Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Zhao.
Hi Ann, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in a small town in south China. I’m lucky my parents encouraged me to explore various hobbies in my childhood, such as piano, guitar, gu zheng, dancing, martial arts, performance， painting, and rhythmic gymnastics. After trying a bunch of interests, I decided to be an actress when I was 12. I started to watch movies and read books after having this little dream. I remember I was passionate enough to do a fairy drama with multiple positions for the first time, including writing, directing, acting, designing, and making costumes by myself. Time changes a lot, and I found my passion was more about creating ideas for stories and directing stuff.
After two years of preparation, I studied film production at the Beijing Film Academy, Asia’s most renowned film school. During my 4-year study, I wrote, directed, and edited several short movies while contributing to the editing and production of dozens of short films. One thing that has been on my mind for years is that I am significantly constrained when making socially realistic movies under film censorship in my country, the very source of my passion. I decided to see the world and try to explore more about the connection between me and film in a world with more freedom. I’m glad I was admitted to AFI, and that’s why I can come to LA.
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?
While preparing for my art college entrance exam, I realized that my film knowledge was not as extensive as that of my peers from major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Expressing myself accurately and positively, especially during interviews, proved challenging, and these shortcomings contributed to an expected failure in the first year.
Determined to overcome this setback, I dedicated myself to an intensive study of film and art history, stimulating my curiosity about the world more than that. I immersed myself in reading, watching classic movies, writing, and contemplating the intricate connections between the world, my identity, art, and some philosophies existing in the world. This transformative period served as a profound learning experience, shaping me mentally and in how I perceive the world.
This process ultimately led to my acceptance into the Beijing Film Academy. Subsequently, my life journey seemed smoother because I could deal with most of the expected and unexpected events with a tranquil mind, and I learned a lot from those lessons during that pivotal year.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Before I came to LA, I wrote, directed, and edited some short films， one of them called A Haircut, which was selected and won prizes in a bunch of film festivals, such as the Cyprus International Film Festival, ASIAN Feedback Film Festival, Lift-off Film Festival, and Karama Human Rights Film Festival. After getting to AFI, I’ve been concentrating on film editing; I learned hard and soft skills at AFI and have made new friends in LA.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann_zhao_?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ann-zhao-24250528a
