Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Xueyang (Lyncis) Niu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Xueyang (Lyncis), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Reflecting on my journey as an indie filmmaker, one project stands out as particularly significant – my most recent film, “Before Firework.” This endeavor marked the culmination of my college career, a six-day of production that pushed the boundaries of my creativity and endurance. It’s my first time collaborating with over 50 individuals, each contributing their unique talents and perspectives; my first time facing the daunting challenge of orchestrating a production of unprecedented scale and ambition, while trying my best to create a harmonious and friendly environment for everyone that worked in; my first time that I am prepared at the best of my ability and lucky enough to work with a solid team which can allow me to solely focus on directing.
At its core, “Before Firework” explores the intricate dynamics between grandparents and grandchildren, a theme deeply rooted in my personal experiences. Raised by my grandparents, I’ve always been captivated by the intergenerational bonds characterized by both tension and profound understanding. Through this film, I sought to unravel the complexities of familial relationships while shedding light on issues like mental health of these two marginalized groups.
One of the central themes of “Before Firework” is the exploration of unconditional love, a concept that resonates deeply with me. Inspired by Japanese storytelling, I aimed to portray love in its purest form, devoid of haste or superficiality. I believe that genuine connections are forged through acts of bravery and vulnerability, themes that permeate the narrative and invite viewers to reflect on their own capacity for love. I hope to inspire viewers to believe in the power of human connection and the possibility of redemption, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.
What sets “Before Firework” apart is its multicultural perspective, blending Mandarin and English to reflect the diverse fabric of Los Angeles. This collaborative effort brought together talented individuals from prestigious film institutions, infusing the project with a richness of voices and perspectives.
As the final touches are being made on “Before Firework,” I am filled with anticipation and excitement for its release. But more than anything, I am grateful for the opportunity to share this deeply personal project with the world. It’s been a labor of love and a testament to the power of storytelling.
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.
Welcome to my filmmaking journey! My name is Xueyang (Lyncis) Niu, born and raised in Sichuan, China. Growing up in a multicultural, multilingual family—my father’s side Tibetan, my mother’s side Han—instilled in me a deep appreciation for diversity and storytelling. It’s this passion for narrative that led me to pursue a major in film at NYU Tisch, where I graduated recently with dreams of bringing stories to life through the art of cinema.
From a young age, 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.
Since my high school years, I’ve known that filmmaking is not just my passion but also the conduit through which I can achieve inner tranquility and serve others with unwavering compassion. Then I started experimenting with filmmaking a bit with my friends and families and preparing my portfolio to apply for film-targeted universities like USC, NYU, and Emerson. The first non-fictional film I made is about a group of stray cat’s life in my neighborhood. I am a cat lover, and as I spent around one and a half hours in total documenting their life every week, I was fascinated by how resilient those stray cats are, despite having a difficult life with the face of food shortages in the wild. This persistent weekly shooting, material sorting, and editing practice prepares me with some fundamental knowledge for how to tell a story with camera. Then this documentary helped me get into Emerson College, then later helped me transfer to NYU Tisch.
During my college four year experience, I put my general education focus on philosophy, sociology, and psychology courses, as I believe these liberal art related courses will foster me to become a better storyteller as I understand the world more. I put my concentration course’s focus on screenwriting, directing, producing, performing, cinematography, production design, and sound design class, as I want to have the basic knowledge of how each department works before I choose one concentration I love to focus on after I graduate. I am grateful that all of my professors are supportive and have patience to listen to my broken English when I was in their office hours. Those four year college experiences were stressful, intense, challenging, sometimes lonely, but meaningful.
As a recent graduate navigating the complexities of the film industry, I find myself drawn to the role of producer and director, embodying the harmony between dreams and reality, empathy, and rationality.
Currently, I am engaged in various facets of filmmaking, from shooting and editing commercials to freelance producing and production design. Additionally, I’m involved in marketing work for the company I’m currently employed with.
What sets me apart as a filmmaker is my unwavering commitment to social issue-related genres. Each film I create is anchored in the exploration of societal challenges, ranging from the struggles faced by marginalized communities to the complexities of mental health. Through my work, I hope to shed light on these pressing issues and inspire meaningful change in the world.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I’m a bit pessimistic, and I believe that the progress of art is influenced by economic factors in different countries. Because art cannot directly improve infrastructure, cure diseases, or promote social and technological progress, I think that if society can better improve people’s housing, educational resources, medical resources, and job resources overall, the field of art will also see positive improvements. To be more specific, I think that 1) providing artists with more comprehensive legal and copyright protection can help them. For example, offering legal assistance to artists, helping artists protect their intellectual property and copyrights, ensuring that works are not illegally copied or distributed, and imposing greater penalties on offenders. 2) Schools should offer more courses on how artists can monetize their work, and society should provide more community platforms for artistic exchange, guiding artists on how to keep their work relevant to society, strike a balance between commercialism and artistic integrity, and sustain themselves after graduation.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I believe creating personal and unique artwork that can be seen by people around the world is rewarding. My language doesn’t need translation because its emotional expression is universal and straightforward. As a passionate artist, creating art to confront the world and pursue my dreams by choosing a path that is not very practical or stable, but meaningful, often inspires my friends to pursue their true passions. This is rewarding. And for myself, being an artist makes me observe the world with a critical eye, using an emotional lens to understand it, and integrating these emotions into my work. The ability to find happiness in the spiritual realm of my art, this thing itself, is rewarding and a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lyncisportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyncis_niu/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xueyang-niu-723426275/
Image Credits
credit: none