Life & Work with Ming Fen of Mid City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ming Fen.

Hi Ming Fen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Ming Fen Congdon. I go by Ming Fen.

I have two first names, and yes, there is a space between them. Ming Fen is my name, and this is the story of how I got started in the film industry despite not majoring in film and having zero connections. From writing my own short films, winning awards, and eventually creating my own mini production company it’s been a 7-year journey. I’m always learning.

Wow. I started my journey in the film industry back in 2019, right before COVID hit. I had just graduated from Salve Regina University in 2018 and had a vague idea of what I wanted to do in film, but absolutely no connections. In the fall of 2019, I decided to move from my home state of Vermont to California to pursue a career in film. I packed everything I could fit, grabbed two high school friends, and drove 2,899 miles to Echo Park, Los Angeles. There, I moved into a house with 23 other creative artists. Yes, 23 other people! It was wild, small coffin-like sleeping pods, shared common spaces, and 2.5 bathrooms for all of us.

After settling in, I had enough savings to avoid getting a part-time job right away, so I focused on making connections. I joined Facebook groups, applied for free gigs anything to get my foot in the door. I worked a few unpaid jobs as a boom operator, a camera PA (yes, I know that’s not an official role!), and ran around LA with influencers. Eventually, I got really lucky. A friend from the house needed a ride to a short film shoot, and I offered to drive her, but also asked, “Do they need extra hands? I’ll work for free.

That moment changed everything. I met Christine Celozzi, who noticed how fast I worked and how eager I was to help. She wasn’t afraid to test me, and I wasn’t afraid to say no when needed. Christine asked for my number and got me my first real PA job on a show for the Oxygen network. From there, I kept working with that team.

At the time, I was very interested in the camera department though I didn’t really know what any of the departments did. Eventually, I became fascinated by the art department. I started making friends, many of whom I’m still close with today. While working on the Oxygen projects, I was offered a PA gig with The Bachelor team and of course, I said yes. I did a few camera gigs before that, which made me realize that I didn’t actually love working in camera. I missed building with my hands something I grew up doing with my dad, who is a builder.

Once I left the Oxygen team and started with The Bachelor on Listen to Your Heart, I saw just how massive productions could be. I was in awe and still learning. Then COVID hit and I thought my momentum had stopped. But then The Bachelor team invited me back to work in their COVID-safe bubbles. I said yes, as my dad always says, “Beggars can’t be choosers.” I stayed with that team for 2.5 years.

It was during that time that I realized I wanted to work in the art department and specifically in narrative work. While on The Bachelor, I met Vanessa, another PA with prior art department experience. She brought me onto a few short films as an Art PA. I loved it, and I’ve never left the art department since. After season four of The Bachelor, I made the leap to go full-time freelance in film. It was terrifying, but necessary I didn’t want to get stuck in reality TV.

Since going full-time in 2022, it’s been a wild ride of failures and successes. Every failure taught me something, and every success came with its own set of challenges. I worked my way up to Leadman basically the general manager and multitool of the set dec department. I call myself the Lead Panda.

Leading in the set dec department means making sure the set decorator has the right crew and tools to bring the set to life. It means knowing how to fix things, solve problems, and yes, sometimes (in non-union work) driving the 5-ton truck full of our set pieces.

Soon after working with Vanessa, I was recommended for my first Art Director role, where I met Justine. We’ve worked together for 4.5 years now. Thanks to them and the Disney Launchpad program, I joined the Local 44 union. I’m skipping over a few years here because there’s just so much to tell, but in short, I’ve now been Production Designing for 3 years, working on short films, web series, and photoshoots. I love designing and creating life from the scripts I read. The challenges in this department never end from small budgets to building entire rooms from scratch.

While settling into the art department and leadership roles, I continued pursuing my dream of becoming a director. In 2023, with the help of friends and family, I wrote and directed my first official short film, “Whispers” now a multi award winning short film. I’ve since had the pleasure of producing and directing other shorts, while continuing to work in Set Dec and Art Department between projects.

My dream is to be a Producer, Director, and Production Designer. I believe that having seen the struggles from all sides (except acting), I can be a better, more empathetic producer and director. Someone who understands that every request takes time and effort. Someone who knows how to pivot, how to provide the right tools and how to foster a safe, fun, and collaborative set.

Over the years, I’ve worked with the best and the worst, across film sets, commercials, music videos, and more. Along the way, I created my own company, Little Panda Production, which I use to produce shorts and rent out my set decoration gear. It’s been so much fun.

So, where am I now?

I’m currently producing and directing my next short film, “The Space Between” a story about the meaning and importance of one’s name. As you might recall, my name is Ming Fen, and I have to correct people almost every time I say, “Hello, my name is Ming Fen,” only for them to respond with, “Hi, Ming.” This short means a lot, not just to me, but to anyone who’s ever felt unseen. Names matter. Without them, who are we?

I’m also producing La Joie, a short film by my dear friend and fellow producer Rose Knight, who is also a producer on The Space Between. It’s really special when you find the people you want to work with every single day. It’s like having coworkers and best friends, something rare in an industry where you meet new faces on every project.

The film industry isn’t for everyone, the unpredictable schedules, the long breaks between jobs, but I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been smooth road hahaha. I have had some huge challenges with working in this industry. There were a lot of people who did not believe in me because I wasn’t educated in the industry via schooling. That did not stop me though, why am I going to let others determine my goals. Also there were plenty of moments I messed up on set and learned that some people will forgive you and let you learn your mistakes. While others made me feel that I had ruined the whole project. It takes a special type of person to be able to navigate so many different personalities all at once.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Leadman (Leadwoman) for the film industry in Set Dec Department, along with Production Designing. When I am a Leadman I am helping the set decorator bring on their crew, time management with production, a long with having a creative eye for set design, making that everyone the basic needs are covered, and having a good time. When I am not doing leading I am a Production Designer for short films, commercials, web series and photoshoot. I love taking the challenge on, to create a world in which audience feels as if they have been in the space. They could smell the food being made in the kitchen or feel the sadness that is in the bedroom.

I am really proud of how far I have come. For allowing myself to make mistakes and to always take time for myself.

I am a Panda, I love others, I love communities and I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, or what you look like. I will always be happy to working a long side other creative artist in this Film Industry.

What’s next?
I am looking forward to producing and directing more. I want to Production Design more as well, a feature soon!?

I am currently producing “La Joie” for Rose Knight, a short proof of concept piece for a feature. I am also in the pre production of my another short film called “The Space Between” Written, Directed and Produced by me.

I have a lot going on and I love it. I want the art of film making to still live on. AI can’t create the tear jerking raw emotions as humans can. Technology is always changing, but the art of filmmaking doesn’t need to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mingfencongdon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlepanda_production?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWxub3JwbGg2YXBzZA==