Check Out Shangmou Xiu’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shangmou Xiu.

Hi Shangmou, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
Hi, I am a production designer/director/writer based in LA. I graduated from Nyfa with a master’s in filmmaking. And I have been making films for about 5 years. I have been working hard to get where I am, and I love making films. I love the magical moments that I can make come to life. It’s hard work, no doubt, but every moment I prep or make something that makes it magical and beautiful on screen is worth it. I started out studying for a business degree and wanted to become a film producer, but the more I worked on film sets, the more I loved the hands-on part of the work. I love the feeling of actually making those magical moments happen. And I love set design and making props and everything that goes into making a scene show up on a movie screen. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been smooth. Some months, I even struggle to make ends meet, but I always push myself to work 100% to 120% whenever I can. There is a crude saying I love, and I take it to heart, which is if you are gonna do something, there is no reason to half-ass it. If you do, it might as well be the whole ass about it. And no matter what film or ad I am on, be it smaller ones like TikTok ads or larger productions, I always commit to do the best I can. Because if you aren’t improving and learning new things or sharpening your skills as you go along there is no reason to do it. Stagnation, for me, is an unacceptable attitude or place to have. A lot of the hardship also comes from having to deal with clients who want very specific things, and figuring out how to translate that into actual directions and ideas that my team can execute is also a big challenge, and I have learned to excel at those as well. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main job is as a production designer, but I worked in almost every department on a film set. I love understanding how to make the scene work and what and how behind every bit ticks. I am most proud of the fact that I can turn a set from nothing into something the characters of the film can inhabit. I also worked on shorts such as Chinatown, Terminal Velocity, roommates, skin, The Last Coyote, Miss Robot, fish in a barrel, A Late Goodbye, and many vertical TV mini-series as well. 

I think what sets me apart is my ability to create and improvise under pressure. I have extensive skill and knowledge in set building as well as monster design and prop making. 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The road is hard and long. The only way forward is to grind and make connections. Show them how hard you are willing to work. No matter what it is, you will find people who are gonna notice your work ethic and attitude, and you will get better work. However, that doesn’t mean not having a line in the sand for yourself. You need to know how far you are willing to go for the movie. I think for me is I will do it to the best of my ability and that’s all I can do. 

Pricing:

• Production design 350 (student price)
• Production design 500 (ad price)
• Production prep 100-150 depending on work
• Directing 500-600 (depending on work)
• If your project interests me, I am willing to work with the budget you have

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artdog107/