However, a seventh-grade teacher recommended that he should consider studying filmmaking. My time online has shown me that the viewers will respond most to authentic storytelling.' Īt school, he engaged in artistic activities including visual arts, illustration, theater, choir, and dance. I always assumed that my otherness was a curse - that I would be held back by my Asian and queer identities. 'I was a very insecure, self-conscious kid, and as an artist even more so. Initially, he was skeptical going into films, explaining that his doubts on getting mainstream acceptance stemmed from the lack of representation of Asian American in films and for being queer. Įarly on, he lost his Texan accent by the prodding of his sister, who told him he might face difficulties getting into Ivy League schools. He struggled with body image issues and low self-esteem as, in his own words, no one looked like him, and suffered bullying due to his appearance.
Growing up in Pflugerville, Yang’s family was one of the few Asian Americans in their community. He is the middle child with two sisters, Christie Yang and Whitney Yang. Yang, the only son of South Korean immigrants Min-yeong Lee (이민영) and Jae-hong Yang (양재홍), was born and raised in Pflugerville, Texas.
