Rising Stars: Meet Chenchen Wang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chenchen Wang. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Chenchen (Sunrain), hailing from Inner Mongolia, China, is a budding filmmaker whose passion for cinema was kindled by her father’s DVD collection. Her filmmaking journey gained momentum in Beijing, where she began creating films, earning recognition from her school community. This led her parents to support her cinematic ambitions, including attending a USC film summer school, where she created a film that secured her a scholarship to Emerson College in the U.S. At Emerson, Sunrain expanded her skill set, experimenting with analog film and virtual reality. Her dedication and creativity earned her a place at her dream school, USC. Here, she embraced the challenge of stepping outside her comfort zone, learning valuable lessons in courses like VFX, Directing in Virtual World, and Motion Capture. Despite resource limitations and pandemic challenges, she co-directed ‘Curfew,’ an ambitious project incorporating VFX, sound design, motion capture, and 3D animation, all achieved on a student budget. 

Sunrain’s journey from a small town to making films in America exemplifies her relentless pursuit of her dreams, marked by continuous learning and adapting to the dynamic world of filmmaking. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve encountered many other common challenges as an international student. Initially, it was difficult for me to speak English as fluently as my native language and to navigate cultural differences. It’s also challenging to find a supportive group of fellow filmmakers with whom you can create and produce films. I believe it’s important not to be afraid and to always put yourself out there. It took me a long time to speak English without feeling hindered and to make friends. 

I still remember when I was 16, I came to the U.S. to attend a summer school program at USC. I flew here alone, without access to services like Uber. Due to some oversight, the school had me arrive a week earlier than necessary, so I had to stay in the dorm alone while other students attended their classes. Although people were friendly and I spent time with them, my English was adequate for understanding them but not quick enough for me to respond or to express what I wanted to say, let alone make witty jokes. As an extrovert eager to engage in conversations, I felt as if I were unable to speak, almost like experiencing a disability. I had to translate from English to Chinese in my head, think about my response, and then translate it back to English. By the time I formulated my response, the conversation had moved on. Living alone in the dorm with no one to talk to, I remember feeling deeply depressed and crying. However, I pushed myself to speak more and not to be afraid of making mistakes. After one month, by the program’s end, I was able to communicate freely without barriers and made many friends. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It begins with a little girl who dreams of becoming a director when she grows up. I’m from a small town in Inner Mongolia, China, where there was no movie theater until I turned 18. My knowledge of film was initially very limited. Luckily, my dad bought a lot of DVDs, opening up a whole new world for me. I fell in love with cinema and was amazed by its emotional power. I often found myself crying while watching films. As I grew up, I had the opportunity to attend one of the best schools in Beijing. Being in a big city broadened my horizons, and I started to think seriously about realizing my dream. I was fortunate to find friends who also loved film, and together, we began making movies. Eventually, my teachers started asking me to create films for the school, and many classmates enjoyed the funny films I made. There had never been an artist in my family. Initially, my parents wanted me to choose a science major like them, but after watching my films, they agreed that I should follow my passion. I managed to attend a film summer school at USC, and they funded my first film, which I used as my portfolio for college. Here is the link: “https://vimeo.com/770865772?share=copy”. 

It’s about a businessman who must care for his troublesome dad with the split personality of a 5-year-old boy. This film earned me a scholarship to Emerson College, my golden ticket to study abroad in the U.S. My four years of college expanded my skill set and broadened my views. I particularly loved using analog film and editing it on a Steenbeck. I could even hand-paint patterns on the film! The VR class was another highlight, where the teacher introduced me to a 360 camera. 

The more classes I took, the more I realized there were so many aspects of films I wasn’t aware of. I wanted to keep up with the latest industry trends and learn more about cinema. Four years of general education and cinema studies still felt like just scratching the surface, so I remembered my dream school, USC, and decided to apply using my thesis film from Emerson. It’s about a boy who embarks on a journey to find a dragon with an old sugar painter: https://vimeo.com/419392824?share=copy. I was admitted, and it was time to continue pursuing my Hollywood dream. 

I remembered my meeting with Steve Flick, my first USC mentor who admitted me, and how it shaped my time there. He noted that many film students, often due to pride, stick to what they know and shy away from new experiences. He emphasized the importance of making mistakes for learning and growth. I took his advice to heart, consistently striving to create films in genres and using technologies that were new to me. It was indeed a challenging road. 

