Meet Qingyi Song

Today we’d like to introduce you to Qingyi Song.

Hi Qingyi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a filmmaker currently studying at USC, driven by a passion for producing. I revel in witnessing the transformative journey of a film, from its inception as an idea to the final execution on screen. Born and raised in China, I moved to the United States during high school with the initial goal of pursuing a degree in psychology. I was fascinated by observing people’s behavior and the motivations that underlie their actions. However, my trajectory took an unexpected turn when I watched the movie Dunkirk at the theater when it first came out. The experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in the film industry, regardless of the role or position. Later on, I realized how much film has influenced me, as I felt Iike I could always get something out of a film. My family would always have movie nights every Friday when I was a kid, so the film also means a lot for me as a form of entertainment.

From that point on, I started researching film school applications and building my portfolio. Despite moments of self-doubt about whether it was the right path for me, especially given my passion for psychology, I decided to take a leap of faith. Initially, I gave up applying to USC because I was confident that I would never get in. However, I changed my mind to give it a try three days before the application deadline and eventually got accepted. And now here I am, studying at my dream school and getting the most out of it to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Looking back, I always feel blessed, as most of the things I wished for have come true. I’m grateful for every opportunity that comes my way. However, my personality has been my biggest obstacle along the way. While I am more outgoing now, I used to be an extreme introvert. I would tremble when talking to strangers, let alone answering questions in front of the whole class or giving presentations. It was challenging for me to step out of my comfort zone and make new friends. In the entertainment industry, networking and building connections are crucial. Despite witnessing my peers effortlessly network, I found it extremely difficult and had to prepare myself extensively before approaching someone.

However, in my junior year, I told myself that I had to step up and become more comfortable interacting with people. I started by making myself say hello to people I ran into in the elevator and initiated small conversations. It turned out to be much easier than I thought. As I became more comfortable starting conversations with strangers, I pushed myself to answer questions and speak up in class. After class, I stayed to talk to professors. Over time, I naturally learned to introduce myself to people and made many close friends. I realized the importance of speaking up, not only for networking but also as an individual and as a woman, to constantly voice my opinions and express myself. Another obstacle was the language barrier. As a non-native English speaker, language was initially a significant struggle for me. However, with time and a lot of practice, including repetitive watching of my favorite TV shows, I eventually improved.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While at film school, my major afforded me the opportunity to delve into every major role on a film set. Additionally, I gained valuable experience in minor roles by crewing on other student projects. These experiences solidified my aspiration to work on the logistical side of production as a producer. I find joy in handling paperwork, maintaining organization, and I discovered a leadership spirit within me. However, I hold an open mind for other roles and continue to experiment with different aspects of filmmaking. My most recent work was a short film I produced over the summer. It was the first project that I produced outside of the school setting, and faced a lot of challenges that I never thought of. But eventually, everything went really well, and I truly learned a lot from the process.

Filmmaking is a collaborative process, and communication is the key. I take pride in prioritizing communication and implementing it throughout the time I work on projects. Striving to be my most genuine self, I extend respect to others in the manner I wish to be treated. One thing that was unexpected to me but I’m also proud of is when encountering communication issues with others; crew members feel comfortable coming to me and trusting me for the ability to alleviate the situation. I’m beyond grateful and strive to continue to be a genuine and respectful person. In my opinion, the final product of the film is subjective. Regardless of its reception, what truly matters is enjoying the collaborative process of working on and creating something together.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Although success is often defined by financial situations, I believe it should be measured by happiness. We live in a society where people can easily become overwhelmed by various factors, such as financial burdens, family issues, or uncertainty about the future. They may forget to focus on their own happiness and well-being, constantly prioritizing the concerns of others. We only live in this world once, so why not enjoy it to the fullest? Therefore, I believe that if a person experiences the most happiness, regardless of other circumstances, they can be considered successful.