Student Profile: Fanghao "Edge" Tian ‘20
Perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of the Chatham experience is the community. In such unprecedented times, I (Abigail Kneuss ‘23), have become increasingly grateful for this community and its members. In an effort to showcase just a few of these great people, I’ll be doing a series of student interviews in the coming weeks. These highlights are for students, about students, and by students. This week features Fanghao Tian ‘20, known by everyone here at Chatham as Edge.
It’s hard not to run into Edge during your time at Chatham. As a filmmaker and photographer, he can be found at almost every Chatham event capturing our best moments and bringing his upbeat energy along with him. Not only is Edge a filmmaker and photographer, but he is also an actor, a traveler, a dreamer, and a friend to all. We recently caught up to discuss his time at Chatham and his plans for after his upcoming graduation in December.
Fanghao "Edge" Tian ‘20
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Media Arts with a concentration in Digital Film and Photography
Hometown: Chong Qing, China
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I’m going to start a film studio in Los Angeles. I’m going to make a living by filming and taking photographs. I’m also going to work in a post-production studio for a company that does some post-production for some bigger Hollywood films. I’m going to step right into the real world!
Q: What has been the best part of your Chatham experience?
A: I’m usually the one asking that question for people when I’m making films! I came to Chatham kind of on accident. My cousin who is 10 years older than me went to Chatham when it was all women’s still. I’m like the second year of male students. I originally planned to go to California but my parents talked about how Pittsburgh is smaller and safer and is a city of colleges. So, I came here and I chose Chatham because Chatham is lovely and I heard there were deer on-campus which was really exciting to me. I’ve enjoyed the people the most. I really love all of my friends and professors here.
Q: Can you tell me about your Senior Capstone project?
A: My capstone project is about me and Chatham. I’ve made tons of videos for the Chatham athletic and arts departments and I really never took a video of me, Edge, in Chatham. So, I’m putting myself in front of the camera and making a film about my time here. I have a lot of footage and a lot of good memories; I really have only good memories at Chatham. It’s kind of sad to be leaving during the time of COVID-19 with most of my friends already graduated or staying home this semester. I have a lot of things I want to say, it’s really hard to say goodbye in-person, so this video is my goodbye to my professors and my friends.
Q: Where do you get your artistic inspiration from?
A: I seriously get all of my inspiration from my life experience and from my friends and the people I have met along the way. I love taking road trips and traveling. I love to meet new people but it’s hard during the pandemic. But still, I get my inspiration from people around me. I used to get inspiration from the movies, but the people around me and my life experiences are more real and more close to me. That’s why I take photos and videos of people. My next goal is to start writing my own story because narrative film is what I want to do eventually.
Q: Where have you traveled so far during your time in America?
A: All of the East Coast. I have been from Erie to Miami, to the Smokey Mountains. I’ve flown to Seattle, San Fransisco, and Los Angeles. I rent cars and do road trips a lot where I sleep in the car. I love sleeping in the car. I’ve done that in the National Parks. I go to bed with all the stars in the sky and I get up with the sunrise and it’s just so beautiful.
Q: Any other hobbies you manage to find time for?
A: I don’t know, I don’t really have that much free time! I always keep myself busy. I’m an outgoing person who likes being around others always doing things. I’m a film major so even watching films is not free time, it’s more like studying! But I do love cooking. I love authentic hometown food from Chong Qing and all of the spicy foods we cook there.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give to your past self?
A: I should have started my Youtube channel at the beginning of my college years. If you are a First-Year film student, start your own Youtube channel! You could probably be making money by the time you’re my age. I’m looking to start my own to upload my films and share them with the world in a new place, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
A huge thank you goes out to Edge for all of the wonderful photos and videos he has taken for Chatham (you can view some of his films right here ➡️)! We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
To learn more about Media Arts at Chatham, go here. Know a student that should be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Email us or shoot us a DM! We’re happy to hear your suggestions.