We were lucky to catch up with Tianze Sun recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tianze, 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.
During the past few years, I edited more than a dozen of short films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Some of the short films I have edited such as “Dog Lover”, “Object of Desire”, “Paeonia”, and “Freehold” went to major film festivals in the States and abroad. Including Brooklyn International Shorts Festival, Jersyshore Film Festival, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, New Port Beach Film Fest, Tallgrass Film Fest, International Puerto Rican Film Festival and etc. Winning Highland Park, Broad Humor, DTLA, Rhode Island Film Festival and etc.
The thesis films I did are competing in Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, Slamdance, and other major film festivals around the world in 2023.
Tianze, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have always been passionate about film-making since I was nine years old, and wish to write and direct movies that inspire audiences to examine the society we live in, encourage individuals to pursue their passion, and embrace new cultures with different formats in the media industry. In 2012, during a social event for handicapped children and members of the Charitable Association of Linyi (CAL), which I established after CCTV launched a program for caring for people with disabilities, where I met a young girl. She was albino and blind and upon some interaction, I learned that she is a fan of music and ‘watching’ movies. It was quite confusing for a visually challenged individual to love watching movies. She later explained that while watching movies, the teachers accompany them and let them know what is playing on the screen. Her imagination is what makes her understand the plot, coupled with the music and dialogue. I started thinking about how broad the film audiences could be and how many audiences my films could possibly influence.
To better prepare for my filmmaking journey, I selected screenwriting as my major while studying at Loyola Marymount University. Besides the script structure and some ideas related to creativity, beats, and treatment, I really enjoyed writing stories that can help the production students direct. Although the screenwriters were not allowed to register for production courses, I had the opportunity to participate in LMU student film productions every month, benefiting greatly by working on set during my four years of study. Those experiences enabled me to familiarize myself with different filming positions, including Production Designer, Assistant Director, Boom Operator, Sound Mixer, Script Supervisor, and PA.
Then I went to America Film Institute and got my master’s degree in editing because I believe editing is the best way of telling stories. With my knowledge of screenwriting, I knew how to write a story, and now I learned how to tell the story. Except for the awards and festival selections I mentioned earlier, I was nominated for the 2023 American Cinema Editor (ACE) Eddie Awards, in the category of Anne V. Coates Award.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, I think art brings people together, despite gender, racial, and nationality differences. It is one of the few aspects of the world that really unites people. The most rewarding moment is to see your work being viewed by different audiences. Their reactions good or bad, it is an expression, communication, and an experience of collision of thoughts.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
A more open-minded society will flourish the artists. We work best when there is no limitation from our ideas, struggles, and setbacks. Art is not only belong to the artist, it belongs to everyone. When everyone can become an artist, then the ecosystem thrives.
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