Meet Alex(Hyeonzi) Wang

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alex(Hyeonzi) Wang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alex(Hyeonzi) below.

Hi Alex(Hyeonzi), appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

My self-discipline comes from practicing Taekwondo from a young age. I trained for a little over 10 years and even dreamed about becoming a professional athlete at one point.

Through Taekwondo, I was taught to embody the five core principles of Taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. These weren’t just words- I was taught to practice them and apply them, especially during the training sessions where I shed a lot of tears and sweat. There were many times I wanted to just walk away, cry, or even give up. There were also times I felt so frustrated and couldn’t control my emotions. But over time, I learned to endure, overcome frustration, and push beyond my limits.

Time has passed by and I didn’t become a professional athlete-instead I became a Foley artist. However, that mindset I got from Taekwondo has stayed with me. Whenever I face difficulties in life or work, I remind myself that growth comes from persistence. I believe my self-discipline comes from that habit of holding on, not just to survive through hard times but to meet the stronger and better version of myself after the hard times passed by.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a professional Foley artist based in New York. I’m also the only Korean Foley artist actively working in the industry. I’m pretty sure most people haven’t heard of my job title-but they probably have heard my work in projects like Severance, The Diplomat, Étoile, and Road House.

“Foley” is a term named after Jack Foley, a pioneer of the art of crafting sound effects. It refers to the art of creating and recording sound effects in post production to enhance the realism of films, TV shows, animations, and games. Foley artists are the people who perform and create these sounds in sync with the picture.

As a Foley artist, I create sounds that may seem subtle-like footsteps, hugs, or kisses-but also sounds that are a lot harder to imagine, like a frozen lake cracking or a bloody brain surgery.

I love doing Foley because I get to become so many different people and things. I love performing those subtle differences and bringing life to what we see on screen. One day, I can be a big, buff guy walking into a pub; the next, a ballet dancer elegantly dancing in the room. One day I can create the sound of an old brick oven being completely demolished, and another day, I can create the sound of a baby being delivered in the middle of a nail salon.

Many sounds I hear in real life can be applied to my work, but Foley also requires a lot of imagination and creativity. I enjoy being challenged and always try to think outside the box.

But most of all, I love cinema. I always feel proud and moved when I see my name in the credits of a project I’ve worked on.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I know that many young aspiring filmmakers find it difficult to break into the film industry(especially the world of post-production sound). It might sound a bit cliché, but I believe that it takes a lot of unnoticed work to eventually be noticed. Rejections and feeling invisible can be discouraging-I completely felt it when I started. But they are also part of the process. Building a career in this industry takes time. It’s the small, consistent steps that make difference. Pay attention to the little things, because they matter more than you think. And once you get your foot in the door, try to stay engaged and involved. Everyone starts and started somewhere!

For those interested in becoming a Foley artist, it is important to understand that this job is a unique combination of an athlete, a musician, and an actor. Before creating any sound, you need to fully understand what’s happening on the screen-both logically and emotionally. To convey emotion through sound and make it lively, you have to feel that emotion yourself. Also, it’s important to pay attention to the sounds in your everyday life. Observe how people move, how objects interact, how spaces respond to motion and energy. And most importantly, give yourself time to rest. Your ears and body need recovery to become creative again.

Lastly, be a sponge. Filmmaking is a big collaboration project, and some of my biggest lessons sometimes came from just by watching others work and being open to asking questions. Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something. Be curious, be observant. Most of the people I’ve worked with have been nothing but generous and kind, and they respect those who are eager and willing to learn. Attitude matters.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Since I was 10, I had always dreamed of going to the United States to study-and maybe even live there someday. This was before I had any idea I would become a Foley artist. Then when I was 17, my mom allowed me to move to the US because I was going through tough times in Korea. What was originally meant to be just a one-year experienced ended up completely changing my life.

I adjusted surprisingly so well in the US, and when the year came to an end, I almost didn’t want to go back to Korea. But I knew I had to(again, it was meant to be a one-year thing). However, my mom had a different idea. After seeing how I had adapted, challenged myself, and started searching for my own path, she made a difficult decision to let me stay and continue my journey in the US.

At that time, it wasn’t an easy decision. Financially, it was a quite a burden for our family. But my mom chose to invest in me, or better yet, my happiness. And because of that, I’ve never felt like I could just give up. Not out of pressure-but out of love, gratitude, and to prove that my mom was right.

She was right to believe I would be happier here. She was right that I’d find my own path and pursue it. And now, I’m doing what I love and living a life that feels meaningful to me. More than anything, because she gave me the chance to pursue happiness, I want to give some of that happiness back to her. I want to make her proud.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @alex_foleyartist
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@LikeAlexinUS