We recently connected with Al Chang and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Al , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Everything I’ve worked on up to this point has meant so much to me. Just like anyone else who wholeheartedly cares for what they’re doing pours every fiber into their projects. If you’re not doing that, it’s probably not that serious or it’s a hobby. There is one project that really set the tone for me, it was my very first, short film. I saved up during Covid, bought all this gear, called in some favors and I was ready to go! Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I don’t call it a mistake because I didn’t know enough to make a mistake. Things were just unfolding before me as I was attempting. I was stuck at home, locked down because of Covid, I didn’t really get to shoot my Grad school thesis, so I had the itch to learn and just try something. I also came across some bad people within the team with hidden agendas and I almost couldn’t finish the film. I managed to remedy the issue and completed it. That was a miracle, whether it came out good or not, the fact that I finished it was an achievement for me. It went on to have a good festival run and we even won Best Actor by Kang Kim. The two leads of that short are so talented, opposite of Kang was Hayden Won and I’ve become good friends with them since. Filmmaking is not easy and good filmmaking is hard. So many moving parts that need to hit at the exact same time makes it feel like magic. Fleeting moments that you try and capture while shooting is the excitement of this craft. My first short should have been my last. What I went through could have easily been justified to not return and try something different. I learned so much from that project and I’m glad I learned it the hard way. It showed me how important a proper team is. When you have each person operating at peak level in a group setting, you can’t help but create something special. We’re not out here trying crazy things, we’re constantly learning, applying everything from previous projects and pouring it into the next. We’re on our fourth short film now, three with the same team and creatives. I’m so proud to see the progression we’ve made in such a short time. Excited to see where we go from here.

Al , 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?

I’m a husband, father, full time film student, filmmaker, and army vet. They all feed off each other. I was in the military for 10 years, 4 on active duty, deployed once. I joined the military to get my education benefits. I’ve been studying film for almost 6 years, it’s kind of crazy when I look back at where I started and where I am now. Things move so fast in my world that I rarely look in the rear view. I’m currently at Chapman University in the Editors track. I’ve been making my own short films for the last two years. We’ve made 3 short films and we just finished shooting our 4th. This last one we just finished was our most ambitious. Everyone on our team pushed it to new heights. My DP Roger Lee and I were joking after we had some time to decompress on sheer nerve of us to even try. But that’s the fun of it and being able to share that with people that are close to you means even more. It’s amazing and baffling how much we’ve gotten done in such a short time. I wish I had more time; we’d be able to produce more. As long as I could remember, I’d always wanted to be a part of filmmaking in any capacity. Editing is my first and foremost. Editing is such an underappreciated tool and craft. The film or the solution for the film is in the footage, having the ability to craft those scenes are the tricks. I got into writing and directing solely from needing footage to cut. I hated waiting around for a gig or cutting for practice. I needed a story, something I could really craft, to create those moments. I’m constantly learning, and I don’t think filmmaking is something you ever “figure out”. I know for sure, in my heart, I’m a storyteller. I love to talk, we could talk about anything, I can just go. I approach filmmaking like a good campfire story. You ever sat around a campfire and someone just has the ability to tell a story? You’re hooked, that’s what a good story can do and that’s what I’m trying to discover. I’ve realized simple doesn’t mean it can’t have layers that build into a more complex story. I’m at a point right-now where I’m slowly starting to get a grip but that only led to more questions I need answered, so I keep filming to find out. Maybe I’ll never find out, but it’s been a pretty cool journey up to this point. At the end of the day, we’re just grown ass adults playing pretend, but it takes a lot of effort to play it correctly.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I feel free. We all have so much going on in our lives at any given moment, it’s easy to forget that you aren’t your stress. For me, I feel the most when I’m doing this. Even though filmmaking is just another form of chaos, I’m good. It’s healthy to have something for just you. The people I’ve met, I’ve been very fortunate to cross paths with others who are passionate about their craft. Filmmaking is a team effort, without the right team, you will not be operating as a single body and whatever it is you’re trying to do will take the hit for it. If you can tell an honest story in some sense, it’ll always connect on a human level.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing that has really freed me is not to be result oriented. The moment to moment is what really matters. We live in a society that feeds off instant gratification. Likes, follows, shares, we forget that less means more. Everything is over glorified and oversaturated. I don’t want to forget or lose the idea of attempting to master a single skill set. I’m guilty of wanting too much or trying things without understanding what it is that I want from it. I had to unlearn what society was telling me to be, it took me many years and almost up to this point in my life, to finally let that go. I know who I am now and what I want from myself. I’m going to do my best from here on out on my own terms. If you’re prepared and really put time into the journey, you can’t help but watch good things happen from it, but you must accept the fact that it is out of your control. So, the least I can do is not worry about it. I’m not doing this for anyone but me and my team. We just want to make something entertaining and meaningful in some way, and enjoy each other’s presence and talent. Nothing is guaranteed, that’s what makes the journey beautiful. It will resonate with whoever it needs to or, just you and that’s okay too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4lcfilm/
• Other: Vimeo https://vimeo.com/showcase/10640228

Image Credits
By Me