Meet Hao Zheng | USC Film Student

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

Hi Hao, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
There are many factors that influence my decision to persist or give up. Most of the time, like everyone else, I try to weigh the pros and cons. However, when I find myself torn between choices, there is one guiding principle I have always followed: **Will my future self regret this decision?**

This thought appears so frequently in my life that, without realizing it, it has helped me make countless decisions and accomplish many things.

I first started thinking this way after my grandfather passed away. In 2012, while traveling in Xinjiang with friends, I received a call from my mother informing me that my grandfather’s condition had worsened. There were only two days left in the trip, and like a gambler, I chose to complete it. In the end, I missed my last chance to see him.

To this day, I regret that decision. I could visit Xinjiang countless times, but I will never see my grandfather again.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It all seemed to begin with my interest in documentaries. In 2019, a documentary series called *Life Matters* was released in China. Before that, watching documentaries was just one of my many interests. But after finishing all ten episodes, my eyes almost brimming with tears, I had a new thought while still studying at Northeastern University—I wanted to make films or documentaries my career.

I started taking documentary courses, but before the semester could end, the global pandemic broke out. I rushed back to China and was fortunate enough to secure an internship at **Discovery Channel Asia-Pacific** in Beijing, where I spent more than half a year working closely with documentaries. It truly became my job.

Merging passion with work is a rare happiness. Even though the job required me to travel almost every week, the excitement fueled by curiosity far outweighed the exhaustion. I’ve always loved listening to stories and have been endlessly curious about the world around me. When people sit in front of you and share their stories, even if they were strangers just seconds ago, in the next moment, it feels as if you’ve known each other for years.

That experience eventually led me to USC, where I came to realize that authenticity is the most powerful tool for touching people’s hearts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I probably wouldn’t take them to any special places. Instead, if they’re willing, I’d hope they could experience my studies, work, and daily life alongside me for a week. Through this process, I would naturally find moments I truly want to share. The most ordinary things are often the most special.

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?
Looking back, the person who has had a profound influence on me is my grandmother. She was just an ordinary high school English teacher—a profession that may seem quite common now. But if we turn back the clock more than half a century, she was among the first generation of English teachers in New China.

In the late 1950s, she was the only girl in her family and the only one to attend university. To save money for her family, she chose to study at a tuition-free normal university, even though her academic performance could have given her better opportunities.

She held herself to incredibly high standards, as if nothing could make her slack off. Over time, without even realizing it, she placed those same expectations on me. As a child, I found it difficult to understand, but now, I deeply appreciate the way she approached life—it has benefited me in countless ways.

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