Nocturnal Collective Announces Two Major International Projects Under Jiaxin Wang's Direction

Nocturnal Collective has announced two major international projects under the direction of filmmaker Jiaxin Wang, highlighting his versatility across documentary and music video formats. The projects include Riders, a feature documentary following e-bike delivery workers in Brooklyn and Chinese mega-cities, and Kidnap, a visually ambitious music video collaboration with Chinese rapper Yaka. Riders, scheduled for production from February to August 2027, explores parallel stories of resilience and survival among delivery workers who form the backbone of the on-demand economy. The documentary aims to confront audiences with the human cost of convenience through immersive storytelling. Yinan Shi of Nocturnal Collective stated the project represents movement, power, and survival across global contexts, with Wang bringing both urgency and beauty to the narrative.

The creative team for Riders includes cinematographer Paul Song, first assistant director Joy Wu, and producer Eddie Yukun Long. The project targets international film festivals and global distribution platforms while seeking support from documentary funding organizations. Kidnap, currently in post-production, represents Wang's innovative approach to music video art through concept-driven storytelling. The VFX-intensive project blends noir-inspired surrealism with nonlinear narrative and choreography to explore themes of obsession and emotional captivity. Wang oversaw creative direction, visual worldbuilding, and post-production visual effects to maintain conceptual cohesion throughout the production process.

The music video features collaboration with emerging rapper Yaka and includes production design by Olivia Huilin Gao and costume design by Sophie Deleo. With its bold visual metaphors and effects-driven approach, Kidnap demonstrates Wang's ability to create visually arresting works across different mediums while pushing artistic boundaries in short-form content. These simultaneous projects reflect the growing importance of cross-cultural storytelling in contemporary media, addressing both social issues through documentary and artistic innovation through music video formats. The dual announcement underscores how filmmakers are increasingly working across genres and platforms to reach global audiences while maintaining artistic integrity and social relevance.