Today we’d like to introduce you to Yu (Ray) Zhou.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Grew up in China, I started getting into movies during high school. In order to prepare for the art college entrance examination, I watched tons of movies during that time.
Then I went to my undergraduate in Shanghai at SIVA, where I met my career mentor Roger Christiansen. Following his class, I had the opportunity to learn more about filmmaking. At the same time, thanks to my parents for buying my first camera, I also became a part-time videographer.
Although my undergraduate major has nothing to do with film production, I still insist on getting in touch with related things in my spare time. After graduating, I worked as a producer and 1st AD for a commercial production company and gained a lot about production in the real world.
With these accumulations and fantasies for film, I applied for the MFA program of film and television production at the University of Southern California(USC) and was admitted in 2019. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn professional production skills and meet so many talents in this industry.
In 2021, I took a gap year and went freelance as a commercial director in China. In 2022, I came back to LA and finished my studies. Now I’m a freelance director based in Los Angeles and Shanghai.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not. My undergraduate major is brand strategy and management, which doesn’t connect film production at all. My family doesn’t have any relevant background, so I have to explore on my own, get jobs, find opportunities, and improve myself.
Like other people my age at that time, I had a very hard time and struggled with the future. Even after being admitted to USC, I was groping for a long time to figure out where my passion is and what direction in the future.
Fortunately, I made it. Although I am still a “newcomer” in this big industry world, still need to learn and look for more opportunities, but at least I have found my passion and direction. These pasts have become valuable experiences to be thanked for.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a film director, producer, and also a freelance commercial director.
Thanks to my undergraduate major, I built my own taste in the brand world, which helped me bring more creativity when I work with clients and direct commercials. That’s why I’m also very interested in commercial production, and I’m very proud of this unique ability. So far, I’ve done many commercial works for various well-known brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Zwilling, Kilian, Keep, etc.
As a filmmaker, I mainly focus on directing and producing. I am really into stories with drama, action, and Sci-fi. By exploring the details and little things in our life, and visualizing the scene in a different way. My most recent director work is a short film called The Trial, it was just finished the post-production and is running festivals now. Meanwhile, the documentary I produced Celebration of Life is almost done, I’m excited to bring them to the audience.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
When I was little, I would watch movies on TV with my parents. My dad is usually the one with the remote, so I watched a lot of action and crime films. Jackie Chan takes the majority. That’s why now I’m very into action.
During school, I’m not a good student. I spent a lot of time reading all kinds of fiction books, and novels. And my mind was always full of fantasies, trying to make up some exciting stories. Thank those readings, helped me build some necessary imagination, which is an important factor that can push me to where I am today.
Influenced by my mother, I grew up with many connections to Buddhism and Taoism. This also makes me always eager to explore stories that mirror religious ideas.
Pricing:
- Directing package ($1500/production day for Commercial)
Contact Info:
