Introduction
Patrick Wang is an American writer, economist, director and actor whose first directed feature film In the Family earned a number of awards and strong reviews.
Education
Wang is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in Economics and a concentration in Music and Theater Arts.
Media career
In The Family
His feature film directorial debut In The Family, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in, was nominated for a "Best First Feature" Independent Spirit Award and received rave reviews from Roger Ebert (and the Chicago Sun-Times), the New York Times (Critic's Pick), the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Reader (Critic's Pick), Time Out Chicago (Critic's Pick), NOW Magazine (Critic's Pick) and was listed in over 25 "Best of 2011" film lists. The film also won the "Golden Hammer" Award from "Hammer to Nail," the online film magazine, and Best Narrative Feature awards at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, the Spokane International Film Festival, and the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (with Wang receiving "Best Emerging Filmmaker" or "Most Promising New Filmmaker" Awards at all three festivals as well). For the film, Wang also was named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film."
The Grief of Others
Wang's second feature film that he wrote and directed is entitled The Grief of Others (2015), based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Leah Hager Cohen. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 SXSW (South by Southwest Film Festival). The film was released theatrically throughout France in August 2015 by ED Distribution (under the title, Les Secrets des Autres).
Other Acting Credits
He has previously acted in and written/produced short films such as "Little Mary" and "Surveillances" and also acted in short films such as "Rushing River," "Inherent Darkness and Enlightenment" and performed in a sci-fi feature entitled "Headspace."
Writing
He has also authored a book of 75 original short monologue plays entitled "The Monologue Plays."
Theatre
As a theater director, Wang has also specialized in the direction of classical verse drama (he has directed the world premiere of Dianne Arnson Svarlien’s translation of Medea) and new works (such as "Surviving the Nian," which won a Jonathan Larson Award). Wang has also taught and directed productions at the Stella Adler Studio and The Neighborhood Playhouse.
Economist
As an economist, Wang has studied energy policy, game theory, and income inequality at the Federal Reserve Bank, the Harvard School of Public Health and other organizations.
Personal life
Wang is from Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston and currently resides in New York City.