We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hsiao Hsia Huang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hsiao Hsia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m Charlotte Huang. I’m a female writer-director who just moved to California two years ago. When I was a kid, maybe in kindergarten, I started writing short stories in my notebook. After I entered elementary school, my favorite part of the day was reading books in my bed before bedtime. I’ve always been attracted to the magic power of storytelling. At first, I wanted to be a novelist. I wrote a lot of romantic novels when I was still in high school, fantasizing about romance and Prince Charming. I uploaded my novel on a website and gained a good number of readers. It wasn’t until college that I found it more interesting to be a director, visualizing the words on the script and working with real actors.

I’ve known what I wanted to do, which is to become a storyteller, from a very young age. However, sometimes, especially in college, I wondered if I should get a regular job. My undergraduate major was English literature. To save some money, I worked as an editor’s assistant and most of the time as an English tutor during my four years of study. When I worked as an English tutor, the pay was really good, and it was comparatively easier than other part-time jobs. I only needed to work 2 hours a day, and I could spend the rest of my time doing whatever I wanted. I have 5-year teaching experiences, from small kids to high school students who are preparing for college exams, and I’m actually pretty good at teaching.

But I always knew that this was not the life I desired, and if I ended up being a full-time English teacher, I would just regret it in the future. I’m 25 years old now and in graduate school. Besides the job I worked as a director’s assistant for a year after undergrad, I haven’t really had a regular job experience that could afford my living expenses.

I’m still receiving support from my family for my grad school, rent, and food. It’s kind of embarrassing sometimes since most of my peers are already financially independent and have saved a good amount of money. Should I give up?

The answer is no. I believe that every person’s life has its own pacing, and it’s not wise to rush. I’m grateful for what I’ve got from my family, and that will become motivation for me to pay them back in the future. The best thing I can do now is not waste any minute here and work hard enough to fulfill my goal.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am currently a full-time graduate student at Chapman University, majoring in Film Directing. Originally from Taiwan, I completed my undergraduate studies before applying to film schools in the US, which led me to Chapman. So far, I’ve created a handful of short films, some of which have been accepted into renowned film festivals such as the Beverly Hills Film Festival, Out on Film: Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival, WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival and the Santa Monica Film Festival etc. My main interests lie in depicting family relationships, social issues, and coming-of-age stories. The films that first inspired me were from the Taiwanese New Wave Cinema, particularly those by acclaimed directors Edward Yang and Hsiao-Hsien Hou. I’m intrigued by the idea of “a slice of life”, which emphasizes the realistic experiences of everyday life. I believe that there are numerous stories in our daily lives, often proving to be even more dramatic than fictional tales.

Currently, I am working on my thesis film, written by me, which explores the life of a Taiwanese first-generation immigrant single father. He faces difficulties in connecting with his American-born daughter, both culturally and emotionally. He one day re-encounters his first love from Taiwan. This blend of present struggles and past beauty captures his complicated life, fraught with helplessness and regret.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal of my creative journey is both simple and challenging: to forge a career in film writing and directing. My hope is to make feature films in the future, leaning more towards an independent style as opposed to mainstream Hollywood movies. I have a great deal of admiration for the Taiwanese director, Ang Lee. Like me, he began his journey as an international student in film school. He struggled for several years before achieving fame. Even though he is a foreigner in this country, he has managed to carve out a unique path for himself. Among his works, I am particularly fond of his earlier films such as “Pushing Hands” and “Eat Drink Man Woman”, which portray the image of a Chinese father and delve into the complexities of Eastern and Western cultural barriers. Ang Lee is a director who continuously challenges himself with each subsequent film. He has explored a multitude of movie genres, molding them into his distinctive style. Aspiring to become a director like him serves as a constant motivation on my creative journey.

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?

For me, I believe that I wouldn’t find genuine happiness if I couldn’t make films. While my peers secure decent jobs after graduation or ascend the corporate ladder with promotions, I remain here, doggedly pursuing my dream amidst an uncertain and unstable future. At times, I am consumed by self-doubt and anxiety about my current path. Is it worth taking these risks, embracing an unstable life, to become an artist? I believe the answer is yes. I want to live my life to the fullest, guided by the passions of my heart. I want to make myself feel alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charlotte-huang-mnhc.format.com
• Instagram: littlesummer79