Today we’d like to introduce you to Fanfan Zhou.
Hi Fanfan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
So, here’s the scoop on my journey—My name is Fanfan Zhou, burn in Shaoxing, a culturally significant city in Zhejiang Province, China, with a history spanning over 2,500 years. After I graduated from High School, I left my picturesque hometown to Beijing. I kicked off my professional career with a double major in Cinematography & Production and Cultural Industries Management at the Communication University of China. Fast forward to the Hollywood hills—I landed at CalArts for a Master’s in Film Directing, where I started my new life and new career path! My work has been traveled internationally (London, Korea, Bulgaria…) I have been serving as a jury member in an International film festival in Mexico. I’m now an independent filmmaker, mostly a Director and Producer, sometimes a Writer and Editor!
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?
Moving from the academic realm to the real world is no easy feat, especially for a film creator. As a film producer, my job is akin to navigating the tumultuous seas as a helmsman. I must not only ensure the safety of the equipment within the ship’s cabin but also confront the unknown storms and reefs that may arise from the external environment at any given moment. To transform a work from text into imagery, the production process may encounter storms and reefs in the early and production stages.
As a producer, my best toolbox is my team, and the most challenging aspect of my work lies in nurturing and strengthening my team while fostering closer collaboration among its members.
In moments when dealing with people becomes challenging, especially within the confines of a high-pressure shooting schedule on the set, conflicts seem to multiply exponentially. As a producer, beyond executing the plan is about caring for team members and effectively resolving conflicts, and it’s not always an easy task to complete. When working within the demanding framework of a film production schedule, where every minute is accounted for, it becomes crucial to not only adhere to the plan but also to navigate interpersonal dynamics with empathy and skill. Every producer should know what I am talking about right? LOL.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Works I created, such as TEEEETH, which is a short film shot on 16mm. Through this film I tried to examine our best meal friend teeth as a character, to see the relationship it has with food, and also with contemporary machinery such as meat grinder. This film has been selected into MicroActs 16 in London, CalArts showcase in REDCAT (DTLA), and the International Portrait Film Festival in Bulgaria.
Works I produced with, such as Another Great Night a short film I produced in 2019, had its first world premiere in Korea, Ulsan International Film Festival. I am very fortunate to be able to participating in producing of several highly successful ReelShort projects, with some of them accumulating over 10 million views. Mobisode as a new streaming moving image trend, have seen significant growth in the past couple of years. I have had the opportunity to be involved in those productions, and these experiences have greatly enhanced my professional skills.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Following up the good example of ReelShort’s success I mentioned earlier. Reelshort is like the cool kid on the block, riding the wave of streaming trends. People just cannot stop watching it regardless. Back when we only had theaters for our movie fix or TVs for a cozy family-watch night. Then, bam, Netflix hit, changing the game entirely. Now, I’m painting a picture here – imagine everyone getting their cinematic kicks exclusively from their phones, diving deep into web vertical short series. Look at TikTok – it’s practically the poster child for this ReelShort revolution. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying theater will die; traditional TV series will disappear. I’m just shedding light on this mix of viewing options heading our way. It’s not just about the silver screen or your living room big TV anymore; it’s about embracing diversity, ensuring accessibility, and carving out new narrative pathways.
Contact Info:
- Website: fanfanzhou.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partial.fanfan/
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/fanfan-zhou-049694281