While at Emerson, what I could achieve was limited due to the resources around me. For instance, I wanted to include VFX of a dragon in my dragon sugar painting film, but the school had no VFX class, and I didn’t know anyone who could do VFX. Including a VFX dragon would either result in low quality or require a significant budget increase. So, I had to give up on that idea and find creative alternatives like lighting and dragon-scale props to hint at the dragon’s presence. At USC, my top goal was to study VFX and use it in my films. I tried making a horror film for my 508 with simple VFX shots. Fun fact: I hate horror films; they’re too scary for me! But I thought some of my fears, like fear of the dark or mirrors, could inspire me to explore this new genre. 

Then the pandemic hit. All my classes went online, and we couldn’t access the resources and collaboration we needed. Stuck in a “bubble” with two roommates and without school equipment, I had to act in my own films. I was lucky to meet a friend in LA who worked on many Marvel projects as a compositor. My 508 project was about a woman replaced by her mirror image, needing VFX to replace the mirror image with something different. However, my professors doubted me, saying the project was too ambitious and that I couldn’t possibly know “someone from Hollywood who would do the shot for free.” They suggested I have a plan B for shooting something else. After much negativity and self-doubt, I persevered, believing in my capabilities. Since we only had three people in our “bubble,” I had to do the setups, production design, direct, and act myself. It was tough, but I did the best I could, and I’m pleased with the results. I got an A for my film AN|ИA: https://vimeo.com/489574310?share=copy. 

This journey has been a profound learning experience, teaching me the importance of valuing my professors’ guidance while also trusting in my own instincts and voice. Despite any doubts others may have had about my abilities, I always knew my own strengths and potential best. This self-awareness helped me embrace challenges and overcome obstacles with greater ease. 

As I continued my education, I deliberately broadened my skill set beyond the conventional scope. I delved into diverse areas such as VFX, Directing in Virtual World, Motion Capture, and VR, among others. This expansion of knowledge not only fortified my capabilities as a director but also kept me abreast of the latest technological advancements, enabling effective collaboration across various departments. My approach was distinct from many of my USC peers, who often concentrated on a singular aspect of filmmaking. In contrast, I chose to explore a wide range of disciplines, including Intermediate Cinematography, acting, and Special Effect Makeup. This decision led me to forgo a traditional thesis film in favor of mastering an unexplored area in film—sound—through the 546 Sound course. 

This diverse educational path paid off significantly in my co-direction of the film “Curfew” with my partner. By assuming multiple roles typically requiring significant budget allocations, such as VFX, makeup and sound design, we managed to substantially reduce production costs. Additionally, I utilized USC’s resources, like green screens and motion capture stages, to elevate our project to an ambitious level that would usually surpass the scope of a standard thesis film, thanks to my deliberate selection of classes throughout my three years of life here. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I continued my creative endeavors. My 507 project, which can be viewed here [https://vimeo.com/402724495?share=copy], laid the groundwork for the world I envisioned. The World Building class further helped me flesh out the intricacies of this world, including its politics, rules, and geography. I applied the VFX skills I acquired to a Directing in Virtual World class exercise, transforming it into a scene that later became part of a film I shot that semester. Pursuing motion capture, I learned and integrated cutting-edge technology into my project, adding a futuristic war battlefield scene. You can see the behind-the-scenes footage here [https://vimeo.com/883901947?share=copy] and the battlefield previsualization here [https://vimeo.com/770349483?share=copy]. 

Having already experienced the rapid pace of thesis film classes, this film presented me with a unique opportunity to meticulously and gradually craft my work. Over three years post-graduation, I completed the production of a 30-minute film featuring detailed production and costume design, numerous VFX shots, motion capture, and 3D animation—all achieved on a student budget. This film is a testament to the diverse and comprehensive skill set I developed, underscoring my belief in continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving field of filmmaking. 

Looking back at my 25 years of life, from a small, poor town in Inner Mongolia to America, where I am now making films at a much more professional level than when I was in high school, I am filled with gratitude for how far I’ve come. 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
As I advance on my artistic journey, I’ve come to appreciate the depth of Chinese wisdom, particularly Zhong Yong, or The Doctrine of the Mean. For artists, striking a balance is crucial: we must be open to others’ opinions while maintaining a strong conviction in our own work. It’s essential to welcome feedback on our creations, as fresh perspectives can offer valuable insights and suggestions. However, as artists, we harbor the deepest connection to our work and are its foremost guardians. We possess a unique vision for the stories we wish to tell. 

Embracing openness to feedback, coupled with confidence in our creative endeavors, is vital. We shouldn’t fear making mistakes. Instead, we should view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Perseverance, above all, is key to navigating the artistic landscape. By embodying these principles, we honor the essence of The Doctrine of the Mean, navigating the delicate equilibrium between external input and internal belief, thus enriching our artistic expression and personal growth. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/sunrain
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrainw/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sunrain