wildfilmmaker - interview

Sands of time - EXCLUSIVE interview in Kevin Wang

Who is Kevin Wang?

I am a Director with over 28 years of experience in virtual production, spanning video games, film. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan,  my journey began when I was 14, moving to Costa Rica with my father without knowing English or Spanish. It took me years to learn and adapt before moving again to the United States to pursue my future. I started as a game tester and worked my way up to Senior IT, Motion Capture Director, and Director of Virtual Production at companies such as Sony, Tencent, and NetEase. Along the way, I had the privilege of working alongside Robert Zemeckis on Beowulf, James Cameron on Avatar, and Hideo Kojima on Death Stranding, experiences no school could ever teach me, and for which I am truly grateful. This journey has also given me a deep understanding of both Chinese and U.S. cultural differences and work ethics, a unique perspective that continues to be a strong leverage in my career. At my core, I’m a storyteller dedicated to merging technology and art to create experiences that resonate.  

Do you remember the exact moment you fell in love with cinema?

I fell in love with cinema through the power of storytelling, the way music, lighting, acting, color grading, lens choices, and editing all come together to create pure emotion. It amazed me how a full team of professionals could collaborate to build something greater than any one individual. That realization, that cinema is both art and teamwork, made me want to dedicate my time to it.

Tell us about your project “Sands of Time”.

“Sands of Time” is a short film I created to test the boundaries of storytelling with AI. While many see AI as a threat, I see it as a tool, one that lacks a human heart, compassion, and empathy, but can become powerful when combined with authentic human emotion. With just $60 and four days, I produced this film to prove what’s possible: technology alone is cold, but when guided by our humanity, it can help us tell stories in ways we’ve never imagined before.

Which Director inspires you the most?

Robert Zemeckis has been a huge inspiration for me, especially because I had the privilege of working alongside him on Beowulf. Watching him work up close gave me a deeper understanding of a director’s mindset, how every shot is carefully set up with both technical precision and emotional intention. His ability to merge groundbreaking technology with timeless storytelling has left a lasting mark on how I approach my own craft.  

What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?

What troubles me most is how disconnected people can be, even with all the tools meant to bring us closer. I would change that by fostering more empathy and storytelling, because stories are bridges, they allow us to see ourselves in others. If more people could truly listen through art, I believe the world would feel less divided, I believe everyone has a unique story to be told based on their life experience and I am sure there are parts of it that people can resonate to make the connection.

How do you imagine cinema in 100 years?

I see cinema evolving into experiences that go beyond the screen, fully immersive, multi-sensory worlds where audiences don’t just watch a story, they step into it. But at its core, cinema will still be about the same thing it has always been: emotion, humanity, and the need to connect. Technology will change the tools, but it will never change the heart of storytelling.