Meet Xueyang Niu | Filmmaker

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

Hi Xueyang, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Since my high school years, I know I will become a filmmaker. To this day, I firmly believe filmmaking is not only my passion but also the conduit through which I can achieve inner tranquility and serve others with unwavering compassion. I’ve held a vision of harnessing the power of film to instigate positive societal transformations. At that time, I was inspired by some artists, like Aamir Khan, Michael Jackson, Frida Kahlo, Gong Yoo, who used art as such an accessible form to fight back against the world they were dissatisfied with. I firmly subscribe to the notion that the realm of the arts knows no boundaries, and my aspiration is for my work to authentically encapsulate the narratives and genuine perspectives of others on the silver screen. Through my work, I hope to shed light on these pressing issues and inspire meaningful change in the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey into the world of art, particularly in the realm of film, commenced during a junior high school club session. Intrigued by the buzz surrounding the photography club and the privilege to bring a digital device to school, I eagerly enrolled, and my father gifted me my first camera (Canon 5D) after I shared my frustration of being the only one who doesn’t own a digital camera in my class. I still remember when I held that camera, I felt an irresistible urge to capture moments featuring people inside. I always think the individuals drawn to capturing human stories and narratives are different drastically from those who prefer landscapes or natural scenes. It was clear to me that I belonged to the former. At that time, I hadn’t realized I was so intrigued by people’s stories that are untold, unknown, and marginalized.
During my high school years, I realized my passion for studying film professionally, despite my initial lack of knowledge in the field. Fortunately, I found myself surrounded by one classmate and her family who shared my interest in film and television production. Together, we embarked on a journey under the mentorship of some prominent documentary filmmakers in China, starting from ground zero and gradually honing our skills over a year and a half.

The culmination of this learning process was my first documentary, titled “Lady Anne.” This film depicted the heartwarming story of a stray cat mother in my community, chronicling her journey of nurturing her kittens throughout the changing seasons. Influenced by my mentor’s emphasis on objective documentary filmmaking, I strived to minimize the impact of captions and voice over in my documentary. Spending countless hours observing and documenting the lives of these stray cats not only allowed me to craft a compelling narrative but also enabled me to establish a deep connection with the feline community in my neighborhood. Through weekly shooting, organizing the footage, and editing, I noticed my skill in cinematography and editing software also drastically improved. My experience with “Lady Anne” marked the beginning of my journey as a filmmaker and artist.

During my three years in high school, I have been also contemplating why I want to create visual arts and what I aim to achieve through my films. There is an ancient Chinese saying that goes, “set spiritual values for the world in general; establish meaning of life for men at large; perpetuate the waning wisdom of ancient sages; build the foundation of lasting peace for the future”. I feel that this encapsulates what I aspire to do. I want to use my films to contribute to a better society, even though I am uncertain if or when this change will occur. I believe that holding onto this original intention has continuously motivated me in my creative pursuits, setting me apart from others and serving as a source of pride for me. I used “Lady Anne ” to apply to several top film schools in the United States and eventually went to Emerson College and later transferred to NYU Tisch.

During my university years, I participated in many student short films, doing director, producer, cinematographer, production designer, and editor work. Among all the films made primarily by me, I am most proud of “Scramble Eggs,” a film I shot in the second semester of my junior year. It tells the story of Stefanie, who has just lost her son and is secretly pregnant in a world where each family can only conceive one child per lifetime. She must confront her husband, who is a birth control officer, and his new protege. I wrote and directed this story myself. Its inspiration stemmed from various countries’ family planning policies, my reflection on the then-heated abortion rights movement in the United States, inspiration from different movie scenes, and some ethics topics learned in philosophy class. I am also pleased that this film helped me gain entry into some decent film festivals, giving me a clearer understanding of where my film career stands at that moment.

