We had the good fortune of connecting with Xinzhen April Yang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xinzhen April, how do you think about risk?
The idea of taking risks has been an actual defining element in my career, always pushing me to confront uncertainties and to take on challenges that define not only my work but also make me grow as a filmmaker. One of the riskiest projects in my career during my lastest production: Broken Finger, was dealing with East Asian identity, societal expectations, and complexities within LGBTQ+ relationships. It wasn’t just about telling a bold story; rather, it was a tightrope act: treading creative integrity in association with real-world constraints.

The casting had been a really risky process. I found myself getting rejection after rejection from actors who were very apprehensive about playing roles where they had to be that raw and honest. When my executive producer jokingly told me one day that I might have to act in it myself, it really underlined how fragile this could be. Yet, I welcomed the challenge by embracing persistence and empathy in order to create trust with collaborators, taking a belief that authenticity was worth the uncertainty.

Budget constraints raised the stakes. Decisions between necessities-such as special effects for a critical severed-finger scene versus hiring professional sound designers-meant accepting the risk of overstretching my resources. I prioritized what I believed would serve the story’s emotional impact, taking on unfamiliar tasks and learning as I went. This willingness to face my inexperience head-on was both a risk and an opportunity for growth.

The iterative nature of Broken Finger was a huge creative gamble. Within three months, I rewrote the script 24 times and made 17 edits of the film, trying different approaches in storytelling and visuals each time. Such a process of relentless experimentation required me to be resilient and trust my instincts. Opening myself to feedback from a diversity of audiences in order to get the story right across their perspectives added to the risk of that process.

Eventually, Broken Finger became more than a film; it was a reflection of my commitment to storytelling and the power of risk. The lessons I learned—about resilience, about the critical nature of a leap, and about beauty in ambiguity—continue to affect my career. To me, risk is not about merely stepping into the unknown; it’s daring to trust in the story you want to tell, that it’s worth every challenge one undergoes along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a commitment to authenticity, an act of fearlessness in telling stories that have never been told. As a filmmaker and editor, I bridge gaps between the personal and the universal, creating work that speaks across diverse audiences to its core. What makes me different is finding the raw emotional truth and finding ways to present it in a manner that will break conventions-be it through structure, visuals, or story that speaks louder for underrepresented voices.

I take the greatest pride in tussling with big themes, like my film Broken Finger, which sparks East Asian identity, societal expectations, and LGBTQ+ relationships. It was inherently difficult work, but one that taught me the power of risk and moving into the unknown. Similarly, my work in documentary media, from Night and Turning onward, captures the nuances of human connectivity and resilience through the telling of stories of sincerity and transformation.

The fact that I am here now-where I am-is not an easy thing to reach. My path started outside of the traditional filmmaking environments. I studied Interactive Media Arts at NYU Shanghai, a school that does not have a formal film program. This ultimately forced me into my own path: taking advantage of every opportunity to learn and create. This has become one of my biggest strengths: having no structured film education really pushed me into thinking creatively, adapting fast, and building a base of resilience.

Be it working with limited resources or treading sensitive subjects in my storytelling, challenges have been a constant. Each phase of production in Broken Finger tested every aspect of my craft: from problems associated with casting, funding, and post-production. Overcoming these barriers taught me valuable lessons in persistence, the strength of collaboration, and trusting my instincts. These experiences have shaped me into a filmmaker who views challenges as windows of opportunities that open for growth.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that, through my work, it is a testament to the fact that storytelling has the power to heal, connect, and inspire. Be it a short film, a documentary, or an Armenian TV series, good to go between Hulu and Netflix, I am driven by the passion for creating art that leaves a mark. My story is one of resiliency and an unrelenting pursuit of authenticity, and it is my hope that my work encourages others to see the beauty and power in their stories.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Rather than thanking specific individuals, I want to express my gratitude to two incredible communities: NYU Shanghai’s IMA Community and AFI’s SDAC Community. These are the two most tightly-knit, understanding, and unconditionally supportive groups I’ve ever been part of. Whether it’s physically computing in IMA or editing in SDAC, both fields are deeply technical and often come with significant challenges. Perhaps it’s for this reason that, whenever I encountered obstacles, there were always fellows or faculty members ready to lend a hand. We share a deep empathy for one another, and we’re always eager to help those following in our footsteps. These communities gave me a profound sense of safety and belonging, and helped me redefine the concept of “us.”

Beyond these communities, I’m also immensely thankful to my family, my friends in both Beijing and New York, and my boyfriend. They’ve been my emotional anchors, always there to absorb the pressure and stress when I needed it most.

Website: https://www.aprilyang.space/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilyang201/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-yang-a42109245/

Image Credits
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