We recently connected with Hang Doan and have shared our conversation below.

Hang, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

So much of my work is on social media and I feel online platforms have commodified artist’s work into content, everything we create must be done quickly as content. I resist that idea but know I have to make content to get my work where I need to go, but then it leads me to be boxed into the term “influencer”. I don’t think that’s a bad term on it’s own, but it’s gained a negative reputation for the superficial nature of social media encouraging being inauthentic for a greater profit margin. That just doesn’t speak to me, but I feel others in my video class or media industry know I’m in the social media niche and immediately write me off as superficial as well. It’s so far from my truth, I put so much time and care into forming relationships with business and I’ll choose to form a friendship even if it makes me no money because it gives me more intrinsic motivation. There’s so much more to me than just being a social media account, I am an ARTIST.

Hang, 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 19, which makes me a gen z digital native. I’ve been posting my art on Instagram since I was 11 and I grew up being inspired by so many different youtubers, so I’ve always wanted to become one. I didn’t take it seriously until I ate at a cafe for free for the first time and couldn’t believe businesses were willing to trade food and even commissioned rates for me to make videos as a student with no industry experience at the time. I said yes to everything and prioritized building relationships with businesses over gaining profit upfront, even if that means I do free work or don’t make a profit at times. I think that philosophy in my work is what draws other authentic creatives in the Indianapolis space to my work and helps me filter out people who are not really there for me. My videos are not for everyone, some people don’t understand why I don’t make flashy thumbnails or hyperanalyze my analytics, but I think low and slow is the way to go and the people that see my vision will truly be there for me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My entire life I watched Calarts Sketchbook Tours dreaming of the day I’d go to California and become an animator for Disney. Then I had to stand up to an abusive parent and leave for my own wellbeing, which kept me safe but left me stranded with no idea what I’d do navigating without the parent that told me she was the only one I could ever trust, and when I left had filled my inbox with threats and messages actively praying on my downfall. That’s a lot to take from your own mother, and I was only 16. Despite that I turned my life around, I got an Associates degree in 11 months and was deeply involved in leadership at my local community college, and my shoulders became sore from the cords and award I had on my gown when I walked commencement. Since then I kept the momentum going and am soon to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Video Production at 19 years old with over 75+ local partnerships and videos with household brands. Through all of that, I felt my heart stayed the same and building friendships is still my favorite part of it all. All things considered, I took the straw that was given and spun it into a vibrant gold.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience through patience and consistency. I loved making videos for class projects throughout school and would carefully watch my classmates reactions, and once the room laughed I felt an overwhelming satisfaction and joy. I’ve always had the intuition and dedicated resolve to know I can make my visions manifest, but even then there comes a lot of doubt and imposter syndrome. For those starting out, I would say humor the idea of starting your channel even if it fails because failure and discomfort is the point of true learning. Either you get the curiosity of starting a channel out of your system and no one will mind that it wasn’t your best effort, or you just took the chance of a lifetime and your career will take you where you never could’ve imagined. You’d be surprised how many people understand just what it’s like to be in your shoes as a beginner and how eager they are to help, how much businesses would be willing to give, and how many strangers will support your work relentlessly. Even if there are only a few people who like my videos, it means I hit a target audience, and those human connections are something to be grateful for. THESE NUMBERS HAVE NEVER MADE A SINGLE CREATOR TRULY HAPPY, the joy is forming relationships with collaborators and to be patient and have faith in yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hanghmai.wixsite.com/hanghoamai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanghoamai
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555207302314&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanghoamai
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hanghoamaifilm