Yang is an independent documentary filmmaker and producer based in between NYC and Shanghai. Although she is based in the metropolis, she was raised in Xi’an, China, where the Szechuan Alps embrace the ancient capital of the Silk Road, and developed deep love for mountains and oceans under the influence of her parents who love traveling for open landscapes. Yang was a 2019 Jackson Wild Summit Emerging Filmmaker Scholar, and also a PADI certified scuba diving instructor. In 2021, she initiated perhaps the first and only open source website, Jilu Commune, hoping to forge collaborations for nonfiction filmmakers based in China.

Nick Zachar is an award-winning filmmaker currently working for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries as their Video Producer/Diver. Through the Stories from the Blue series, he has the opportunity to find and share stories about America’s underwater treasures and, more importantly, the people who dedicate their lives to taking care of these special places. Alongside his team, he is directing, shooting, and editing virtual reality films that will allow viewers to explore the blue from anywhere in the world. Previously, Nick was a Producer/Editor for National Geographic's Digital Team.

The Jackson Wild Collective is an incredible network and community that is bringing natural history filmmakers and conservationists closer together. While this is particularly important at this time, crucially the platform is helping increase access to the industry to many across the world. Being based in Asia, and seeing first hand some of the barriers to local filmmakers breaking into the global industry, I cannot encourage people enough to sign up and join the community. You’ll have access to opportunities from jobs and grants, to masterclasses and events, but more importantly you can shape the industry and those opportunities moving forward.

I am a biology graduate student from Montreal, Canada, currently studying forest ecology at Yale University. Over the past few years I have travelled around the world conducting research and sharing my findings with global audiences. My favourite part of the Collective has been the map feature and finding out there are many other filmmakers in the Jackson community from Canada!