We were lucky to catch up with Mason Ma recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mason, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about making remote work effective.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a Drama Teacher in Beijing, China. COVID-19 began shortly after Chinese New Year, and cities were placed under strict lockdowns. People were trapped in their homes, self-quarantined, and my Drama school had to find ways to generate income, even though teaching Acting on Zoom was not an ideal solution. They had no other choices. The school came up with two classes that did not require much physical movement on camera: Reading and Public Speaking.

Challenges during this period including the unstable Wi-Fi connections and eyesight issues. However, the biggest problem was that neither the students nor their parents considered online classes as equivalent to in-person classes. It resulted in frequent rescheduling of one-on-one classes and occasional complaints about the effectiveness of online teaching, asking for refund. It was also difficult to know whether the students were truly engaged in studying through a camera, and some students would occasionally appear on camera in their underwears or from inside a bathroom, which could disrupt the class and affect other students. Additionally, the income from online classes was way lower than usual since I was paid per class, and teaching only ten classes a week did not help much.

Another major challenge was that the school was desperate for income, which shifted the focus of classes from ability-oriented to payment-oriented. On campus, we used to audition students and assess their English levels because acting in a second language can be challenging for Chinese children. However, I had students online who couldn’t speak any English, which made teaching much more difficult.

Obviously, the faculties made it work, and it became the best time of my quarantine days. I didn’t do much, just taught day by day and adjusted what works and what’s not. Sometimes the curriculum wasn’t well written and I had to improvise. I had to make sure students in different levels were able to study together, take care of their egos, and maintain their interests. The online classes had a shaky start but with the hard work of all the teachers, it became a new brand for the school. Even today, online classes remain an option, with many students continuing to participate in them.

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 don’t remember when I first developed my interest in films; it feels like forever ago. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts, I spent a few years involved in acting, cinematography, editing, and teaching before returning to L.A. for my master’s degree in screenwriting. The simple reason for that was because I had never written a script before, and it felt fun.

Currently, I’m a student screenwriter. My brand is mainly taking true crime stories from all over the world, Asia in particular, and adapting them into crime screenplays set in Hollywood. I was deeply influenced by Stephen Chow style comedies and Hong Kong Category III films when I was a kid, so I can’t help it but spice things up with some over-the-top surreal comedy mixed with violence and gore. That’s my tone & voice.

Having a writing partner would be a great help, considering the language barrier and cultural differences. Also, I’ve gained quite a few pounds lately because I’m always sitting in front of my FinalDraft. I used to be skinny when I was an actor…

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

What is an artist? A true artist only requires a branch for pencil, a bucket for instrument, or simply stands on the streets as a human statue. You may not remember their faces or names, but you’ll always have a good time watching what them creating art. I am not an artist, never wanted to be, and don’t have what it takes to be one.

The film industry is no different from a restaurant; we are creating meals that are suitable for all customers. Sometimes, fast food is all they want, sometimes they want healthy vegan food. And as the chefs, what matters the most will be the customers’ reactions. You can be the best chef and make the most delicious food, but if no one’s there enjoying your food, why bother working as a cook? When I was acting on stage, every laugh or gasp from the audience would empower my performance. As a writer, if a joke lands well and the readers laugh, it means more than anything.

However, there are downsides to it too. Not all audiences will give genuine feedback, as Hollywood is built on connections, so there are a bunch of “Yes Men” around town. Also, not all audiences have basic filmmaking knowledge; sometimes, “not terrible” is good enough for them, or they might compare your indie film with an A24 production. Therefore, having an honest viewpoint on your own work is very important.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

It’s funny because I only have around 2,000 followers on Douyin, and all I did was send movie clips. I also became friends with a movie star, like actual friends!

As an actor, I never wanted to show my face on social media for some reason, unless it’s me acting. A picture of me as myself posted is terrifying. My Instagram followers are all people I know in person, and networking isn’t what I do best. That’s why I write. I tried to do a midnight voice live stream at some point, it was quite fun when you have at least one listener…

I’m an introvert. I live in the comment section and learn the so-called ‘human nature online’ and apply it to my stories. As for those just starting to build a social media presence, my advice is: don’t take it too seriously, don’t have your parents follow you, and go follow me, please.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4735694
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immasonma/