Conversations with Samantha Gao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Gao.

Hi Samantha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Samantha Gao, an independent producer based in Los Angeles.

My love and passion for filmmaking came to me at an early age when I spent my childhood summers running around on set with my father who is a film producer in the Hollywood of China: Beijing. The fast pace and collaborative nature of filmmaking fascinated me and I knew from deep down of my heart that this is an industry I wanted to be in when I grew up. As an Asian girl born and raised in a traditional Chinese household, I was taught that there was a set path to follow for success which was to be obedient to one’s parents and be a straight-A student.

So I did. At the age of 18, I was able to achieve the first step of that set path to becoming a filmmaker – being accepted into the Beijing Film Academy. With my father’s guidance and musical training in the traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng performance from childhood, I picked sound design as my major and began to explore using traditional instruments to create modern sound journeys and effects in film.. 30% of natural gifts plus 70% of enthusiasm made creating sound in filmmaking a natural career path for me.

After graduating from College, I came to an opportunity to work as Assistant Sound Designer on Jackie Chan’s 2017 new year film Railroad Tigers. As the youngest crew member on the project working alongside with the masters in the industry, it was a dream come true. Most of the production took place in a small town in Qingdao near the ocean so the whole crew worked and lived together for four months like we were a family. That’s when I began to observe their distinctive work styles and personalities. I began to know how each person with their unique perspective and expertise, fit into the whole picture. During the six-month-long post-production followed right after, I became this primary contact person between the Sound Department and the Post Producing team, helping coordinate their daily agendas and make sure the dynamics flow smoothly. That’s when it dawned on me – producing is what I want to do in filmmaking. What makes me excited is not only designing beautiful sound elements but finding each person’s unique voice and creating an art of story and people. That’s when I told myself this is my goal for a lifelong career. But at the same time, I know this is not on the “map to success” my father drew for me. Or in another word, this is not a position or a career path that a girl is allowed and should be yearning for because of the instability, the risks and responsibilities it holds.

I had many long talks with my father and my mentor who brought me on Jackie Chen’s project, and eventually, I decided to apply for graduate school in California to pursue film producing. My father was strongly opposed to it. He explained, persuaded and commanded me that I shouldn’t give up the safe career path I’m on at that moment. “You could have had an easy life, one that I never dared to dream I’d have.” That’s the last thing he told me before I jumped on the taxi to the airport. I didn’t know the world as well as he did, probably, but I was certain of one thing: I believed it’s my time to take the risk of chasing my own dream. If I knew this is what I wanted to achieve, I would and will work for it with everything I have.

In 2018, I got accepted into the American Film Institute Conservatory to pursue producing. During the immersive two years in AFI, I met and worked side by side with numerous talented film veterans and produced nine short films with young filmmakers from all over the world.

Five years later, I’m now working as an independent producer in the heart of Hollywood with two completed feature films, BRAINWASHED: Sex-Power-Camera, which I co-produced during pandemic with award-winning writer/director Nina Menkes, and Smoking Tigers, which I associate produced in 2022. The former was officially selected in 2022 Sundance Film Festival and nominated for Berlin International Film Festival 2022. The latter is officially selected in the U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION Category in Tribeca Film Festival 2023.

I’m grateful for all the people that have supported me and believed in me on my way to pursue my dream. And my father who had a different plan for me but accepted my goal and gave me the strength to find my own path in filmmaking. “Producer” may sound like a glamorous title, but behind the name on the big screen, I believe my job is to empower different departments in a production so the project thrives as a whole like my father and my professors taught me. We manifest the director’s vision. We provide a safe and loving environment for every single person that works on our production. I’m very grateful to work with so many amazing and talented people in the industry I love. Like so many people that supported me when I entered this industry. I aim to do the same for others. Earlier this year, I completed a film with a first-time Writer/Director Joey Zhao, titled In Your Light, Do We See Light, which is set to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2023. Currently, I’m in the development of 2 feature films with Gianinni Semedo Moreira, a promising Netherlands-born writer/director who pivoted to film as a professional dancer, that are lined up to go into production next year.

Finding your own voice is not easy, and what’s even harder is finding that community that shares your dream and walking shoulder by shoulder with you to achieve something that’s not only great but magnificent. Producing is all about empowerment and that’s also the motif of my story. The journey of dream chasing is not always going to be sunshine and butterflies, but I’m ready for the challenges that life throws at me. I embrace every moment of it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I graduated during the pandemic in 2020. During the time when the industry was asleep and there were layoffs happening in every company. For a freshly graduated young filmmaker, it wasn’t easy. I’ve applied for over 50 internships and jobs and didn’t end up anywhere. But I didn’t give up, and that’s when I met writer/director Nina Menkes, one of America’s foremost female directors, after hours of great conversations I was honored to collaborate with Nina as co-producer on the documentary Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power. Nina not only gave me the chance for my first producing job, but as a successful independent female filmmaker, she also inspired me to keep pushing and not be afraid of rejection. With this spirit, I keep going during the pandemic, creating content with fellow filmmakers. And all the challenges I’ve been through the past two years brought me where I am right now. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience I had during that difficult two years.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an independent producer. “Producer” may sound like a glamorous title, but behind the name on the big screen, I believe my job is to serve all departments in a production both creatively and realistically so the project thrives as a whole. Being an independent producer is specifically different, as most of the time the budget is relatively small. It is my job to use the budget creatively to make sure the director’s vision is achieved meanwhile maintain a safe and caring environment for all cast and crew that works on the project. Every indie project has its own challenge and I’m here to come up with the customized solution for each one. I’m mostly proud of my problem-solving skills on short notice. Because of the fast pace nature of production, more than often we as producers need to put out the fire immediately when an unexpected situation happens. I believe that I am the caretaker for everyone on my production. I need to ensure that everyone feels safe and we can keep the production going smoothly.

As a BIPOC filmmaker myself, I feel extremely fortunate that I got the opportunity to establish and continuously grow my career in Hollywood. Filmmaking is not a solo job but a collaborative industry. Every story we present on the big screen it’s public but also personal. I aimed to find collaborators who have the same strong passion to tell their own story and let the world hear their voices. I’m proud to say that during the past five years, I’ve been working in the industry, I’ve followed my goal and I’ve worked with so many filmmakers that have their unique voices, I’m here to support them to be heard.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My favorite book is Stories of your life and Others by Ted Chang. It’s a collection of short stories written by Ted Chang. There are love, intimacy and imagination in every story and every story is unique in itself. Every time when I read it, it reminds me that as long as you can imagine it, you can make it happen.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantha_gaooo/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10451240/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_0_nm_7_q_samantha%2520gao 

Image Credits
Guanting Du, Jamila Hache