Meet Hao Sun

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hao Sun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hao, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
While in film school, the idea of starting my own business first crossed my mind. During those years, I joined numerous film crews, willingly taking on various roles without payment, solely for the sake of learning. Despite not receiving compensation, these experiences allowed me to forge connections within the industry. As a result, I began receiving invitations to participate in projects and even take on leadership roles such as producer, writer, or director.

After graduating and spending a year as a freelancer, during which I garnered numerous awards and nominations, I began to feel confident in my abilities. At that juncture, I realized that I had the potential to make a significant impact. Consequently, I decided to take the plunge and start my own business. It felt like a natural progression in my journey.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my years in the industry, I’ve produced roughly 13 short films as a producer and directed and written three. One notable collaboration was “Maybe Next Year” with director Steven Zhu, which earned me the titles of Best Short Producer at the 2022 Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills and Best Producer at the San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival. This project also clinched the Best Covid Short award at the Texas Arthouse Festival.

Following this success, in 2023, I produced “The Next Generation,” which received the esteemed Beacon Award. Over the subsequent two years, “The Next Generation” was nominated for Best Short at the Beyond The Curve Film Festival, while “The Family Williams” earned a nomination at the New York Independent Cinema Awards 2023.

Indeed, the journey hasn’t been easy, especially during the serious periods of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 and mid-2022. Many plans were unexpectedly disrupted, necessitating a great deal of hard work to find venues, assemble teams, and navigate through various challenges. Additionally, budgets were incredibly tight during this time.

One valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of always having a plan B. It’s crucial to ensure that we have an adequate team and financial resources to handle unexpected emergencies. The world is constantly evolving, and while we may not be able to change it, it’s essential to remain adaptable and prepared to respond effectively to any challenges that arise.

However, it was these challenges that inspired me to establish my own studio. Initially, I named it after myself, but unfortunately, it didn’t yield the success I had hoped for. Reflecting on this setback, I realized the significance of branding. Subsequently, I made the decision to rebrand my studio as Eclipsee Entertainment, recognizing the importance of a strong and distinctive identity in the competitive industry landscape.

Today, we produce numerous outstanding short films, movies, commercials, streaming ads, and more, generating substantial revenue and attracting a wide range of customers for businesses. Nowadays, we have the capability to create a broader array of content independently, across various genres and platforms, and the quality of our productions is steadily advancing. We also work on some Youtube programs and some variety shows for major studios.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re in Los Angeles, I highly recommend driving along California 1. The scenery along this route has served as the backdrop for countless movies and offers breathtaking views year-round. Additionally, you can take part in film and television tours offered by attractions such as Disney World, Universal Studio, and Warner Bros. These tours provide insight into the movie-making process and allow participants to feel like they’re part of the action. Don’t forget to explore the culinary delights of Chinatown and Koreatown, where you’ll find some amazing food.

As for New York, in addition to visiting popular attractions, I suggest checking out some Blues bars. Enjoying live Blues music performed by top bands in the city while sipping cocktails with friends encapsulates the vibrant nightlife scene of New York.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person I must give a shout-out to is Tim Perell. Not only is he a fantastic producer with exceptional taste, but I can also confidently say he’s been my mentor from the very beginning of my career, a time when it’s easy to feel lost.

I believe everyone experiences a sense of being lost at the start of their career, but Tim Perell not only helped me find my direction but also provided invaluable guidance regarding my career path. With his support and encouragement, I was able to create my first short film.

Website: https://www.hsunproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haosunproductions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hao-sun-a12a68207/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083796590838

Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15751702/

Image Credits
Credit to: Hao Sun, Steven Zhu, Crystal Tubman, Jiangshan Li, Xiang Jiapeng