Today we’d like to introduce you to Huiyu Yang.
Huiyu, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in China Mainland. I came to New York in 2012 and began to study film-making in 2016. Studying film-making is a big and hard decision for me to make since almost all Chinese students have never thought of making films because it seems too high for 99% of people to even think about it. Because of some funny coincidences, lucky chances I got, and some deeply impacted personally experiences, I began to study film-making. It’s a twisting and challenging journey and also an interesting one.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s definitely not smooth.
Struggles: Lacking American cultural background; English as my second language; different ways of thinking between Asians and Americans; my shy personalities; busy and heavy school works, etc.
Advice: The biggest advice is always pushing yourself forward. I am the type of person who is afraid of so many things (due to previous life experiences). However, I rarely stepped back when facing big decisions, like going to America, studying at an American university, etc. It was not easy but I pushed myself forward, even today, it’s still the same, I heard so many of my friends told me they don’t like this or that so they don’t do it. I didn’t comment anything but I really hope that they could give themselves a try. Once you try, you will find that it’s not that hard. However, if you don’t try, the difficulties only look bigger and bigger so that you want to try less and less and miss many good chances.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a filmmaker, a junior film major student. Although I am a student, I have participated and been a major role (like editor, assistant director, etc.) in several feature documentary productions. I am more specialized in techniques, like editing and cinematography. I can direct, act and write screenplays as well, but not as good as doing techniques.
If you ask me any brand that I am proud of, I will say Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based Chinese traditional art company. It is a brand or company that every Chinese people should be proud of.
What sets you apart from others? Maybe I’m Chinese. It’s both a shortcoming and an advantage. I’m bilingual and know both how Chinese people and American people think and act. There are many other things that I could say which set me apart from others, religion-like, characteristic, etc.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
There will be difficulties on the journey, if anyone there isn’t then he’s lying, haha. However, I don’t think you will meet a dead end because, in today’s New York, there are sooooooo many chances for you to grab. Just make sure to push yourself forward to be better. I heard many people say things like, just be better than yourself and don’t compare with others. I strongly disagree with this statement and to be honest, I don’t know why people believe it, LOL. Because you have to compete with others to get a job, you have to compare with others (on the quality of work), If you are a cashier, try to count numbers faster than others. If you are a cook, try to cook the type of food that is healthy and tasty with a short time. There’s never “the best” but only “better” (I like this statement). Push yourself forward on the things you love as long as you make sure you have a healthy body. Never satisfied with your achievements.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9292383842
- Email: huiyu1993yang@gmail.com; huiyu_yang@fitnyc.edu
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtOycEoAPCLVP-UYFJWNRQ
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