The former student of the Los Angeles Film School, Yanxiao Gong, has always been a straight shooter. From a young age, he developed two passions: the making of films and firearms.
Since childhood in Shanghai, China, Yanxiao has become fascinated by firearms. During his stay at the South Pasadena college in California, he tripped on the competitive filming sport with his coach at Hyun Kim, developing skills that would later define his sports career. But cinema has always been a parallel interest. The creative possibilities of visual narration have captured his imagination as much as the precision of the target shooting.
A pivotal moment came when a surf injury forced her to take a break and reassess his way during his first year in Malibu High School. This break led him to contemplate the goal of his future. Convinced that the film is the most effective means preserving the continuity of human values, it aspired to become a filmmaker. Rather than considering the reverse as an obstacle, Yanxiao saw it as an opportunity to explore its cinematographic aspirations more deeply. His research led him to the Los Angeles Film School. Yanxiao was attracted to the academic atmosphere and even more intrigued than the school operated in the middle of the place where films – and dreams – are made: Hollywood. The Los Angeles film school quickly became like a second house – he had never felt more fascinated by his environment, and he felt like he had all the tools he needed to succeed in his studies. The school’s reputation for practical learning and industry connections has made it an ideal choice for someone wishing to translate creative vision in reality. It was attracted by the design of production, realization, publishing and post-production. He was about to realize his dream.
Travel to become world champion
However, life had other plans. As his university career progressed, Yanxiao’s exceptional talent in the shooting of competition began to attract international attention. With the help of his coaches to Hyun Kim, Brenda Silva and Brent McPherson, he discovered a path that would lead him to Los Angeles. Faced with this difficult decision, he chose to temporarily suspend his studies when the opportunity arose to train in Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. His dedication has borne fruit, leading to many victories on the world scene representing the United States, from a national champion to the Grand Prix, from the Pan American champion to the world champion. With many judgments between the two, the trip prepared him for the 2024 paralympic games in Paris where he then won a silver medal during these games, marking the first American pistol medal since the 1984 summer Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Yanxiao now finds himself as the most decorated paralympian in the history of shooting in the United States. He attributes most of his achievements to his coach to Hyun Kim, who supported him unwavering during his darkest hours after his high school injury, and who pushed him to stand on the highest podium.
The next chapter of Yanxiao Gong
Now, after his extraordinary success, Yanxiao begins to think again about his passion for the film. He remembers the “solidarity and dynamic” community of students and instructors, practical teaching and excitement to learn something new to the Los Angeles Film School. He attributes the years to the film school for having played a key role in the preparation of what was going to happen in his paralympic trip. He is still focused on his shooting career, but looking to the future, a future that will probably mark a return to the campus he loves.