Meet Hao Hao | Film Director & Screenwriter

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

Hi Hao, what inspires you?
My inspiration mostly comes from my perceptions of the world around me and how others perceive it differently. Just as the way I view my role in this world as a perceiver, I continue my journey to understand how humans live and absorb the immense power of the universe’s apocalypse. I can’t help but notice many lifestyles outside my frame of reference that are so fascinating, and the way people manage to grow so differently yet live so tenaciously. Therefore, I describe these imagined human lives in my scripts and bring them to life in films. Even though the protagonists of my works are sometimes not humans, I tend to believe in animism and this belief has never failed to bring me the source of my inspiration. As obvious as it might seem, most of my works are not fantasies, horror, or film noir, but rustic, true-to-life narrative dramas. I’ve never failed to capture the artistic moments in trivialities, and that’s why I’m such a devout believer in art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It wasn’t at all easy when I first started pursuing my dream of being a film director. The very first step I took was in high school: I decided to shoot one of my original screenplays with a crew of a few non-professional friends and actors who had never acted before. My self-taught editing was certainly not good enough. Naturally, the film was devastating for my confidence. Later, I learned that there are many film schools that could help me create a professional path. I decided that I wanted to study filmmaking, which my parents strongly disagreed with at the time because they thought I didn’t possess any artistic talent. Nevertheless, I went to college anyway and chose a film major. After my first year of studying, I directed another film of my own, but the result was still unsatisfying. I spent a dark year during COVID wondering where this path was leading. After gaining admission to the New York Film Academy and meeting great friends, I became fairly confident in my role as a director and have made two other films so far. In my films, I try my best to immerse the audience in the story as if they were there. I try to hide the existence of the camera and the edits, so I’m not a fan of fancy camera moves or quick editing. I also recognize the importance of production design and love working with talented PDs. I enjoy collaborating with actors whom I have already discussed the film with beforehand. I also like to make friends with my actors often after shooting.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend certainly wouldn’t visit the city without me picking her up at the airport. The first special place I’d take her to is the Book Soup bookstore at the airport. It’s a place where you might find some unexpectedly great books, as their editors have excellent taste. The next day, I’d definitely take her to the Getty Museum and spend the day exploring it. After sunset, we’ll go to the Griffith Observatory to enjoy the clarity of the moon. We’ll most certainly need a coffee sometime during the day. Each coffee shop I’ve been to in LA has been great, but I’d introduce her to one near my school: Coffee Commissary. Then, I’d take her to Lou, the French bakery on the block, for some pastries. Next, we’ll head downtown to visit The Broad Museum and perhaps enjoy a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall. What we most certainly can’t forget is the LACMA. I’ll take her to an exhibition there and then go to Melrose to shop for some cool vintage items. At night, I’ll bring her to Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and Marina del Rey, where the views are all just so nice.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to every one of my crew and cast members who has provided their work and insights into this short film, Ember. I’d like to thank them for their efforts and hard work during the time we spent on this project. I’d also like to express my appreciation for my Art Director, Jingyu Feng, for setting the tone at the main shooting location and designing the artistic look of the interior, which really enhanced my story. I’d also like to give a shoutout to my friends who have worked with me on many occasions—my best DP, Lichao Song, and Gaffer, Guo Sun. Thank them for making this film look good and for bringing their brilliant ideas into production. One person who has been especially helpful in completing this hard work is my great friend Zixuan Fang. She assisted me immensely during pre-production and helped me adapt my screenplay. Thank her for always being so sincere and dedicated to the art of film. I’d also like to thank my boyfriend, Liang Dong, who is also my AD, for supporting me through the toughest times of preparing the film, giving me confidence when I had self-doubt, and never once saying that my script was bad, despite the countless times I read it to him. Lastly, I want to thank my parents for supporting me in studying film and for always being there.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlin_silhouetteee?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
BTS：Francis Kong, Rui Zhou
Film stills from Ember