Hannah Bang is a South Korean writer/director based in LA. Bang is a Jon Chu scholar, a recipient of the ETC Innovative Technology Award and the 2022 New Filmmaker grant. She is also a 2022 Project Involve Fellow and a 2023 Indeed Rising Voices director. Her work has been screened at festivals such as SXSW, Tribeca, Palm Springs IFF, BIFAN and Cleveland IFF among others. Hannah is also currently developing a TV series with Wiip and most recently directed an episode of THE CHI on Paramount +.

How many years have you been a judge?

1-3 years

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

Working as a camera PA on a tv show. The number of really smart and dedicated people that were brought together instilled even more respect for the work we were doing. It’s just a tv show, but the amount of focus and coordination involved sometimes make it feel like you’re trying to do a moon landing every day.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

I was really honored to have directed an episode on The Chi Season 7 last summer.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

The lack of stability/predictability. It’s also what makes it exciting and rewarding but if you’re trying to count chickens you’ll inevitably be stressed out.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

I think good art usually has a bit of self awareness, in that it knows and succeeds in what it wants to do for the viewer. I appreciate shows like that because it feels like I’m being taken care of.

How do you unwind from work mode?

My dog!

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to fuel your creativity?

Reading lets me slow down and think about things at a different pace.

When did you know that this career is what you wanted to do?

As a kid I knew that I liked telling stories and make believe. That slowly led to my love for movies, plays, and books… and then I discovered that a movie director was a job.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I am currently developing a tv show with Wiip which has been an amazing journey. I am always learning something.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

I’m currently writing a feature script and it’s currently in a pretty content and exciting phase versus an excruciatingly painful one- which is what writing is like sometimes.