Ray Arthur Wang
Encyclopedia
Ray Arthur Wang is an American filmmaker/entrepreneur, known in particular for human and animal rights activism. He is also a retired concert pianist.
Raised in Livermore
, California, Wang acquired a PhD and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
and B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with music minor from University of California, Berkeley
.
As one of the five finalists for the highest award of the University Medal
, he won numerous honors including the National Science Foundation
Fellowship, Stanford Graduate Fellowship (Ric Weiland
Family Fellow), Robert Gordon Sproul
Award,
Top Prize from the National Electrical Engineering Honor Society (Eta Kappa Nu
), Fellowship from the
National Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi
), as well as membership in Phi Beta Kappa.
A self-taught filmmaker, Wang founded Raw Power Productions in 2004 with one main mission: social change. On one of many stops on the film festival circuit, his feature directorial debut Carma (2005) was declared "Best Picture" and Wang "Indie Auteur of the Year" for his work as director, writer, producer, composer, and actor on his supernatural thriller. "Wang is a director to watch," claimed Film Threat
. Featuring Academy Award nominee Karen Black
, Carma premiered as a Special Presentation at Cinequest Film Festival
under the name Compartment and would go on to make history in 2006 as first feature film to launch exclusively online via streaming DVD-quality pay-per-view. For the second project of the team that was invited to the Sundance Producers' Conference in 2006, Wang was a producer on the award-winning human rights documentary and pioneer in online film fund raising, Tapestries of Hope
(2009), featuring Betty Makoni, one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009, and released September 28, 2010 nationwide in over 100 theaters. Then, the San Francisco Chronicle
praised Wang's debut directorial 35mm film The Profile (2010) for evoking memories of the infamous Wen Ho Lee
case on its 10th Anniversary. (Film Threat
stated in its three and a half stars review of the film, "The Profile feels timeless but is also clearly modern as we look at the recent illegal immigration laws enacted by Arizona.") A January 2011 series of encore screenings pairing Tapestries of Hope
and The Profile resulted in a review of both by noted film critic Richard von Busack
in the Metro Silicon Valley. Switching to the RED camera, Wang recently finished post-production for his latest short When Sally Met Rascal... (2011), starring Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland
and Rascal The World's Ugliest Dog, about the homeless condition.
Wang started formal piano training at the age of five, shortly after his perfect pitch and ability to play by ear were noticed. Having won many piano competitions, Wang was invited to perform as piano soloist with symphony orchestra over 10 times, starting at age 10 when he won the Livermore-Amador Symphony
's Concerto Competition.
After a guest piano appearance with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra for the U.S. Premiere of Philip Glass
' Songs of Milarepa
in 1999, he would go on to win the Stanford Concerto Competition in 2000, performing Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto with them.
In 2006, a year before Wang retired from the classical piano concertizing scene, The Oakland Tribune
wrote in reference to his performance of Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto, "Wang received the Diablo Symphony's most vociferous ovation ever."
Raised in Livermore
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
, California, Wang acquired a PhD and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with music minor from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
As one of the five finalists for the highest award of the University Medal
University Medal
A University Medal is one of several different types of awards, bestowed by universities upon outstanding students or members of staff. The usage and status of university medals differ between countries.-As award on graduation:...
, he won numerous honors including the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Fellowship, Stanford Graduate Fellowship (Ric Weiland
Ric Weiland
Richard W. 'Ric' Weiland was a computer software pioneer and philanthropist. He was one of the first five employees of Microsoft Corp.- Early life :...
Family Fellow), Robert Gordon Sproul
Robert Gordon Sproul
Robert Gordon Sproul was eleventh President of the University of California serving from 1930 to 1958....
Award,
Top Prize from the National Electrical Engineering Honor Society (Eta Kappa Nu
Eta Kappa Nu
Eta Kappa Nu is the electrical and computer engineering honor society of the IEEE, founded in October 1904 by Maurice L. Carr at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The organization currently has around 200 student chapters and about 3,000,000 members and is headquartered in Chicago,...
), Fellowship from the
National Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
), as well as membership in Phi Beta Kappa.
