VIP Interview with Hao Yan, writer, producer, and director of the Award Winning Music Video ‘Galón’

Today, we introduce Hao Yan, the talented film director, writer and producer of the music video Galón. In this interview, we talk about Hao’s visual inspiration for the video, the challenges of bringing ideas to life, and how ultimately the story is always “the heart of the film”. Enjoy!

Hao, what inspired you to pursue filmmaking, and when did you first realize you wanted to work in the entertainment industry?

This goes back to the early 2000s, when I was in elementary school, when we still had to rent DVDs from video stores. Every weekend, my father would rent various movies for us to watch at home—films like The Matrix, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings. That was when I fell in love with cinema. I even told my classmates that my dream was to become a director like Hitchcock one day.

Later, in college, I chose to major in industrial design, but I found it very difficult because it wasn’t something I was genuinely passionate about. The idea of filmmaking resurfaced in my mind at my most confused and lost moment. Right then, I knew this was the path I wanted to pursue, and without hesitation, I chose film.

You directed, produced, and wrote the music video Galón. How was this experience for you? What has been the greatest challenge?

Galon was a challenging yet delightful experience for me. At the time, I had almost no knowledge in making music videos, but I’m grateful that the moment I heard the song, the images started flooding my mind. I had an evident vision of what I wanted to create, and I believed I had chosen the perfect location. The real challenge, however, was figuring out how to bring that vision to life. While producing this music video, I truly learned the importance of details in filmmaking.

The biggest challenge I faced was communicating with the musician. Many of my creative ideas weren’t immediately accepted, which frustrated me. But after taking time to reflect, I understood that I had been too fixated on my vision and had overlooked the artist’s perspective. I’ve since realized this lesson applies to all creative work: filmmaking is ultimately a team effort, and keeping an open mind is essential.

Can you share the story behind Galón? How did you meet the music artist, And when did the project begin?

The project began back in 2022. I was eager to create a music video to test myself at the time. So, I posted in a Facebook group, looking for musicians who needed a video for their music, emphasizing that it would be completely free of charge. Among all the songs I received, Galón was the only one that instantly flooded my mind with visual ideas the moment I heard it. I was immediately drawn to its Western-inspired style.

I quickly contacted the artist, Billy Stonecipher, and we met at a café to discuss our visions for the song. Everything went smoothly in the beginning. However, as the shoot date approached, Billy introduced some new ideas, such as incorporating children into the video. That became a bit of a headache for me, as I had to explain the difficulties of making last-minute changes. Fortunately, we ultimately reached an agreement and moved forward together.

In the music video, you recreated stunning Western aesthetics. What inspired these settings, and why did you choose that particular style?

All of this stemmed from my initial reaction to the song. The initial sounds—like the hoofbeats and drum rhythms—immediately made me picture a run-down saloon in the middle of a desert. That imagery helped me establish the video’s core visual style: a Western wilderness aesthetic.

However, in the chorus, the music shifts dramatically from traditional Western instruments to electronic ones, which becomes a turning point in the MV’s narrative. The second half of the song takes on a style completely different from the classic Western tone of the beginning. My original idea was to tell a classic story about an outlaw escaping from a bar. But Billy wanted to make the entire sequence more humorous and playful, which I think matched the tone of the music in the second half perfectly.

The director Hao Yan and the official poster of ‘Galón’

Is there an anecdote or unexpected moment that happened on set during the making of Galón that stands out to you? Whether it was a challenge you had to overcome or a funny incident that you’s like to share with us.

I remember when we were filming the performance scenes, we had a few prop bottles left. Billy suggested that I wear a cowboy outfit and appear on camera to smash a bottle over his head. We tried several takes, but none of them felt quite right. It wasn’t until we used up the last spare bottle that we finally got the taste we were happy with.

It was a fun and unforgettable moment—everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. Although the location was far and the shoot was physically demanding for everyone, these great memories made all the exhaustion worth it.

We enjoyed the lighting in the video — the warm and vibrant tones were stunning. As a cinematographer, how did you collaborate with your DoP, Bryon Li?

I’m glad you guys enjoyed! During my collaboration with Bryon, we had numerous discussions about the visual tone of the music video. He’s a very diligent DP with extensive experience operating a Steadicam. I shared with him my ideas about Western-style lighting and the camera movements I wanted to achieve, and he took everything very seriously—he even researched how to bring my vision to life best. Thanks to our effective pre-production, we didn’t waste much time figuring things out during the shoot.

Thinking back on my collaboration with Bryon, what stands out the most is that we both still had a lot to learn at the time, but we were both incredibly passionate about the project. Looking at the music video now, I know it’s not perfect, but I believe we both gave it everything we had to make it as good as possible. He’s a calm and kind person, and I genuinely miss the time we spent working together.

What do you think sets it apart, Galón, from other music videos?

The biggest difference lies in the ever-changing style, like the song Galón. It’s not a traditional Western narrative; instead, it’s infused with playful and unexpected elements. For example, the outlaws’ guns don’t fire bullets that kill—they make people dance. And the chaotic four-person brawl is more comedic than brutal. In Galón’s music video, you can’t take your eyes off the screen until the last frame, because this Western story is constantly full of surprises and twists.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? And what advice Would you give to a young filmmaker?

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I’ve ever received—and something I’ve come to believe sincerely through my experience shooting various indie films—is that when working with a limited budget, the best investment you can make is in production design and location. The environment your characters inhabit is the first thing audiences subconsciously respond to. Any camera can capture beautiful images if placed in a well-designed space.

As a young filmmaker myself, I’d also like to share this with my peers: we all know how tough filmmaking can be, but it’s essential never to forget why we started. I genuinely believe that the story will always be the heart of any film.

What’s next for you? What current projects are you working on?

My most recent project is a narrative short film called Winter Psalm, which explores the inner conflict of a Chinese American adoptee. It’s currently being submitted to film festivals. This is my first narrative short, and I devoted much time to developing the script and bringing the story to life.

If you’re interested, the trailer is available on my Instagram—thank you so much for your support!

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