Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Wang.
Amy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I first got into filmmaking when I knew I would’ve been able to make it as an actor! I was around 14 at the time and had taken karate classes and acting classes to maximize my chance of becoming an actress. After I realized how much rejection and thick skin you needed to be successful as an actor, I changed course. Little did I know that being a writer/director takes the same amount of thick skin and I face the same amount of rejection, just in a different way.
Technically, Fight Club was the movie that made me go… “oh wow, if I can affect someone else in this way, then I want to do this as a job”. I just remember feeling the way that I did and knowing that I wanted to make other people feel that way.
Since that moment, I went to undergrad in Sydney where I did film production as my bachelor degree. Then I worked in television for over 4 years, directing, writing and editing promos for such shows as X Factor, Criminal Minds and How to get Away with Murder. And more currently, I did my MFA at the American Film Institute where I majored in Directing. I’ve had a chance to shadow on big TV shows like American Horror Story, pitch scripts to George Clooney’s company and attend badass film festivals. And I am so thankful everyday that I realized I was bad at acting.
Great, 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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I would say the biggest challenge is keeping faith in your own abilities and pushing forward even when everyone else is pushing back.
I think you have to believe in yourself so much that you convince others who did not believe in you, but believe.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a writer/director and what sets me apart or sets an artist apart from someone else is my point of view and experiences as a human being. I was born in China and immigrated to Australia when I was 7 years old. I did not meet my father until I was 7 and grew up an only child. My family and I were not wealthy and spent a lot of time moving around in my childhood.
I tend to gravitate towards characters who are misunderstood, isolated and outcasts because that is how I see myself fitting into this world.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I remember when I was young (around 4 years old), whenever my mum took me anywhere, I’d try and do little performances for the public. Eg. when my mother would be standing in line at the bank, I’d run around getting everyone to pay attention and then I’d sing a song or do a little dance for everyone. I can’t remember the details but I do remember loving performing in front of people and making people happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amywangfilm.com/
- Instagram: @amywangster
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