and, at the age of one, his family sought refuge in a displacement camp along the Thailand-Myanmar border. When Poe was nine years old, he and his family immigrated to the United States, bringing with them the resilience and strength that would later shape his creative voice.

Currently a student at Humboldt High School on the West Side of Saint Paul, Poe is actively exploring his artistic identity through photography, filmmaking, and music. He became involved with In Progress through his siblings, Paw and Kri, both of whom are also active artists in the program. Inspired by their creativity and supported by the resources and mentorship at In Progress, Poe has begun developing his own portfolio of visual and digital work.

Poe is especially interested in narrative filmmaking and dreams of one day becoming a movie director. He hopes to pursue a college degree in film and screenwriting, with the long-term goal of writing and directing original stories that reflect diverse experiences—stories like his own.

His growing interest in music production adds another dimension to his storytelling, as he explores how sound and rhythm can elevate emotional impact in visual media. Poe continues to hone his technical skills while discovering his creative voice, balancing his studies with his passion for visual arts.

QUALIFICATIONS

Poe has foundational skills in video camera production, including basic cinematography and scene setup. He also has experience in portrait photography, capturing expressive imagery that reflects personal identity and community connections.

He is familiar with basic editing and creative software applications, and is currently expanding his knowledge in digital storytelling through hands-on learning at In Progress. His growing interest in music production signals his continued desire to explore multimedia expression across genres.

skills

  • video camera production

  • portraiture photography

  • basic editing skills