Conversations with Lameng (Beila) Bei

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lameng (Beila) Bei.

Hi Lameng (Beila), thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Tibetan who grew up in Chengdu, China. I was raised in an artistic family; my father is a screenwriter/novelist, and my mother is a playwright. My childhood was filled with books, stories, and movies. In that era when hard drives were rare, I remember my father’s study packed with thousands of movie DVDs. At that time, I only knew that I had a passion for writing and drawing.

As a writer, I started publishing articles in national magazines during middle school. However, I realized that deep down, what I truly loved was storytelling. Writing was just one form of expression for me. The most thrilling aspect was the visual aspect. So, during high school, I developed an interest in visual arts and chose filmmaking as my path. After graduation from Peking University, I applied film production program in USA.

In film school, I continued to nurture my writing skills while exploring my expertise in producing. There is nothing more exhilarating for me than gradually turning words on a page into images on the screen. My identity and childhood experiences have also provided me with unique inspiration. I am particularly passionate about storytelling involving women, minority groups, genres like science fiction and fantasy, and horror films. The opportunity to collaborate with talented directors and filmmakers has been a major driving force on my journey as a producer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As someone fresh off the boat from China, the biggest challenge for me has been getting our stories to be seen. I have come across many outstanding scripts that delve deep into the struggles and sorrows of the contemporary Chinese generation. However, such content faces challenges in passing China’s censorship system and may also encounter cultural barriers with American audiences. As a bilingual producer, my goal is to bridge the gap between these two worlds and ensure that our community’s stories are seen by more.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been specializing in producing since my first semester at film school. To date, my work has been selected for screening or awarded at nearly a hundred film festivals, including Outfest Fusion Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, CAA Moebius, DGA Student Film Award, and SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

Witnessing a project grow and mature under my guidance is a fascinating experience. I am highly detail-oriented and self-motivated. Moreover, I genuinely enjoy and excel at collaborating with diverse filmmakers. In my third semester, I took on the role of lead producer for a thesis-scale project (typically reserved for final-year students), and I gained valuable experience in producing indie short films.

During my time in school, I participated as the lead producer in almost every type of production course. I established a strong reputation, which led multiple directors to seek collaborations with me in my final year. I produced a remarkable five thesis films, each with a preparation period lasting 3-6 months. Leveraging my multitasking abilities, I successfully delivered high-quality results for each of these projects.

I have had the opportunity to intern in the development offices of two prominent companies. The first was at the Three-Body Universe, which developed the largest sci-fi series on Netflix based on Chinese IP, “The Three-Body Problem.” The second was at Bound Entertainment, whose drama series “Doctor Brain” became the first Korean show on Apple TV. Producing high-concept shows centered around Asian content like these is a future career goal of mine.

The network of connections I built at USC is my most valuable asset. After graduating with a Master’s degree, thanks to recommendations from industry friends, I am currently employed at New Leaf Publishing LLC as a short-form series producer. The company’s app ReelShort ranks tenth in terms of downloads on the Apple Store, second only to Disney Plus. The series I produce has garnered millions of views on social media.

What were you like growing up?
As I mentioned earlier regarding my family background, my childhood memories were filled with reading, writing, and drawing. I was somewhat nerdy, imaginative, and not particularly inclined to play with kids my age. I attended school in Chengdu while spending summers in Tibet with my parents. I knew I was Tibetan but couldn’t speak the Tibetan language. Unlike my father, my skin was pale due to never exposed to the high-altitude ultraviolet rays; I didn’t understand the religious beliefs of my relatives. But, when I mentioned Tibet to my friends at school, they would ask if my family lived in yurts. This sense of disconnect in two different worlds prompted me to contemplate the sense of self-identity, cultural hegemony, and the true meaning of being a minority ethnic group.

This background also sparked my interest in learning about various cultures. In college, I took courses in European history and Western and Eastern art history. Additionally, I extensively studied mythologies and religions from countries such as India, Tibet, Greece, and Russia. Drifting from the remote inland of southwestern China to Los Angeles in the United States, temporarily settling in Chicago with my partner after graduation, and likely to move to either New York or Miami in the next year. I envision my future to be filled with travel to many unknown lands as I embrace a life of a global nomad.

I have a deep interest in metaphysics, and in my spare time, I am a semi-professional astrologer and tarot reader. I often provide psychological counseling for my friends, lol.

Contact Info:

• Website: imdb.me/LamengBei
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lameng-bei

Image Credits
Leyi Dai YifanWang Yutao Shu