Check Out Ya-Ting “Itchy” Yang’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ya-Ting “Itchy” Yang.

Hi Ya-Ting “Itchy”, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Before my grandpa passed away, he told my dad he wanted us grandkids to follow our passions for the rest of our lives. At the time, I was a senior at National Taiwan University, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Drama & Theater. However, I couldn’t see myself being truly happy in neither of the fields. Therefore, I decided to follow my grandpa’s last words and pursued a career I had always dreamed of: Movie Director.

My parents worried about the salary prospects for young artists in Taiwan, so I made a deal with them—I’d get a master’s degree from the best film school in the world. USC seemed perfect but also intimidating. I made a music video on college campus, wrote a sci-fi treatment, and sent an earnest personal statement. Through determination and my grandfather’s blessing from above, I got accepted into their MFA program on my first try. Then I packed what I needed and said goodbye to my parents, sister, four cats, and a hedgehog.

During my first year at the School of Cinematic Arts, I stumbled upon the joy of the post-production realm. It brings me great joy witnessing the glow of a director’s face in the dimly lit editing room. Though I enjoy having the creativity control over my fingertips in the cozy basement, my true passion is directing. I’ve been writing my own soft sci-fi and romcom stories. And nothing compared with bringing your vision to life with a wonderful crew and cast members. I am eternally grateful to my fellow filmmakers and talents, who trusted me and helped me make my thesis film: Odd/Even. This film became a defining moment during my time in graduate school, and I’m stoked to keep expanding the project into an anthology series.

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?
I remember feeling incredibly nervous about speaking English in public when I first arrived, and it made me feel quite helpless. Luckily, my fellow cohorts were always there to support me, and within a month, I started to open up and feel like myself again. But then, covid-19 hit, and we had to endure “Zoom University.” During the lockdown, I went through one of the toughest depressive episodes I had ever experienced. Knowing that I grew up with animals around, my therapist suggested getting a dog to improve my mental health. So, I adopted a rescued dog and named him McFlurry. Over the next six months, I trained him to be my psychiatric service dog. Soon, I became known as “the girl with the husky” in the School of Cinematic Arts. While some thought I brought him to campus for fun, the truth was I couldn’t have made it through graduate school without his support.

After overcoming language barriers, culture shocks, and mental health crises, I believed I could handle anything and complete the three-year program. However, the high living expenses in Los Angeles were a major financial burden, and I couldn’t keep relying on my family. I went the extra mile to improve my editing skills, which became my bread and butter. With my knowledge of editing software, I took on as many teaching assistant jobs and freelance projects as possible to support myself. During my last semester at USC, I spent more time being a TA than a student, juggling responsibilities and interactions with professors and students. It was exhausting yet incredibly rewarding.

Looking back, I realize that each obstacle taught me invaluable lessons and shaped me into a stronger individual. I’m grateful for the unwavering support of my peers, the companionship of McFlurry, and the opportunities that helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Taiwanese-born writer, director, and editor currently based in Los Angeles. My creative focus lies in the comedy, sci-fi, and romance genres. Through my writing, I take pleasure in crafting imaginative worlds that capture the emotional essence of relatable life moments. One of my recent projects, “Odd/Even,” a soft sci-fi film, was both written and directed during my final year in the MFA program at USC.

Set in the 2040s Los Angeles, “Odd/Even” delves into a unique society where individuals are active in either odd or even-numbered years and hibernate in “The Capsule” during their inactive periods. Our protagonist is a promising young actress who outsmarts her lover and escapes from a toxic relationship.

My producers and I were able to find many female filmmakers to get on board with this women-empowering project. In addition, more than half of the cast and crew members are POC who work extra hard to achieve their goals in the film industry. It gives me joy when I see diversity both on-screen and behind the camera. Given the specific aesthetic style of “Odd/Even,” our production team invested considerable effort in production design and visual effects. Despite limited resources, we successfully brought a pastel futuristic set to life on stage.

Watching the final product in the theater, my friends commented that it was like looking into my brain on a big screen. Throughout my life, I have embraced my unique and peculiar nature, and filmmaking has become an essential outlet for me to express myself fully. I am grateful to pursue this passion alongside my closest friends, turning our creative endeavors into an exciting adventure.

Any big plans?
I am currently expanding “Odd/Even,” my soft sci-fi film, into an anthology series. Maintaining the same world-setting, I have started crafting 30-minute to 45-minute episodes, each centered around different protagonists. These characters all have appearances in the pilot, and in subsequent episodes, we delve deeper into their individual stories, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

To tackle this creative endeavor, I have assembled a writing group with my three best friends to share and critique each other’s scripts every other week. While rewriting can be a challenging process, having their support and input makes the journey a lot of fun. However, there are moments when I find myself grappling with frustration and losing interest in the process. To combat this, I recognize the importance of taking breaks from the materials and returning with fresh eyes and renewed energy.

This winter, I’m going on an epic road trip with my loyal companion, McFlurry, journeying from LA to Miami. I have found that traveling serves as a powerful source of inspiration and personal development, influencing not only my own growth but also the stories that reside in my heart. Immersing myself in new experiences and unfamiliar landscapes allows me to draw from a vast pool of emotions and ideas. And I believe that this is the best way to enrich the creative process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ya-tingyang.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: tyrannosaurusrex17
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ya-ting-yang/

Image Credits
Grace Park Sydney Taylor Yaxing Lin Yue Yu