Meet Kaihan Huang

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

Kaihan, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
There are many reasons I can maintain my optimism, some of which I can’t even realize. A particular reason I can recognize is that I love the vibe of working with artists. Chatting about ideologies, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and many other aspects of life and humanity makes me look forward to working and overcoming numerous obstacles with them. Another crucial reason for my optimism is my love for and belief in the Arts.

Back to where I was born, there is a new and busy city in China, Shenzhen, where it has developed its economy with incredible speed, accompanied by a fast-paced life and a large population. The lights, buildings, and crowds sometimes make me feel like I get lost in a vast sea. But films are like an entrance that allows me to jump out of the sea and see a bigger picture, helping me understand where I am in various situations. This makes me realize that working in art is a way to keep me “alive and awake.” I always believe that it will bring me deeper happiness, and that brings me significant motivation to work in art, offering a broader perspective to navigate my long journey and overcome most obstacles that confront me and my team.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I work in the Film and Television Editorial Department. Although I was born in China, my childhood was deeply influenced by both Chinese and American films. As I grew up, I gained more insight into the culture and life, which sparked numerous questions. Films became more than just entertainment to me at that point; they evolved into a language, even more liberating and precise than my mother tongue, through which I could express my queries. Ultimately, these experiences fueled my passion to pursue a career in the film industry.

In 2019, I was fortunate enough to secure third place in Beijing Film Academy’s National Art Exam. In 2021, the film I edited, “To the Beach,” won the International Best Documentary for The Asian Rivers Film Festival in Indonesia and was selected for Macau International Film Festival in China, Pramana Asian Film Festival in Italy, and Tokyo Film Awards in Japan. In 2023, I was honored to be selected as an intern for Academy Gold in the Gold Rising Production Track – Film Editing, a Global Talent Development & Inclusion Program presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, I worked on a short film produced by Academy, “Estelle,” as one of five editors.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Passion, Kindness, and Courage are qualities that I’ve prioritized throughout my journey. In my opinion, these are virtues that most individuals bring with them before entering the industry. Sometimes, these qualities might fade when people become overwhelmed and lost, but I believe they are always there, merely requiring a reminder of our initial hopes and visions to bring them back, and they will still shine brightly as before.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I usually spend some time meditating. To me, it’s crucial to determine who I am and why I’m pursuing this path: to understand my goals and identify my obstacles, and ultimately, to find ways to navigate through unbalanced mental states. Viewing myself as if I were a character in a film often provides a broader perspective and gives a clearer vision of my next steps. That’s my personal way to confront feeling overwhelmed.

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