Today we’d like to introduce you to Hsiao-Hsia (Charlotte) Huang.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am Hsiao-Hsia Huang, or you can call me Charlotte. I am from Taiwan, and I am now a second-year graduate student in Chapman University majoring in film directing. I know what I want to do at a very young age. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a novelist. I started writing novels and printed it out to my family and friends.
When I entered middle school, I started writing web novels and tried uploading on the website. I got some feedback and support which encourage me kept writing. When I was 14 years old, I submitted my work to a publishing house, and I got rejected (for sure), but later on I got a contract with a novel website from Mainland China.
This writing journey ensures me that I want to become a storyteller.
After entering high school, I was fascinated by the fact that being a writer-director can not only tell story by words but can also visually deliver the messages to the audience. I joined the filmmaking club in high school and started making films with my friends. Since then, I want to become a director, and that is how I start my journey on directing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Although I know what I wanted to be at a young age, there are a lot of struggles along the way. I asked my family if I can go study abroad in the US for my university, but my dad was opposed to it since the career as a filmmaker sounds very unfamiliar and unstable. I then negotiated with them, saying I would pick another major as a university student, but I hope I can study abroad one day for filmmaking. My dad agreed. I was an English literature major in college, and now I am a film student, and that is how I fulfilled my dream of studying abroad. However, when I was in the university as an English major, my heart is still being on the creative side. I was very depressed at that time, and for not doing the thing I love the most, the depression had continued for a year.
I met one of my best friends in college, she is from Hong Kong, and she is the one introduced Wong Kar Wai to me. I was shocked and fascinated by the world Wong created.
In my last year of university, I applied as an exchange student to Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). I was accepted in the program, and I met many good friends and teachers there. My depression was gone, I was happier and enjoying what I was doing. Even now, I am so glad how the people in HKBU have inspired me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Before I came to the states, I was working as a director assistant in a production house, we mainly make documentary films for the museums. I started direct my first short film and won several film festival awards around the world. Later I directed “The Red Envelope”, “Pluto’s Gender”,”Egg Man” which are now screening in different festivals around the world, including Lady Filmmakers Festival, Awareness Film Festival, Shanghai International Short Week, Culver City Film Festival and so on. My most recent work, “Emily”, about a teenager fantasizes his older neighbor, is in post-production right now.
What matters most to you? Why?
To me, I want to make some personal movies, I want to be a director who can tell their unique perspectives toward the world. I especially look up to the Taiwanese directors Edward Yang, Hsiao-Hsien Hou, and Ang Lee.
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