Today we’d like to introduce you to Davis Chang.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Davis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Kaohsiung, an industrial city famous for the international port in Taiwan. A land has been influenced by many cultures, such as Japanese, American, Chinese, and Taiwan indigenous culture itself all blend together.
Where the commercial buildings and the apartment where people live are mixed together. A diverse environment surrounded by people from different social classes where gaps and conflicts occur between individuals all the time. Everything is in between and mixed. For instance, Two sides of my family support the two opposing political parties, just imagine that. How exciting the communication can be.
Since I grew up in this environment, I tend to look at everything from more than one perspective. And don’t choose a side and make any one-sided judges immediately. So I have been empathetic in picking up on people’s’ moods and emotions and become skilled at observing the details of things. Not just the duality, but a more comprehensive view. Everything is just a different perspective. Therefore I can be more empathetic towards others. To feel why they act or think in certain ways.
Therefore, when I found that cinema as art, which reflects humanity’s struggle to resolve such moods and emotions, always attracted me and enabled me to be more respectful towards various points of view. Empathy, that’s the message I want my cinema to deliver. Be more open to the world outside of the comfort zone without fear.
I got my Bachelor from the National Taiwan University of Arts studying Cinema. Before that, I knew nothing about it. I only knew about the movies around the 2000s. The school has quite a history and made me learn about Cinema since it was born. That’s when I got to appreciate the masters like Tarkovsky, Kieslowski, Bergman, Yasujiro Ozu and so on. But I feel it’s not enough. I want to learn more about modern industrial filmmaking to tell the story I wanted to tell.
And that’s why I’m here. Now I’m a candidate for a Master of Fine Arts degree at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, collaborating with talented peers who love cinema around the globe. I can finally use my creativity and ability with these amazing filmmakers to create films that show great production value. I got to work with Quibi on one of their demo projects. I keep on exploring new ways to extend the possibility of visual storytelling.
Also, it’s been a great journey having excellent professors helping me to improve my narrative and visual storytelling skills– like John Badham, David Ward, and Bill Dill ASC. I made huge progress with their mentorship.
One of my short starts to get selected into the festivals gradually. And I’m super excited working in the preproduction for my thesis film right now.
That’s awesome, hope the work on your thesis film continues to go well. I’m sure it’s been a challenging road so far, can you talk to us a bit about some of those challenges?
To be 100% honest, it’s been quite a challenge in many aspects. My father stopped talking to me when I decided to study film in college. Without my mother’s support, what I saved from working will never be enough for me to study in LA. So I’m thankful every second that I’m breathing and standing in this city of angels. A shout out to my hero, greatest mom ever.
Another important factor is the working environment. Back in my home, there is no such thing as a solid film industry. No union, always overtime, sometimes no insurance. The rules are really ambiguous in some ways. One time I worked on a set for twenty-two hours in the mountain on a rainy day. After we wrapped, I was drowsy driving my motorcycle down the hill and I almost performed a real-life stunt riding off a cliff like something in Mission Impossible. No joke, two more steps and I won’t be here writing.
I said to myself, this is not right at all. This has to change. I want to be the ‘’change’’ instead of just waiting. That’s when I made up my mind that I’m going to fly sixty-eight hundred miles away from home to learn industrial filmmaking here and do things the right way and the safe way.
Eventually, all the hardship serves me as motivation so that I can keep on improving myself non-stop. Always remember why I came and the price I paid to be here in the first place.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an artist and a director. Before I started to direct, I was already a photographer. Street and abstract photography are some of my emphasis. I guess that also says a lot about me being a director. I also created VR sculptures and paintings. Right now, I’m experimenting with virtual production to keep on making films during the pandemic.
I’m a huge believer in Sci-fi and magical realism, basically, anything that’s not reality. I know this sounds a bit contradictory to what I said above. So hear me out. I find the major audience nowadays like to see something special, something unique but similar. And I believe genres like Sci-fi and magical realism can offer the out-worldly visual and narrative that catch the attention. But deep down in the story will always be a humanity core, like an allegory about modern society. Tell everyone the problem and make them care without addressing the issues directly. Somehow I feel that always makes more impact on people than just address it. Human is oddly addicted to stories I find.
In terms of the films I made, normally they screen in film festivals. But since the COVID-19, most of the festivals have moved online. I will post the link as soon as there’s an update. You can find the screenshots, teasers, and more information on my website.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Los Angeles! It’s somewhere full of all kinds of people. I love to see how people are trying to express themselves in many different ways without fear. You can really express yourself since everyone else is doing it! It makes me feel safer and more comfortable to be myself.
Also, all the nature surrounds this city, the hiking trails, the beach, the forest, the desert. As a filmmaker who also loves nature, this is definitely a plus. Going around and getting inspiration for the potential locations to shoot is just perfect.
The one thing I dislike is the traffic on the highway. I appreciate the opportunity so I can listen to some great podcasts like ‘’Team Deakins’’. But still, it’s too much. I feel like spending half of my day on the road. I wish the tunnel can be put into use soon. Dear Elon Musk, I’m counting on you.
Contact Info:
- Website: Davischang.com
- Phone: 6572744172
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davisblack/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savantshroom/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JingXiangZ
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10713483/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Image Credit:
Kiki Wu, Yifu li, Luying Wang, Emily Timmer
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
