Shiao-ya (Maggie) Huang Interview

Shiao-ya (Maggie) Huang was shortlisted in the 2023 Student Non-Fiction category for her film Farewell Chang Chun. A media artist born in Taiwan, raised in Latin America, and currently residing in Singapore, Huang has a talent in filmmaking and a passion for storytelling. We catch up with the aspiring filmmaker to discover more.
 

What was it about creating films that appealed?

I think creating things, bringing ideas to life and storytelling just excites me! I didn’t study film at university, I actually did a general media arts degree because I couldn't choose between animation and film! I ended up mostly taking animation courses and then a few film, game, and interactive media courses too. I’ve always created films in my own time and have continued to find it very fun. As I was doing it in my spare time, documentaries felt like a suitable fit. 

In your shortlisted film Farewell Chang Chun you interview your family. What was it like to film those closest to you?

I learned a lot about my family history through this project, largely from interviews and doing research. I think one of the challenges was thinking about what my role was. In the eyes of my family I’m their niece, their daughter, and so on, so it took some time to work out if they should treat me as a family member or as an outsider who is hearing everything for the first time. It was difficult to convince some of my family members to be comfortable and share their years of emotional vulnerability in front of a camera. All in all, it was rewarding to see my family come together to make this documentary and create a family story that we can pass on to future generations.
 

How long did it take to shoot and create your short film?

From pre-production to final cut it took seven months, however I came up with the idea as early as December 2021 while I was shooting some stills to document the house. It then turned into something bigger. 

Who or what are your creative influences?

The films Millennium Mambo, The Farewell, Blue Bayou and Marriage Story.

What stood out to you most during your time Sony Pictures Studios for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards?

It was amazing to be surrounded by so many passionate and inspiring creatives! And the atmosphere at the ceremony night of course!
 

Was there a workshop you found particularly useful?

I think The Production Process workshop was mostly because I had very little knowledge of this area of filmmaking. I also really enjoyed the Film Scoring & Music Rights and the Theatrical Marketing Panel because of the case studies and how interactive they were.

Is there anything you’ve learned about your filmmaking since your experience last February?

I’ve learned a lot about producing and being a leader in a creative project as I was the director and producer for my grad film – I learned a lot on the go as challenges arose!

I also witnessed the power of being vulnerable and genuine while creating. I had people reach out to me after they’d watched my film to share their own personal family stories and struggles. I think what made those conversations even more profound is that those people came from different countries and cultures, which really proves how powerful genuine storytelling is.
 

What film projects are you currently working on?

I’ve just finished my grad film, which was stop-motion. I’m currently finishing up a race car documentary series and developing a new passion project before I start full-time job. It's a COVID quarantine short film on loneliness and family.