We were lucky to catch up with Michael Cong recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of working on my first feature film, Midnight Sun, which was one of the most meaningful projects of my career. The film follows a young woman, haunted by the memory of a past lover, as she journeys to Maine’s border. Along the way, she meets a man who shares her feelings of loss and longing, and together, they forge a deep connection.
Our cast and crew undertook a journey from New York City to Maine, stopping in Portland, Belfast, Rockport, and finally reaching Lubec, the easternmost town in the United States. What makes this project particularly significant is that we shot it in a semi-documentary style. Much of what we captured was unscripted, emerging naturally from our actors’ improvisations. We also street-cast many local Mainers to play roles close to their real lives, which allowed us to infuse the story with genuine local perspectives. Working with these local residents underscored for us the power of filmmaking as a bridge that goes beyond language, connecting people through shared experiences and emotions.

From the start, we knew there would be unpredictable factors that would shape our production. So, we designed a process that fully embraced that unpredictability. This approach was challenging at times, but it led us—and the characters—to unexpected places we couldn’t have planned. For me, it was a reminder of the raw, uncharted potential of cinema and the ways it can lead us to discover something profoundly real and resonant.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Michael, a cinematographer originally from China, now based in Brooklyn. I first came to New York to study art history. Growing up, I had an interest in the arts but never quite knew what path I wanted to pursue. My roommates at the time were film majors, and their daily assignments seemed much more intriguing than my own, which mostly involved reading essays and writing papers. So, I decided to switch to film, and that decision set me on this creative journey.

As a freelance cinematographer, I work on music videos, fashion, and commercial projects, but my true passion lies in narrative filmmaking. I’m a very intuitive shooter, and when preparing for a production, I prefer not to rely on extensive references from existing films. Instead, I like to dive into our own material with my creative partners, getting to know the actors and spending quality time at the locations. For me, these steps are key to bringing out a story’s uniqueness. If we’ve picked a specific setting, we should let it speak for itself rather than making it look like a thousand other places that have already been filmed.
In my work, I prioritize human experience above all else. I believe that film is a powerful medium that can remind people of the beauty in everyday life and bring joy to audiences. But for that joy to be genuine, I think the filmmakers themselves need to be inspired and happy—otherwise, the work risks feeling empty and doesn’t truly resonate.

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

The most rewarding part of being a creative, for me, is meeting and getting to know so many remarkable people. Along my journey, I’ve formed friendships that span across cultural backgrounds and diverse upbringings. Despite our differences, we connect, empathize, and find common ground, which is such an enriching experience—it’s an incredible feeling to truly understand what others feel.

Creating authentic and powerful art requires us to be open and vulnerable, to hold our ground and welcome others’ perspectives. That’s where genuine expression comes from. I’m deeply grateful to have found some trustworthy collaborators who share this approach and stand by me in this creative process.

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

A resource I wish I’d known about earlier in my journey is the kindness of others. I used to think asking for help was burdensome and something to avoid, but I was happily surprised to discover how willingly people offer assistance when asked with respect. Before we shot Midnight Sun, I took several scouting trips to Maine, visiting different towns and looking for the right places to film. The kindness I encountered there was overwhelming—people recommended favorite spots, shared local history, and opened up about their lives. All this support became part of the film, and I’m deeply grateful for it.

I feel fortunate to have people in my life who know so much more than I do in various areas and are happy to lend their expertise to help me achieve what I couldn’t alone. I also try to give back to their lives as much as I can. It’s a healthy and invaluable exchange that adds richness to the work we create together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michaelcong.com
• Instagram: @congfusion

Image Credits

Emmet Luciano
Gill Weavers
Michelle Pianika