We recently connected with Vu Hoang and have shared our conversation below.

Vu, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission as a filmmaker is to create work that has meaning. I aim not only to entertain but also to raise questions, tell stories we don’t often hear, and provide an escape. I’m particularly focused on creating more projects centered around the Asian-American experience because, as a Vietnamese-American, I feel there are stories and experiences that haven’t yet been seen on the big screen.

Vu, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, my name is Vu Hoang, and I’m a Vietnamese-American filmmaker, director, writer, and Emmy-winning video editor. I was born in Vietnam, grew up in the Bay Area, and eventually found my way to Los Angeles to pursue my filmmaking career.

I was a big gamer back in the day—well, I still kind of am sometimes, haha. During my junior year of high school, I started learning video editing by creating clips for a first-person shooter game called Counter-Strike. That passion grew into making fun, goofy shorts for my history class using my dad’s MiniDV camera. I later went to college at the University of California, San Diego, and eventually settled in Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking full-time.

At my core, I’m a storyteller, whether it’s through sports features, commercials, music videos, or film. I direct, edit videos, and I’m now also Unreal Engine certified. As a director, some highlights include working with a cast of 35 kids on my award-winning epic Western adventure short, Marty: A Wild West Neverland, and having one of my music videos featured as a Vimeo Staff Pick. As a video editor, I’ve worked on all kinds of projects, and one of my proudest achievements is winning a Sports Emmy with Fox Sports for “Outstanding Playoff Coverage” this past year!

Recently, I wrapped up a short film I wrote and directed called Newspapers, loosely inspired by my childhood. It’s about a family of Vietnamese immigrants navigating their new life in America. This is probably my most personal and proudest project so far, and it premiered at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival.

What sets me apart from others—besides my commitment to creating great work—is that I care deeply about fostering a positive work environment. I believe energy and vibes matter a lot in any social setting, especially in filmmaking, where things can get pretty stressful at times. That’s why it’s important to uplift others, make cool stuff, and do it all in a collaborative environment.

So if anyone wants to collaborate or work together. I’m easy to reach!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the things I love most about filmmaking is that magical moment when I get to share a project on the big screen for the first time. I don’t do this for every project, but for those personal indie films where I pour a little extra heart and soul, it’s a must. For these special projects, I usually bring together a team of talented filmmakers to help breathe life into the story. We become like a small, tight-knit family on set, and many of us stay connected, collaborating on new projects or just hanging out. That was definitely the vibe with my most recent short film, Newspapers.

For this film, I had an incredible cast and crew, and I couldn’t wait to show them the final product. So, I organized a private screening at a cozy arthouse theater. My family and friends even flew down from the Bay Area to SoCal for the occasion. It was such a heartwarming experience to see the film resonate with so many people in the audience. Through my own films and other projects I’ve worked on, I’ve also had the chance to meet amazing artists, friends, and collaborators from whom I’ve learned so much. These moments are truly special—having all our loved ones in one place, celebrating this little film we poured so much love into, and that goes for most projects I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Speaking for myself, I think a lot of non-creatives assume that filmmakers go to college, get their degree, and then land a job like most other careers. But the truth? It’s way more complicated than that. The film industry is one of the toughest to break into—it’s basically a free-for-all. Personally, I don’t think everyone needs film school, and let’s be real, not everyone can get into the prestigious ones anyway. Christopher Nolan couldn’t get into film school, and I can’t say I got much out of mine either. In fact, no one’s ever asked me about my degree. Most of what I’ve learned has come from being out there in the real world—on set, working on projects, learning off talented folks, self-teachings and picking things up through hands-on experience.

Once you’re out there, it’s all about paying your dues, networking (because it really is about who you know), and constantly creating to prove yourself. You have to battle imposter syndrome, hustle to get projects off the ground (especially indie films), and deal with the reality that it can get expensive. That’s why so many filmmakers turn to crowdfunding or dip into their own pockets. You’ve got to have a deep love and passion for filmmaking to keep pushing forward. But honestly, these challenges are part of the journey, and when everything finally clicks, the feeling is unbeatable.

I’ve been fortunate enough to build a successful career as a video editor and gain experience directing music videos, commercials, short films and more. Even outside of my paid gigs, I’m constantly finding ways to hone my craft, build my network, and investing my own money into projects—all in the hopes of “making it” one day. It’s not always glamorous or fun; in fact, it can be quite grueling at times. But just like music, filmmaking is driven by passion. I do it because I love it. I just want to make a living doing what I’m passionate about, create an impact with my art, and connect with others who share that same fire.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.itsvuhoang.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsvuhoang/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsvuhoang/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsvuhoang
• Other: https://vimeo.com/vuhoang