An Inspired Chat with SIJIA ZHENG of Hollywood

We recently had the chance to connect with SIJIA ZHENG and have shared our conversation below.

Hi SIJIA, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I’m usually busy making clips for my new film and brainstorming new scripts.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone, my name is SiJia Zheng. I am a director and have created multiple short films. I do not limit myself to a single form of filmmaking—my work includes live action, stop-motion animation, traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, as well as the currently popular AI-generated short films.

I truly enjoy the process of creating visual stories, and I love storytelling itself. Film and television, in particular, offer a powerful and immersive way to experience stories, which is what makes them so fascinating to me.

At the moment, I am working on a 20-minute short film that integrates all of these filmmaking approaches. The project combines live-action footage with 2D and 3D animation, stop-motion animation, and AI-generated visuals. This experimental short film is highly challenging, but also incredibly exciting and fun to create.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The first time I truly felt a sense of power was when I was very young. It was my first time on stage, during a storytelling competition. Although the story was not my own original work, we were required to perform while narrating it.

I still vividly remember the story—it was called “The Little Pig Eating Grapes.” When I finished telling the story, the audience responded with tremendous encouragement. I am deeply grateful to them, because that moment allowed me to experience, for the first time, the unique power and charm of storytelling. That’s first time I truly felt a sense of power.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
A friend’s betrayal. To be honest, I don’t think I have fully healed from it. I can only see it as a profound lesson—one that reminds me not to place my trust in others too easily, even when the person appears to be a very close friend. People change, and sometimes the reasons for that change can be surprisingly simple—perhaps just a single sentence.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe that the version of myself seen by the public can only ever be a partial truth—it is never the fully authentic me. As a human being, I inevitably have many flaws and shortcomings, but these are usually only visible to those who are truly close to me. In the public eye, people naturally try their best to present their most polished and presentable side.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I believe my most peaceful moment was a summer afternoon in my childhood. I had just finished a swimming lesson and was lying on a rocking chair, feeling the warm summer breeze. The room was filled with the scent of my mother’s cooking, and in my ears was the sound of cicadas singing in the summer heat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zsjcak.wixsite.com/sijia
• Instagram: zsjcak
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sijia-zheng/

Image Credits
Images sourced from my film projects and the film festivals I have attended.