Photograph by Ian Datz

Xian resides in Los Angeles and has been honored with the de Groot Foundation’s Writer of Note Award for his provocative play #NWORD. He’s the son of Oscar-nominated and Pulitzer-nominated writer Lonne Elder III (“Sounder”, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men”). He is also the director, co-writer, and producer of the acclaimed short film THE BIG MEET, which has gained a cult following. His works have been showcased at various film festivals, including LA Shorts Fest International, Hill Country Film Festival, and the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. Additionally, he was a quarterfinalist for the Nicholl Fellowships and has shared his perspectives on writing and filmmaking in multiple segments of YouTube’s Film Courage. His latest short film, POLYVORE, a romantic comedy exploring modern relationships, is currently featured on Omeleto,“the home of the world’s best short films.” Recently, Xian completed production on a new horror short film titled WOKE, which is now in the post-production phase.