Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zing Chen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Zing, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about growing your team – how did you recruit the first few people, what was the process like, how’d you go about training and if you were to start over today would you have done anything differently?
Building a team is an essential part of work for film producers, especially for independent producers. Different shoots require different crew members, creating various atmospheres and resulting in completely different outcomes. To assemble your dream team, you first need a deep understanding of the script: What does the story need? What kinds of visuals are you looking for? You can usually gauge this from their reels to decide if their work fits your project.
One thing that can easily be overlooked is that while their work might visually match your vision, their methods might not align with your needs. For example, you might want a cinematographer who captures natural light beautifully, but they may have specific equipment requirements that exceed your budget. Therefore, it’s equally important to ask about their approach to your project.
Another effective method is to ask people who have worked with them before, similar to a background check when hiring for companies. The main difference is that producers often need to do this themselves instead of relying on HR.
It’s also crucial to ensure that the director loves your crew as well, to help create a harmonious atmosphere on set. From my personal experience, good energy do make a difference. A harmonious and pleasant film crew often produces higher quality work.
Zing, 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 am a film producer from Hunan, China and currently residing in LA. After graduating from the Beijing Film Academy, I pursued a master’s degree in film at Columbia University. So far, I’ve participated in more than 30 international productions, many of which have been selected for festivals in Hong Kong, Houston, Canada, Greece, Shanghai, and New York.
My latest short film, Bruno & Elena, recently won the James Ponsoldt Award for Best Director, the Michael Hausman/Buffalo Mike Filmhaus Foundation Award, and received a nomination from the National Board of Review (NBR) at the 36th Columbia University Film Festival. It was also invited to the Palm Springs International ShortFest this year. Bruno & Elena received a production grant from Indian Paintbrush Productions, during its initial development stage. This support gave us great encouragement and the confidence to return to Argentina for filming, where we felt the story should return to its original setting to release its full charm.
From Hunan to Los Angeles, I aim to bring a more diverse perspective. Having grown up in a more diverse and inclusive environment where individual and differentiated expressions are encouraged of our generation, I’ve had access to a variety of expressive forms. The diverse environments I have experienced have shaped my production philosophy, which embraces works with an international perspective deeply rooted in local culture. During production, I focus on discovering and restoring these characteristics.
Producing is different from directing; we are more like the invisible force behind the scenes, helping directors turn their stories from imagination into reality. A good story should transcend cultural barriers, creating emotional connections and resonance among more people. I hope to use my identity as a Chinese producer to be such a bridge, a medium
Currently, I am working with veterans from Disney and Pixar on an animated film adapted from a game IP. Animation is a brand new and highly challenging field for me, and I am excited about it. Hopefully, this film will be released in the next few years.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I want to recommend a book that my graduate advisor wrote, and this book has been my production bible all the time. “Producer to Producer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing” by Maureen Ryan. It’s been an indispensable resource for me as a film producer, offering practical advice and insights that have proved invaluable in navigating the complexities of independent film production. You can find all the answers you need in this book regarding film producing especially independent film producing, from financing and budgeting to distribution and marketing.
Although this book is tailored for low-budget productions, I believe many of its principles can be applied to productions of any scale. For me, it serves as more than just a guide; it’s a guiding light that reminds me, as a producer, to maintain rationality, organization, and efficiency, while creatively solving problems.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Chasing where my passion lies has always been my top priority. Aside from that, my aim is to tell stories that resonate with a wide audience. I believe this is the innate mission of good art. As a bilingual producer, I also aspire to bridge cultural gaps through storytelling, connecting people and making a at least some positive impact on culture and society. I want to bring others the same sense of wonder and hope that I’ve experienced countless times through great stories.
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Image Credits
Photographed by – CJ