We were lucky to catch up with Xinzhong (Golden) Zhao recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Xinzhong (Golden), thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Yes, I do take vacations. I just concluded a trip to Paris and Rome with my wife.
I believe the essence of work is to ensure the happiness of my family. Taking a short vacation not only does not hinder work progress but increases my motivation for work afterward. Traveling allows me and my family to relax, and a harmonious family atmosphere helps me better engage in my work. There is a saying in Rome, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Similarly, improving work performance and accumulating clients cannot be achieved quickly. Therefore, a brief vacation will not have a significant impact on work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Golden Zhao (Xinzhong Zhao) is a highly accomplished cinematographer with over ten years of experience in the film industry. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Cinematography from the prestigious UCLA MFA program. He has worked on various projects in China and the United States, including narrative films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos.

Golden is the recipient of several awards, including seventeen gold ADDY (American Advertising Awards), twenty silver ADDY awards, and five bronze ADDY awards. He has also been honored with seventeen Telly Awards (including a gold Telly Award), two Golden Lion International Advertising Awards, a Gold MUSE Creative Awards, and a Golden Sparrow Award. Two of his 30-second national spots for Coca-Cola and Regal Films, Frozen In Time and Just In Time, were screened nationwide in the US in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, the TV show Seven Days, which he DPed for over 32 episodes, ranked No.1 in May 2019 across all Chinese broadcast networks. In 2018, Golden was nominated for the ASC 33rd Heritage Awards for Best Documentary Cinematography for his work with director Francis Coppola.

Golden’s success extends beyond his awards and nominations. In 2019, his image was featured on Coca-Cola cups and popcorn tubs in Regal theaters throughout the US to empower minority ethnic groups in the film industry. He was also interviewed by major television stations, including CCTV, Phoenix Television, and some local LA channels.

Golden’s reputation as a cinematographer has earned him a position as a judge for several prestigious awards, a testament to his industry knowledge and respect. He served as a judge for the EMMY Awards (Pacific Southwest competition) in 2020, bringing his expertise to the table. He joined the judging panels for the Telly Awards, the EMMY Awards (Pacific Southwest competition), and the Golden Lion International Advertising Awards in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, Golden again joined the judging panel for the EMMY and Telly Awards, continuing to contribute to the industry.

Golden’s DPed narrative projects have also been recognized at various film festivals, including the New York Television Festival, Outfest, Atlanta Film Festival, NewFest, LA INDIE Film Festival, Memphis INDIE Film Festival, LA International Culture Film Festival, the UCLA Spotlight Festival, and the student section of the EMMY Awards. Golden’s impressive portfolio and industry recognition make him a highly sought-after cinematographer in the film industry.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I hope more people can see and appreciate my work; this has always driven my progress. If a work remains unseen or uncommunicated, it becomes meaningless, no matter how outstanding it is. Therefore, I hope my work can be disseminated across more platforms, allowing a broader audience to see it.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I work in the film and advertising industries. In these fields, personal recommendations are the most effective strategy. I approach every job with my best effort and approach each of my colleagues with a friendly and humble attitude. Because every colleague I work with on this project may recommend me for future projects or even become clients for my next project. My recent fashion advertising project was with a client I met during a previous shoot. He was a visitor on our set, noticed my enthusiasm and professionalism, and requested my contact details and portfolio at the end of that shoot. Three months later, he invited me to participate in his advertising project. This is how I gradually connected with more industry professionals and received increasing job opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goldenzhao.com
• Instagram: @golden.zhao
• Facebook: Golden Zhao (xinzhong)
• Linkedin: Golden (Xinzhong) Zhao
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/goldenzhao