Today we’d like to introduce you to Louise Zhang.
Hi Louise, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, as the only child of busy working parents who rarely had time to spend with me. This environment nurtured my early fascination with film and visual media. After school, I’d eagerly spend my allowance at DVD shops, buying movies from all over the world. I would sit in front of the TV, watching those low-resolution foreign language films until my parents returned, at which point I’d switch to pretending to do homework. Movies were my window to unseen worlds, unheard languages, and unfelt emotions. They taught me many lessons: how to love, how to be brave, and how to be kind when kindness seems impossible.
When I turned 15, I was parachuted by my parents to a private boarding school in New Hampshire. I came of age in that wilderness. There, I grappled with an identity crisis, cultural shock, and loneliness. But at the same time, I developed a deep passion for literature, language, and visual storytelling. With a few friends, I started experimenting with video making, trying my hand at the medium. I knew nothing about real filmmaking, yet I found so much joy in the acts of creating and exploring. During my undergraduate years in Pittsburgh, my love for filmmaking only grew. I started taking screenwriting and film production classes, doing more advanced production, and finding my voice in many trials and errors.
Then, at NYU Tisch’s Graduate Film program, I ultimately realized my lifelong dream of becoming a professional filmmaker. Surrounded by a community of like-minded filmmakers, I was encouraged to find my own voice and practice my craft, telling stories that push the medium forward. Now, working as a freelance director and cinematographer, I continue to think about the stories I want to tell, how to improve technically and intellectually and the next steps of my own artistic journey.
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?
During my undergraduate years, I was actually pursuing a major in computer science. However, midway through, I realized—my heart was not in software engineering or the STEM field but in filmmaking—a passion that had been smoldering within me since childhood. By then, it was too late to switch majors. This led to a challenging period where I had to balance my existing coursework with my interest in film. During the day, I would be overwhelmed by heavy CS coursework, and then at night, I attended classes at Pittsburgh Filmmakers. There never seemed to be enough time.
At Tisch, where I could finally dedicate all time and attention to filmmaking, my challenges took on a more artistic dimension. My personal identity struggles began to surface in my work. I often ponder over whom I culturally identified with more. Telling authentic Chinese stories became a struggle since I had left the country at a young age and lost much of my connection to its realities. Yet, I questioned whether I was in a position to tell a genuine immigrant story, feeling caught between not being “Chinese enough” and not “American enough.” I contemplated the constraints placed on us as writers and directors by our identities. When can we transcend these labels and focus solely on narrating human stories? These reflections led me to consider my unique perspective and how I could use my voice to tell equally unique stories.
Currently, the challenge I face in my career is navigating the transition from an academic setting to the professional sphere. While my education provided a thorough grounding in both the technical and artistic facets of filmmaking, it fell short in preparing us for the realities of the industry. This gap has left me frequently pondering the steps necessary to progress in my career. I am focused on scaling up to larger productions and integrating myself into diverse professional networks. As I forge ahead, my goal is to not only excel in creating compelling stories but also to master the art of navigating the complex landscape of the film industry, ensuring my work finds its audience and my career trajectory continues to ascend.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance director and cinematographer with a diverse portfolio that includes narrative shorts, vertical drama series, commercials, and branded content. My directorial work focuses on amplifying the voices of minorities in our society, tackling themes such as gender equality, freedom of expression, healing, and empowerment. My film, Nights and Days in America (2021, 11mins), tells the story of a young Chinese woman who is unable to return home after her grandfather’s death. It was selected for Cairo International Film Festival, Palm Springs Festival, HollyShorts, and many other international film festivals. Both my producing and cinematography work has been showcased at festivals around the world, as well as on various online streaming platforms. Known for the versatility in my cinematography, I have experience ranging from shooting on traditional 16mm and 35mm film to underwater cinematography. I have received the Nestor Almendros Award for Best Female Cinematographer and was a finalist for the Volker Bahnemann Award for Outstanding Cinematography. My approach to shooting is not limited by genre or style; instead, I am dedicated to discovering and realizing the aesthetic that best complements each unique project. What sets me apart is my commitment to storytelling that initiates conversation and challenges societal norms, coupled with my versatility and adaptability in visual storytelling techniques.
How do you define success?
To me, success means being engaged in constant work that allows me to financially support myself while also embracing continuous learning and improvement. It’s about mastering new skills and meeting new people along the way. Success also lies in creating work that not only reaches a wider audience but also has a lasting impact and raises important questions. Ultimately, finding true satisfaction in the work I do encapsulates my definition of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: louisezhangfilms.com
- Instagram: @louisez221
Image Credits
George Luo
Chyan Lo
