Meet Hanyun Zhang | Indepedent Filmmaker, Archiver, Outdoor Explorer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanyun Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanyun, how do you think about risk?
Risk “grows up” with me. Risk always appears to be bigger at the moment than it is when I look back after years. Not attending class was a risk that frightened me when I was 6. Falling in love with all the outdoor sports such as horse-riding and diving was a risk when I was 12. Deciding to leave my home for Costa Rica and stay there for two years without my family was a risk when I was 16. Becoming an artist and entering an industry that almost equals “unemployment” was a risk when I was 20. Every time I take this bit of risk, not only because of “bravery” but also because of my ignorance. How would I know the pain of falling off a horse, if I never did? Little by little, I get used to taking the risk and embracing whatever it brings me. Risks hit me hard but always make me grow at a speed that I would not otherwise have. Without risks, I would never been in the same position as I am now, preparing for more risks that are yet to come, feeling somehow ready and prepared, and pursuing what I truly want.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I find it difficult to categorize myself as a specific type of filmmaker. My inspirations can easily grow into all kinds of genres /mediums of art, and I made several short narrative films and documentaries. Many people ask me if I want to become a narrative or documentary filmmaker, which is a difficult question for me to answer. I don’t want to limit myself to a specific type. While it is true that making documentaries is very different from making narrative films, I found more similarities between them. For me, making a narrative film is about telling a story written by humans, and making a documentary is about telling a story written by God because the story is already there.

Being an independent filmmaker is never easy, and the most challenging thing for me is always keeping on track. The motivation must be strong enough to keep myself working and not procrastinating.

Most of my stories focus on women and minorities. I am in the post-production phase of a short documentary about a young monk boy with a burning passion for basketball, and I am super excited about its completion.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
*I am not sure about this, does it have to be LA or any cities?

If it’s New York, I would recommend seeing Broadway and also going to a few niche cinemas.
In Manhattan, you find great restaurants everywhere, and I would say K-town and flashing are great places to eat. There are also a few good ones between 30 -42 streets.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many people have helped me, but first and foremost I have to thank my parents who always supported my decision, even if they were so worried about me. I want to thank them especially for not being the controlling parents. I know they care so much about me but they still make efforts to give me a significant amount of freedom. Letting it go was not easy for parents, especially Asian parents as there was a generally very controlling environment.

Other people, such as my education, my friends, and some of my college professors, my employer, (I can list a bunch of names if I have to), have all supported me and helped me to pursue my dream.

Website: https://hanyunfilm.wixsite.com/hanyunfilm

Instagram: @hanyyyunz