We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shengluo Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shengluo, 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.

Many of the film projects I’ve been working on have their stories roots in personal narratives, drawing inspiration from the tumultuous world I live in and the experiences that have shaped my life. These profound thoughts and complex emotions have consistently found their way into my artistic creations, making them deeply meaningful to me. One of the most significant projects I’ve had the privilege to work on is “Restless is the Night,” a short animated film directed by the talented duo of Xiaoxue Meng and Yuehan Tan, with me collaborating as the producer. This 2D narrative animation explores the journeys of two women from different generations as they strive to seize control of their lives. The film’s narrative and artistic excellence led to its selection and prestigious New York premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, where our team, remarkably, stood as the youngest entrants in the Short Animation Program.
The story commences with a powerful scene portraying a young female intern facing harassment from several male colleagues, only to be rescued by a senior female manager. As the plot unfolds, this young intern becomes the unexpected savior of a woman from the clutches of aggressive men, who happens to be the very same female manager who once protected her in the office.
In my role as the producer of this film, I collaborated closely with our team, the majority of whom were talented and passionate women. When we initially presented our concept to these female artists, I was struck by their immediate resonance with the film’s theme. Some even shared their personal experiences in similar situations, their empathy driving our collective commitment to the project.
“Restless is the Night” tries to send a powerful message – the celebration of “girls helping girls” and the unwavering solidarity of women in a world still grappling with patriarchal influences. We hope that our film embodies this indomitable spirit.
The feedback from our dedicated crew members and the heartfelt responses from audiences at numerous film festivals have affirmed that our message was not only received but also echoed deeply. The sense of purpose and fulfillment derived from our collective efforts on this film is immeasurable, underscoring its significance in today’s world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a versatile animation producer with a strong presence in the live-action post-production landscape. My expertise spans from conception to execution, allowing me to take on various roles within the world of award-winning short films and TV series, both nationally and internationally. I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of innovative visual storytelling, adeptly combining animation, live-action, visual effects, and VR to craft captivating content. My short animated films have garnered recognition from prestigious film festivals like Tribeca Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival, solidifying my position as an animation producer. I contributed to Wong Kar-Wai’s latest TV series, “Blossoms,” further enriching my industry experience.
In addition to my producing achievements, I have directed short films that earned acclaim at renowned festivals such as the Bucheon International Animation Festival, Montreal International Animation Film Festival, and the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival. The two fashion films I created VFX for were selected by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The FOX Fellowship Endowment Fund supports my thesis film, Philip the Sheep in Green.
Furthermore, I am a recipient of the FOX Fellowship Endowment Fund, which supported my thesis film, “Philip the Sheep in Green.”
I am enthusiastic about exploring diverse opportunities and media platforms to continue crafting compelling visual content. Collaboration with talented individuals is my passion, and I thrive on the creative sparks that ignite when minds come together. Let’s connect and explore new horizons in the world of visual storytelling.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have a background in Italian literature and art history. I once lived in Florence, Italy, for over a year to deepen my understanding of these subjects. Regardless, at a certain point in my life, I made a significant career pivot into filmmaking, with a particular concentration on animation. While I have shifted my professional focus towards the world of cinema, my passion for literature and fine art remains unwavering. I continue to draw upon the knowledge and insights I gained during my Italian literature and art history studies to inform and inspire my work in motion pictures. This change in my career has allowed me to blend my appreciation for the written word and visual art into animation, creating a unique and fulfilling synthesis of my interests and talents.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My relentless pursuit of exploration underpins my creative journey. I would love to get diverse perspectives from different people and actively immerse myself in the bigger world. I want to experience all kinds of emotions and push the boundaries of my understanding of art. I believe the exploration and immersion process will inspire me to craft stories, visualize authentic narratives, and create great motion picture pieces. Ultimately, my mission is to use the power of storytelling to connect with people, fostering empathy and understanding through the medium of film.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shengluozhang.wixsite.com/shengluo/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zshengluooo/?r=nametag
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shengluo-z-190807b7/

Image Credits
Leyi Dai Xiaojia Lisa Li Zijie Zhou