Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hanqing Ma. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hanqing, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’ve been an artist for most of my life, and I find it almost impossible to imagine working a regular 9-to-5 job. My work is entirely driven by moments of inspiration, which often strike at the most unexpected times. For example, there was a night not long ago when I woke up around 3 a.m. with a vivid idea for a painting. I couldn’t wait until morning, so I immediately went to my studio and began sketching. The next day, I realized if I had waited, the initial spark of creativity would have faded, and I wouldn’t have been able to capture the same vision.

This unpredictable nature of creativity is why I find it hard to think of art as a regular job. There are days when inspiration is overflowing, and I’ll work for hours without noticing the time. On other days, it’s as though the well has run dry, and I struggle to even pick up a brush. That kind of irregularity would make it difficult to adhere to a standard job schedule, where consistency and routine are expected. For me, art needs the freedom to breathe and evolve in its own time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Hanqing Ma, and I’m originally from Shanghai, China. I grew up in a rural village, where we only had a black-and-white television. As a child, I was captivated by the movie The Shawshank Redemption, which I watched on that TV. The film fascinated me, and I became deeply curious about how movies were made. This passion eventually led me to attend the New York Film Academy, where I earned a master’s degree in cinematography.

Throughout my career, I’ve faced many challenges. From dealing with limited budgets for productions to managing the intense time and energy demands of the industry, the journey hasn’t been easy. Resources were often scarce, but each obstacle pushed me to be more creative and persistent, helping me develop invaluable problem-solving skills along the way.

What I’m most proud of is my ability to bring a unique, diverse perspective to filmmaking. My vision blends elements of both Chinese cinema and American filmmaking, allowing me to create something that draws from the strengths of both worlds

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I reall regret that during my childhood, there was a limited influx of American films into China. Consequently, the available resources—such as books, DVDs, audiobooks, and podcasts focused on American film production—were quite restricted. A broader availability of these films and related materials could have significantly enriched my understanding of the industry.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

People need consider going to the cinema rather than watching movies on their cell phones. The cinema experience offers a unique, immersive environment that enhances the enjoyment of films, providing high-quality visuals and sound that are often lacking on smaller screens

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10040605/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanqing_sky_ma/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanqing-ma-966997203/?originalSubdomain=cn