A self-taught filmmaker, Wang founded Raw Power Productions in 2004 with one main mission: social change. On one of many stops on the film festival circuit, his feature directorial debut Carma (2005) was declared "Best Picture" and Wang "Indie Auteur of the Year" for his work as director, writer, producer, composer, and actor on his supernatural thriller. "Wang is a director to watch," claimed Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
. Featuring Academy Award nominee Karen Black
Karen Black
Karen Black is an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She is noted for appearing in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Great Gatsby, Rhinoceros, The Day of the Locust, Nashville, Airport 1975, and Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot...
, Carma premiered as a Special Presentation at Cinequest Film Festival
Cinequest Film Festival
The Cinequest Film Festival is an annual independent film festival held in San Jose, California. The festival highlights the work of new film makers....
under the name Compartment and would go on to make history in 2006 as first feature film to launch exclusively online via streaming DVD-quality pay-per-view. For the second project of the team that was invited to the Sundance Producers' Conference in 2006, Wang was a producer on the award-winning human rights documentary and pioneer in online film fund raising, Tapestries of Hope
Tapestries of Hope
Tapestries of Hope is a feature-length documentary that exposes a Zimbabwean myth that if a man rapes a virgin he will be cured of HIV/AIDS. The film focuses on the work human rights activist Betty Makoni has done to protect and re-empower girls who have been victimized through sexual abuse...
(2009), featuring Betty Makoni, one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009, and released September 28, 2010 nationwide in over 100 theaters. Then, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
praised Wang's debut directorial 35mm film The Profile (2010) for evoking memories of the infamous Wen Ho Lee
Wen Ho Lee
Dr. Wen Ho Lee is a Taiwan-born Taiwanese American scientist who worked for the University of California at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He created simulations of nuclear explosions for the purposes of scientific inquiry, as well as for improving the safety and reliability of the US nuclear...
case on its 10th Anniversary. (Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
stated in its three and a half stars review of the film, "The Profile feels timeless but is also clearly modern as we look at the recent illegal immigration laws enacted by Arizona.") A January 2011 series of encore screenings pairing Tapestries of Hope
Tapestries of Hope
Tapestries of Hope is a feature-length documentary that exposes a Zimbabwean myth that if a man rapes a virgin he will be cured of HIV/AIDS. The film focuses on the work human rights activist Betty Makoni has done to protect and re-empower girls who have been victimized through sexual abuse...
and The Profile resulted in a review of both by noted film critic Richard von Busack
Richard von Busack
Richard von Busack is a film reviewer based in San Jose, California. He has been writing for the San Jose Metro since 1985. He was also the co-host of CinemaScene, with poet Morton Marcus....
in the Metro Silicon Valley. Switching to the RED camera, Wang recently finished post-production for his latest short When Sally Met Rascal... (2011), starring Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland
Sally Kirkland
Sally Kirkland is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Kirkland was named after her mother, fashion editor Sally Kirkland, who was a fashion editor at Vogue and LIFE magazines, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Frederic McMichael Kirkland, worked in the scrap...
and Rascal The World's Ugliest Dog, about the homeless condition.
Wang started formal piano training at the age of five, shortly after his perfect pitch and ability to play by ear were noticed. Having won many piano competitions, Wang was invited to perform as piano soloist with symphony orchestra over 10 times, starting at age 10 when he won the Livermore-Amador Symphony
Livermore-Amador Symphony
The Livermore-Amador Symphony is a local symphony orchestra composed of musicians from the Tri-Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area.The Symphony was established in 1963....
's Concerto Competition.
After a guest piano appearance with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra for the U.S. Premiere of Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
' Songs of Milarepa
Milarepa
Jetsun Milarepa , is generally considered one of Tibet's most famous yogis and poets. He was a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.- Life :...
in 1999, he would go on to win the Stanford Concerto Competition in 2000, performing Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto with them.
In 2006, a year before Wang retired from the classical piano concertizing scene, The Oakland Tribune
The Oakland Tribune
The Oakland Tribune is a daily newspaper published in Oakland, California, by the Bay Area News Group , a subsidiary of MediaNews Group...
wrote in reference to his performance of Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto, "Wang received the Diablo Symphony's most vociferous ovation ever."