Nathan Xia

Writer, Director, Actor

Nathan Xia is a Chinese American actor, filmmaker, and indie-rock artist from San Diego, California. At age 19, he gained notoriety for his viral film GOODNIGHT AMERICA (starring Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand), boasting 1.8M+ views across the film and trailer. At age 20, he made his next film, OH, MIGHTY OCEAN! (starring Jack Griffo, Peyton List, and Jacob Bertrand) which was quickly acquired and distributed by Omeleto, ShortsTV, and Gonella Productions. Concurrently, Xia wrote, directed, and starred in his debut micro-budget feature film, CHASING SUNDANCE, acquired by Freestyle Digital Media and distributed worldwide on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Tubi. As Xia matured, his films and creative sensibilities did as well. He found inspiration in feeling misunderstood and began using his art to tackle themes of mental health, coming-of-age, and his Asian American experience through an emotionally vibrant and comedic personal lens. His next film, ADAM’S SONG, screened at various festivals and won awards at the Nashville Film Festival and the Ouray International Film Festival before being acquired for online distribution by Wong Fu Productions, NextShark, and FilmShortage, and broadcast television distribution by PBS. His next film, AYO, CHECK UP!, premiered at Lebron James’ Uninterrupted Film Festival and continues its festival run today. Xia is based in Los Angeles, acting in film and television projects, making rock music, and developing his debut feature film, ADAM’S SONG.

My Work

Video

Adam's Song

Creator: Nathan Xia

Adam's Song

Creator: Nathan Xia
“Adam’s Song” is a story that explores my own complex relationship with my immigrant father in hopes of finding a newfound understanding of love. The cultural barriers between my father and I have always made it difficult to empathize and convey love to one another. Years of misunderstanding and miscommunication created rifts and inflicted pain upon both of us, much like Adam and Edward. Since this film comes from such a deeply personal place, its creation has been a major development in my father and I's own relationship, an experience I hope to share with others who face similar struggles.
Video

Ayo, Check Up!

Creator: Nathan Xia

Ayo, Check Up!

Creator: Nathan Xia
There’s a unique beauty to the simplicity of pickup basketball, between strangers who may only know each other by their trash talk or jump shot. For me, it has become a form of coping with day-to-day stress, a space of release and expression, yet also unlikely companionship. This sparked my interest in streetball as an unconventional form of self-therapy, specifically in the context of masculinity, where traditional self-help methods are often stigmatized. AYO, CHECK UP! finds two casual hoopers whose respective internal struggles manifest in an over-competitive, highly physical one-on-one, a toxic projection of the issues they’re unwilling to face.
Video

Flavor of the Month

Creator: Nathan Xia

Flavor of the Month

Creator: Nathan Xia
A B-list Chinese actor fears being replaced as “Hollywood’s Asian” while screen testing for a life-changing role.
Video

Oh, Mighty Ocean!

Creator: Nathan Xia

Oh, Mighty Ocean!

Creator: Nathan Xia
I believe that mental illness is the most pressing yet overlooked issue in today's society. As someone struggling with mental health for most of my life, I made this film to advocate for those fighting their own internal battles and make them feel heard.