We recently connected with Danchi Zhao and have shared our conversation below.

Danchi, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I believe every project offers a unique perspective.

As a production designer, I’m drawn to stories that truly resonate with me, where I can contribute through distinct visual language. This summer, I joined the art department of an experimental short film that taught me a lot and allowed me to explore creative possibilities within space. The story unfolds entirely inside a house, with minimal dialogue and a non-linear structure, so we treated the space as a character with its own personality.

Interestingly, instead of filling the set with props, our goal was to make it feel intentionally empty. We focused on subtle texture treatments. For example, aging the walls, using different types of glass to shape the lighting, and layering translucent plastic to create a soft, hazy atmosphere. Through this process, I learned the power of subtraction in design: how to evoke feeling through restraint rather than addition. It deeply influenced how I approach visual storytelling and sparked my interest in more experimental, stylistic projects.

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.

I am a film director and production designer working in both fiction and documentary storytelling. I’m in my final year of the MFA Film & TV Production program at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Drawn from my own childhood and emotional nuance, my works often explore themes of identity, memory, and healing.

Whether I’m directing or designing, I approach each project with empathy, curiosity, and deep respect for the people and stories involved. I hope my work can evoke a sense of connection, prompting audiences to reflect or recall something meaningful in their own lives. I’m constantly inspired by real moments—small gestures, unspoken thoughts, quiet emotions. Observing how people think, move, and inhabit their spaces helps shape the way I build a character, whether through writing, filming, or designing the world around them.

Looking ahead, I hope to keep discovering the quiet moments in ordinary life, capturing it with a gentle, objective gaze. My goal is to create honest, resonant work that lingers—stories that don’t need to be loud to be remembered.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe the best way society can support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem is by fostering collaboration and mutual support rather than competition.

When I visited many prop houses in Los Angeles while working on films, I noticed how each had its own specialty—some focused on vintage hand props, others on modern furniture or futuristic, cyber-punk designs, while some specialized in making fake weapons. Instead of competing, they actively supported one another: if one didn’t have what I needed, they would recommend another place or connect me with someone who could help.

This kind of interconnected community shows how creativity flourishes when people share resources and knowledge. Society should encourage and protect these creative networks by providing accessible spaces, fair funding, and sustainable living conditions, so that artists can continue to collaborate, experiment, and grow together.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Looking back, I wish I had paid more attention to the school’s resources earlier in my creative journey. I recently started reading the newsletters and email updates more carefully and realized how many opportunities I had missed—screenings, Q&As, industry panels, pitch sessions, and even even funding for independent projects. Many of these were designed for students to learn, connect, and experiment without fear of failure.

I think being a student is one of the few times when we’re encouraged to explore freely and make mistakes safely. These school events and programs are not just about exposure, but about discovering new possibilities and building confidence. I only began to truly appreciate them as I approached graduation, and I wish I had taken advantage of them sooner.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qingjiunian/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danchi-zhao-095a14171/