This year I finished my thesis film called “Before Firework”. A story about the unforeseen odyssey of a thief named Ziyuan following his planned burglary of a historic Chinese residence belonging to Mei. This film is inspired by and dedicated to my grandparent. I am raised by them and I am intrigued by our strange, dramatic, conflicting, but unconditional-loving relationship, as we share drastic cultural differences but somehow manage to understand each other more. In ‘Before Firework’, I delve into the complex dynamics between grandparents and grandchildren, and aim to shed light on the inner solitude experienced by both parties.It took us six days in total to finish it and it’s the first time I worked with more than 50 people. It’s very ambitious and changeling, but we finished it and this film is currently in post-production.

From this creative endeavor, I once again deeply realized that I have never given up on integrating social issues that I care about into my work. In high school, it was about the living conditions of stray animals and advocating for more protection of their rights; during university, it was about the universal, social issues related to reproductive rights, advocating for the protection of women’s fundamental rights; after graduation, it was about the exploration extends beyond mere family dynamics to probe the essence of ‘family’ itself, while also addressing the issue of mental health among empty nesters and the left-behind children group. I think this is also what sets me apart from other creators. I’m proud that I can inspire others, and the fact that I am still making films, haven’t given up my dream, itself can inspire people.

From Chinese international high school to Emerson to NYU, the journey wasn’t easy. Embarking on a solo journey of studying abroad involves confronting challenges related to identity, language barriers, cultural differences, accommodation, social integration, academic pursuits, homesickness, and the absence of familial presence and support.
Each of these aspects is challenging. How did I overcome them? I think it was by clarifying my passion and understanding why I’m doing what I’m doing now. I genuinely want to dedicate my life to the art of filmmaking. Once I had a clear goal, I didn’t dwell too much on overcoming difficulties themselves. Instead, I focused on breaking down challenges into manageable steps and then tackling them while controlling my anxiety, keeping myself mentally sharp.

The most valuable lesson I learned in my four years of college came after graduation. At that time, I was in the midst of the most chaotic period of my life, grappling with the daily struggle of finding a job. Additionally, as an international student, I faced the looming threat of deportation if I couldn’t secure employment within three months after my OPT starts. After finding a remote full time job in New York, I had always wanted to move to Los Angeles due to my deep love and longing for the city. I spent a month flying to Florida to stay with friends for the cheaper rent, while actively searching for jobs in Los Angeles, hoping to move there within a month once I found employment. However, my efforts yielded no results. At that point, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer, so I decided to move to Los Angeles directly. Although unfamiliar with the city, I immersed myself in unpaid work on film sets, where I met many like-minded friends. With their help, I successfully assembled a team of 50 people and completed my thesis film within three months. From this series of events, I learned not to try to figure EVERYTHING out before taking action. When a road is filled with obstacles, I only need to clear the path enough to walk through, without the need to remove every obstacle entirely. Rash individuals must learn to think, while thoughtful individuals must overcome hesitation. While my goal can be perfection, there’s no need for perfection at every step. Be brave and take action.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I don’t spend much time playing and consuming outside. The place I visit most frequently is probably the cinema. If you want to see good movies in Los Angeles, I recommend the American Cinematheque, New Beverly Cinema, Oscar Museum, and Landmark Nuart Theatre. If you want to eat something healthy, I recommend the West Coast salad from Alfalfa, and Miso glazed salmon, Harvest bowl from Sweet Green.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Aamir Khan is definitely my biggest inspiration in terms of what I want to achieve as a filmmaker.While Aamir Khan’s films may not always boast high levels of artistic innovation, they possess remarkable accessibility and simplicity that resonate with audiences, incorporating popular elements to reach a wide demographic. Notably, his choice of subject matter addresses pressing societal issues such as gender equality, religious diversity, and educational reform, serving as a vehicle for conveying essential values. His films and documentaries have had a positive impact, contributing to incremental improvements in our world. I deeply admire his willingness to leverage his celebrity status to amplify the voices of the marginalized. Inspired by his example, I aspire to create films that are both intellectually stimulating and commercially successful, fostering dialogue and fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate society. My shoutout goes to him.

Website: https://www.lyncisportfolio.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xueyang-niu-723426275/