Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Zhao.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Paris, France, but spent the majority of my childhood and teenage years in the vibrant city of Shanghai. My grandfather and great-grandfather were translators by trade, polyglots who could speak and write upwards of 5 languages fluently, and, as a result, my parents always emphasized the importance of languages as a bridge across cultures. As a child, I would watch films in Mandarin Chinese and French, and later English as well. My favorite was Tales of the Night by Michel Ocelot, a fantasy silhouette animation. As I engrossed myself in media, I slowly realized the transgressive power of film to communicate meaningful stories through images, not just words, extending its reach across different cultures.
The pursuit of my passion led me to NYU Tisch’s Film and TV program. There, I was selected as a mentee for the HEAR US 2023 Grant cohort and a Student Producer Grant recipient, producing over a dozen student films and commercials. Aside from that, I am also a commercial editor by trade, having worked in the advertising industry in Shanghai, with some of the branding videos I edited, having obtained more than 4M views on TikTok. On career level, I’ve worked at top talent agencies and management companies such as WME, Cinetic Media, and currently at Media Res (Pachinko, The Morning Show). The key lesson I’ve learnt along the way is to always remain resilient in the face of adversity and to never forget your passion for the medium, as that will be your driving force.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been easy, and I don’t expect it to get any easier! One of the major challenges I faced, especially as an entry-level professional, was trying to find a place at the table as an “outsider.” As a Franco-Chinese woman, I found it incredibly difficult at first to justify my value-add in the American job market, as I did not have the background or the connections, I needed to get my career jumpstarted. So, I decided I had to work harder than anyone else, distinguish myself from the average intern, go above and beyond, and give every single task I was assigned everything I got. I was also fortunate enough to meet some incredible professors and mentors through my program and internships. Graduating into the middle of a historic double strike did not help my case either, and my “infallible” five-year plan took a turn I did not anticipate. But that taught me adaptability, that diversifying my portfolio and skillset is always a plus, and to make the most out of any situation.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a producer and line producer, focusing primarily on narrative films. I’ve always enjoyed producing because every film felt like its own start-up: you have to manage budgets, pitch to investors, network with distributors to get it shown…etcetera. It’s an immense amount of sweat and tears, of hearing “No”, of finding your people, but there is nothing more magical than the feeling you get on set and in the theater as the vision you contributed to finally comes to life. As a producer, I put emphasis on uplifting diverse narratives in film and working on projects that are eye-opening. The latest short I produced, Dreamline, received a matching grant from Netflix and was produced in association with The Filmmakers Collaborative SF and the 2024 HEAR US grant. We shot in the Bay Area and received coverage from local press. The film is currently in the festival circuit. Other films I have worked on received recognition at the 2023 Student DGA awards, 2024 SXSW competition, the Academy-Award qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, New York Shorts Festival, and several others.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best piece of advice I’ve received was being clear about your vision and believing that you have the chops to produce it as you envision it. Sometimes, especially in entertainment, it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and forget what you set out to do in the first place. You’ll inevitably have to do certain jobs that don’t align with where you want to be, but there’s always knowledge to be gleaned from those experiences. And always jump at opportunities to network and meet new people! You never know what they might lead to.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://juliezhao.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliexzhao/
