Daily Inspiration: Meet Simeon Hu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simeon Hu.

Hi Simeon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Los Angeles and my family is from Shanghai. We lived in LA for a couple of years and moved back to Shanghai. Both of my parents somewhat work in the film industry in China, and that was how I was exposed to filmmaking. I always love watching movies as well. My uncle had a huge collection of DVDs and he would give me many of them. Not only I enjoyed them almost on a daily basis, I was also enthusiastic to watch the behind the scene videos included. I was eager to find out how those movies were made. Visual arts has been another passion for me early on. I didn’t have siblings, so I spent a lot of time drawing and watching movies on my own when I was little. My parents encouraged me to make my own little movies, especially my mother, who gave me a camera. I experimented with it and learned how to edit in elementary school. These passions continue to stay with me. I returned to Southern California and went to a boarding high school in Ojai. In high school, I had to decide which area I want to focus on for college. I chose filmmaking because it seems to be inclusive of my passions.

With filmmaking, I could explore my interests in visual arts, history, music and many more, all within the storytelling of moving images. I went to New York University to study film and television production, where I met many of my current collaborators. NYU provided me a time where I exercised my craft rigorously, experimented to find my own style and voice. I made short films with digital cameras, 16 mm, and iPhone. Technology is just an extension of my creative voice, just like a paintbrush in my hand. There are stories you could tell with a paintbrush, and there are stories you could tell with charcoals, but they are very different. Certain stories require certain technologies, but the tools shouldn’t limit one’s voice, only to enhance and support. There are always stories worth telling, as long as one keeps observing and exercise the creative muscles. With my classmates Stephen and James, we formed Big Pa Pictures LLC, where we created many scripts that focus on multi-cultural stories, especially the clash of Eastern and Western cultures. However, we often bring in a genre twist with these stories, such Sci-fi, Horror, or Western. Besides these narrative projects, I’ve been filming music videos for a new 88rising artist named KAZE.

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?
Every project you make can be very challenging in different ways. Sometimes it is a practical challenge. How am I going to accomplish that with the resources I have. Sometimes it is an emotional challenge. How the hell am I going to make this thing work? I remember at one point in college, I was working on a short film that was funded by a generous grant from a film society. They had expectations. I had expectations. But I thought I was failing with the project. I was so anxious about the obstacles I was having during post-production that I couldn’t step in the editing room. I had to get counseling to feel better, and the only way was forward. I felt better and carried on with the post. Another time, I was filming in the mountains and temperature was 98 degrees. Most of that shoot were day exteriors. First day of the shoot, after we wrapped, I could not open my eyes anymore because it was so dusty outside I must had an allergic reaction. I thought, “Damn, how am I gonna finish the rest of shoot if I can’t open my eyes?” I went to a local clinic that evening and got treated. The next day I was fine and carried on.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write and direct. I shot several short films, and they have been to film festivals such as LA Shorts, Asian American International Film Festival, WorldFest Houston International Festival and so on. One of the short films was screened at Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday. The TV project my friend Stephen and I wrote, The Black Lotus, was in a PGA fellowship last year with our producer Linhan. I write many projects with Stephen during our free time. I freelance as a director, and I have been filming music videos or commercials. I also worked on several projects in the Chinese film industry as well.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love working with people with ideas and a good work ethic. I want ideas to bounce off of each other and evolve into something more unique and juicy. Especially for filmmaking, you need a team to realize a vision. And to be able to make that vision the fullest possible, you need many talented people on a team.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bigpapictures.com
• Instagram: @simeonhu