Meet Angela Wenyang Hou

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Wenyang Hou a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela Wenyang, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Absolutely! I’m so resonated with what you said “being the only one in the room”. It accurately reflects my current situation and my experiences over the past eight years.

During high school, I was one of only five students out of 800 in my grade who pursued art as a career path, a choice that set me apart from the majority of my peers who focused on traditional academic subjects. While others prepared for standard university entrance exams, I dedicated myself to the Artistic Examination (yikao艺考 )required for admission to arts colleges and creative programs, spending weekends on sketching classes and taking an eight-month break from school for intensive training.

Transitioning to Tsinghua University for my undergraduate studies in Graphic Design, I continued to diverge from the norm. While my classmates engaged in typography, poster design, and package design, I found my passion for film and 3D art, independently learning these disciplines and immersing myself in directing.

Upon joining USC Animation as a graduate student, I encountered a familiar scenario: I am the only one in my class crafting multimedia projects that blend live-action with animation. Distinguished by my unique workflow, I stand apart from both the animation and film production groups, as all my classmates primarily focus on 3D or 2D animation and motion graphics. And I faced challenges in building a film production crew due to my unfamiliarity with the community and lack of formal film training.

Being unique can be challenging, sometimes frustrating. I often feel a sense of loneliness, struggling to connect with resources and feeling like I don’t quite fit in. I’ve joked about having a “misplaced life.” However, despite these difficulties, being different is also immensely beneficial and a gift. It allows me to approach situations with a broader perspective and think out of the box. I learn from diverse experiences and push myself to seek out external resources, which improves my ability to gather information and collaborate effectively. By gaining knowledge from various fields, I have developed comprehensive technical and creative skills, all of which contribute to my goal of becoming a multi-media director. Over time, I’ve learned to see my uniqueness as a valuable asset, using it to drive my success in my career.

Being the only one in the room also means being the unique one, constantly innovating and bringing out new ideas.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a director and multimedia artist based in Los Angeles, currently pursuing my graduate studies at USC School of Cinematic Arts. My work spans digital art, 3D motion graphics, live-action film, and visual effects. I like to integrate live-action with 3D effects and animation, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and aesthetics.

While I explore various areas, directing is my greatest passion. To me, it is similar to the role of a military commander. I enjoy leading, planning, and seeing everything come together on set. Even though it can be tough at times, my happiest moment arises when I see exciting shots come to life on the monitor.

My artistic journey is a quest for self-exploration and growth. I draw inspiration from my own life experiences, expressing emotions, reflecting my understanding of ourselves and the connections to the world around us. Right now, I’m preparing for my thesis film that explores feminism, inspired by my own relationship experience which brought both pain and personal growth.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Firstly, figure out the passion, it’s always my source of motivation during challenging times and continual learning. Second, develop the Learning Ability. We are all born ignorant, effective learning distinguishes us, shaping our unique paths. And it can be practiced. The key is finding the right methods and systems that just fit your individual learning style. Understanding how your brain functions and providing it with the appropriate nourishment. Lastly, don’t be ashamed to seek help, go get support from family, teachers, elders, and friends. Most people are kind and willing to help; even if being rejected, there’s nothing to lose.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
About a month ago, I discovered a bottleneck in my art process. As an independent director, I typically handle all aspects of shot design and storyboarding. Since I see myself as a non-narrative visual creator, I had previously placed greater emphasis on individual frame design rather than the cohesive sequencing of shots for a narrative feature. However, taking a storyboard class last semester and engaging in discussions with both my teacher and peers completely shifted my perspective. I realized the crucial role storyboarding plays in film and moving images, whether it’s a narrative or a non-narrative visual piece. How shots work in a sequence is the essence of filmmaking.

Since then, I’ve changed my approach to viewing art pieces and designing shots. I now prioritize the arrangement of shots and their intended connection in conveying the story effectively. I am immensely grateful for the support and guidance that helped me break through my cognitive limitations and greatly improve my artistic minds and skills.

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