Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Changhui Shi. They and their team shared their story with us below:
SOPHIE CHANGHUI SHI comes from Harbin, the capital of China’s northernmost province. Born on the first day of winter, Shi is named after sunshine in Chinese. Her English name Sophie comes from one of the signature architectures in Harbin, the Saint Sofia Cathedral. Her names reveal her biggest personality traits: a vivacious and intelligent person who makes people happy.
Shi is the fifth Chinese student accepted to the prestigious UCLA MFA Producers Program since its establishment in 1984 and the first Chinese woman admitted in the 2010s. During her days at UCLA, Shi has produced several short films in collaboration with UCLA, directing graduate students. Some of them were featured on Dailybruin.com, see links below:
– Student short film explores unifying desperation of waiting in line for the bathroom
– Graduate students craft whimsical set for short film ‘Dream Lollipops’
– MFA film students showcase flexibility, innovation amid production restrictions
Shi earned her BA in English from Hong Kong Polytechnic University with first-class honors. She was also the President of the school’s English Drama Club. She started writing, directing, and producing plays in high school. From 2005 to 2012, Shi produced seven low-budget dramas.
To better understand the business world, Shi became a Certified Public Accountant by completing twelve courses in accounting and finance in three months and passing the qualification exams on her first attempt. After working at Deloitte Hong Kong for four years, Shi followed her passion for film and television and arrived in Los Angeles.
Shi graduated from UCLA in June 2021. During her time at UCLA, Shi was one of the recipients of the UCLA Promise Social Impact Producing Scholarship and Edna and Yu-Shan Han Endowed Award. As an ally of the LGBTQ community, Shi hired a transgender non-binary actor to play the lead role in one of her short films. Her debut feature script that features a Chinese transgender dancer was awarded The Sean Slattery Memorial LGBTQ+ Voices Award 2021. Shi has completed several internships and set up a project during her internship at Janet Yang’s production company. She tracked down the rights to a premium Chinese mini-series and is currently working on an American remake. Sophie is working at Janet Yang’s production company as a creative executive.
Shi loves stories that deal with the theme of unconditional love and explore the ever-changing dynamics between people in close relationships.
Shi is a cat enthusiast even though she has never had one. She plays jigsaw puzzles for meditation. She loves hiking but fears slipping downhill. She missed going to theaters as much as riding roller coasters. Cooking, yoga, and ukulele are a few other things she enjoys in life. It is no secret that she is a Gryffindor.
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?
Well, I hate to say this, but the biggest struggle so far is my visa. I was hired by HBO after I graduated from UCLA MFA Producers Program. If I had a green card, I wouldn’t have to leave the company. I really appreciate the culture and the content HBO produces. I hope to find my way back someday.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I recently watched the first director cut of a feature film I produced in 2022. I am super proud because, given the very limited budget, we made a 100 minutes feature film. It definitely looks more expensive than its actual production budget. But what is more important is that the story, centering around an estranged pair of mother and daughter, is so compelling and relatable. I knew the story so well but I was laughing and crying watching the first cut. I know as we do more fine-tuning of the editing, the film will only become better and better.
I think this gives a great example of what I am good at: I make things happen.
Earlier this year, I organized a mixer for Chinese students and alumni at UCLA School of Theater, Film and TV (TFT). Many of the directors expressed their longing to showcase their finished thesis film on a silver screen at TFT. So I recruited two friends and formed a team of three. Between Feb and May, we pitched the idea of an API (Asian and Pacific Islander) Film Night at TFT during the AAPI month. We got some funding from the school. We put together a lineup of eight short films directed by TFT MFA alumni. We had narratives, documentaries, and animation. Three of them were created by filmmakers of the LGBTQIA+ community and five were made by female directors. I did most of the outreach work and eventually pulled support from our community partners such as CAPE, Asian Professional Exchange (APEX), Strong Asian Lead and APA UCLA Alumni. The event attracted more than 125 attendees and was a great success. This is a milestone event and we hope to continue it year after year.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I listen to a few Chinese podcasts on Spotify. One is TALKING LITERATURE, which is all about literature, from newly released Chinese books to classics re-read. They have a variety of programs. This is where I find about the latest release of books in China.
Another Chinese podcast that I listen to is STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY. I learned a lot about feminism from them. They also read a lot so it is another place to find book recommendations.
Last but not least is CYBERPINK, they talk a lot about the films and TVs the MCs watch. The MCs do not work in the entertainment industry but since many of them work in media, they are very sensitive to the messages/themes in films/TVs they watch. It is very interesting to hear their feedback on some popular shows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.changhuishi.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changhui_shi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sophie.ShiChanghui
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiechanghuishi/
