Check Out Haoyue Yang’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haoyue Yang.

Hi Haoyue, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in China, and I have been studying film production in the United States for over six years. I went to Penn State University for my undergraduate, and I had a strong sense of feeling that I wanted to do something related to media in my future and I wanted to use media as a platform to communicate with people and with the world. So, when I received the offer from Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State, I was thrilled and eventually pursued a major in filmmaking.

Thanks to my education at Penn State, I started to develop, you know, like an intellectual thirst and passion for feminism and queer theory, which really motivated me to integrate these topics in my own filmmaking. As a result, I intentionally engaged with films that addressed feminism, LGBTQ issues, and social matters. After receiving myBachelor of Arts degree in film at Penn State, I had an opportunity to work as a full-time Account Executive Intern at Dentsu Aegis Network (Shanghai), one of the largest global marketing and advertising agency networks. In this role, I managed social media accounts, coordinated monthly workflow and daily work plans for the team, and analyzed backend data to complete weekly and monthly reports for clients United Airlines and Travel Alberta. While working in the digital industry, I realized my eagerness to get involved in more creative work which led me to move to Los Angeles to pursue my graduate studies in the Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Productionprogram at the University of South California.

While studying at USC, I have enhanced my skills in editing and producing. Compared to other filmmaking roles, I felt quite acquainted with editing, and I wanted to broaden my skills; therefore, I started to produce. Editing and producing at a certain point were similar to each other. One was solving the problem in post-production, and the other was solving the problem in pre-production. Working as a producer and editor provided me with opportunities to get to know many talented filmmakers in Los Angeles and collaborate with them to make their stories alive. I was always astonished by their creativity and stories and pleasant to participate in the process of sharing their stories with the world.

During my time in LA, I felt likea diver who has grown immensely from a stage of being afraid of water to the stage of being ready to jump at the fifty-foot diving board. These experiences have shaped me as a filmmaker, someone whois ready to dive into new challenges. I have evolved from being hesitant to embrace the unknown to eagerly seeking opportunities to showcase my skills. I am passionate about telling stories that shed light on underrepresented perspectives and invoke and share voices for and frommarginalized groups.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has never been a smooth journey to pursue my dream and make films. Initially, I simply enjoyed watching films and immersing myself in the lives of the characters. Seeing the world and myself through their eyes broadened my world. However, when I became the one who crafted those dreams for others, it became a totally different story. All the fancy worlds and captivating stories were embodied in specific sets and editing rooms. My world was confined to these spaces, and I was tangled by not producing good content. There were many moments on set or in the editing room where I questioned my ability to fix problems and wondered if I truly had the talent to do this job. Fortunately, filmmaking was teamwork, and I was lucky enough to have talented filmmakers around me who kindly shared their experiences and encouraged and appreciated my work. Despite this, I always felt nervous when sitting in the theatre, awaiting the audience’s reaction to my films. I cannot help myself stop thinking if audiences like it. What if they hate it? However, when the ending credits rolled and the applause filled the room, a sense of achievement washed over me, fueling my desire to improve and do better next time.

I constantly oscillated between “I can do it” and “I cannot do it”. This state of uncertainty persisted until one of my mentors reassured me that it’s okay not to be perfect and to make mistakes. She inspired me that by not pursuing my dream, the world would miss out on the voice of one more female filmmaker who could vividly tell the stories of others and whose voice should have been heard.

The process of making a film was no easier. I remember last year, there was a period of time when I had to juggle a project I was producing with another project I was editing. My schedule consisted of waking up at 9 a.m. and dealing with all the pre-production work till 8 p.m. After a short break, I would dive into editing another film till 5 a.m. When things went wrong, people came to me, and I often found myself as the one with the answers. Looking back now, I realize it was not as daunting as it seemed at the time, and I have developed the resilience to handle anything that comes my way.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties, I remain committed to my passion for filmmaking. It is through this medium that I can express myself, share stories, and make a meaningful impact.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently focusing on editing and producing in the film industry. Among the diverse concepts, acts, and practices embedded within filmmaking, editing has always fascinated me the most because it allowed me to transform the impossible into the possible, deliver different information and emotions by manipulating the order of the clips, reverse time and space, and recreate realities. Editing, however, was also limited as it could only modify shots produced during the pre-production and production stages. What I found charming about editing was the creative and thoughtful progress of capturing emotions and information, organizing them in a persuasive manner, and turning chaos into meaningful content. This logic must lead audiences to feel, understand or introspect.

Producing and editing shared many similarities, as both required the ability to put things in order and push up progress, organize information, communicate and understand others’ perspectives, and make decisions. If editing is like thinking about the film from inside the box, producing is like thinking about it from the outside of the box. Enhancing my skills in editing and producing had provided me with insights into problem-solving, communicating, and expressing myself.

The short films I produced, such as The Summer I Got Tough (2021), Mind Over Fatter (2022), Fili (2022), have been selected for prestigious film festivals such as Palm Springs International ShortFest, LA Shorts International Film Festival, Maui Film Festival, and Los Angeles Asian Pacific film festival. I also co-edited the TV drama series, Provenance (2022), which won Best Drama at the 42nd College Television Awards. Additionally, After Sunset Dawn Arrives (2022), a thesis film I edited, won Jury Prize in Best Asian American Filmmakers at DGA Student Film Awards and Best LGBTQ Film at Indie Short Fest. The film has also been announced as the official selection of Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival, Thomas Edison Film Festival, BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, etc…

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Never say “no” to any opportunities because you have no idea where those opportunities will lead you until you are there. In this industry, the job is often based on word of mouth, connections, and reputation. Once your reputation is tarnished, it becomes difficult to regain trust and secure future opportunities. Conversely, if you value and seize every opportunity, more projects and jobs will naturally come your way. There are no shortcuts to reaching the top; it requires hard work and step-by-step efforts. Each job might introduce you to a new group of people, and these connections can propel you to higher levels of success. Gradually, as you advance, you will achieve your desired goals.

In addition, it is important to be nice, strong, and creative. Filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor involving diverse opinions and ideas. Be kind and open-minded, willing to listen and collaborate with others. At the same time, be strong in asserting ideas and vision while making decisions and solving problems. And tap into your creativity to craft compelling stories. These qualities are the lessons I learned.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weikkkkke/

Image Credits
Leyi Dai