By: A LINE MEDIA

LOS ANGELES, CA — Situated at the convergence of Hollywood’s entertainment industry and ancient Chinese tradition, filmmaker Wang Xiaoying is forging a unique narrative style. By combining on-location documentation in China with advanced post-production techniques in the United States, Wang is translating Eastern heritage into a visual language that resonates with the world.

“In China, I was documenting my own country; in the U.S., doing the same thing, I have the opportunity to let the world see our culture,” Wang said. “The significance is different.”

Decoding Culture: From Calligraphy to Cinema

For Wang, the camera lens is an evolution of the calligraphy brush she has mastered since age four. Despite her gentle and refined demeanor, Wang, a native of Taiyuan, Shanxi, has possessed a fierce intellectual curiosity about Chinese culture, history, and text since childhood. This deep-rooted interest formed a unique creative perspective during her formative years. She views her work not merely as recording history, but as decoding it for a global viewer.

“The significance of Chinese calligraphy is not just about writing well, but knowing the meaning and origin of each character,” Wang explained. “Just like the work I am doing now… I want to let audiences worldwide understand the origins of Chinese culture.” Wang emphasizes that knowing “how it comes to be” is just as important as the visual aesthetic, a philosophy she applies to every frame she shoots.

A Journey from CCTV to Independent Filmmaking

Wang’s journey to Los Angeles began after a successful tenure collaborating with China Central Television (CCTV). Her path into documentaries started with a chance opportunity: a CCTV producer noticed her profound interest in history and culture and invited her to participate in filming intangible cultural heritage. That single attempt completely changed the direction of her career.

Over three years, she traveled across China filming six documentaries on endangered crafts—ranging from ancient paper making and oil pressing to traditional weaving. Three of these productions aired on CCTV’s international channels and received awards. As she accumulated filming experience, Wang gradually took the baton from her mentors, stepping up as an independent producer and director of non-heritage documentaries.

The Transnational Production Model

Now, operating as an independent filmmaker in California, Wang leverages the technical resources of the U.S. media hub to refine these raw stories. She has established a dedicated schedule: spending approximately two months each year in China to capture authentic footage, and the remainder of the year in the United States for editing and post-production. Her Los Angeles-based media company also handles commercial filming and large-scale event directing, serving as a platform to integrate Chinese elements into the Western cultural fabric.

Community Connection and “Going Home”

This fusion was evident in her role as general director of this year’s Los Angeles Chinese Spring Festival Gala. Wang utilized the American stage to present the emotional core of Chinese reunions to a diverse community.

“The significance of the Spring Festival Gala is not to evaluate how professional it is, but to let overseas Chinese know that at this time, they must go home to eat dumplings,” Wang said. “This is a custom, a ritual of Chinese culture.”

Expanding Horizons: Charity, Cuisine, and Future Vision

Wang is actively expanding her cinematic bridge into new territories. She plans to produce documentaries challenging stereotypes of Chinese cuisine, showcasing it as “world-class sophistication.”

In a significant move toward social impact, Wang has also turned her lens to philanthropy. She is collaborating with the Asian Youth Artists Association (AYAA), a U.S. non-profit organization, to document their charitable art enlightenment program in the mountainous regions of Guizhou, China. This initiative captures how art serves as a universal language to bring beauty and hope to underprivileged children in remote areas, further bridging the gap between American non-profit efforts and Chinese communities.

Beyond documentaries, Wang plans to expand into entertainment and lifestyle video works, emphasizing the transmission of “joyful values.” Regarding the rise of short video platforms, Wang maintains an open attitude but leans more towards disseminating works through professional channels to ensure her creations reach mainstream audiences.

Furthermore, she intends to turn her lens toward the diverse tapestry of the United States, documenting the stories of overseas Chinese and their integration into American society. For Wang, success is not merely a personal achievement, but about ensuring that Chinese faces and voices are seen and heard on the world stage.

“My goal is to use images to let the world see the beauty of China, and also let more Chinese voices be heard by the world,” Wang said.