Meet Jo Zhou | Cinematogrpher

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

Hi Jo, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
During my teenage years, I had been trained as a golf player. Golf, unlike other sports that need team work, is a lonely sport. In both training and competitions, I was only with myself, without other kids who could give me company. Since my world was only surrounded by golf, such loneliness had bored me throughout the years. I had gradually realized that I should seek for other possibilities of my life.

It was not until the summer when I was sixteen that I first opened my world to images. As a Buddhist, I visit Buddhist temples with my parents often. In that summer, I went to an ancient temple. The symmetrical and immense architecture feat with the shimmering gold and tranquil maroon had brought me to a world of serenity. After being amazed by the view, I took out my camera, trying to capture my feeling. As I frame up, I realized that none of the single frame I found could contain so much of the magnificence. However, through the lenses, I closely looked at the place in details: the parts of roots breaking through the brick floor, the moss climbing over the stone columns, the smoke from the incenses disperse in the air, the wind teasing the monk’s robes. Each of those details deliver a pieces of meanings, and only if I look at them together, I could find the way to convey my feeling. I believe, in that ancient temple, I found my interest of being a storyteller through images.

After I graduated from college majoring in golf, I decided to give myself a break from golf. I watched a lot of films during that time. There was one film that has awaked my interest in images — The Holy Mountain. The symmetric composition, the contradicting color, and the geometric symbols that suppose to create harmony, somehow deliver a sense of strangeness that support the story. Since then, I wanted to explore the film world. Soon after, I got a chance to work in the industry, and that experience made me realize how much I need to learn to become a professional. I then attended American Film Institute to further my studies in cinematography.

Thinking back from now, my path in cinematography started from the ancient temple. It was that experience that led me see the emotions around me through the lenses. Since then, Buddhism has always been my inspiration in the visuals I created.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My most proud project is a short film called SHORE. It was shot in the 35mm film and the story is about Buddhism. It’s the very first time I have had an opportunity to create images about the monk, temple, and sort things of Buddhism. It’s like an acceptance inspection from the moment I was inspired by the temple till right now where I’m today. Meanwhile, the format I choose is 35mm film. Shooting on film is always a blessed thing. I take time to test different film stocks which are most suitable for my project. Also, it’s the hardest project I ever worked on.

I’m based in Los Angeles, I visited every temple in this area to find the main location. There aren’t many choices and most of the temples are not allowed film cameras in the worship hall. This process is hard but also interesting. Because I got the chance to visit every temple in the big Los Angeles area and met many Buddhism from different countries. And get to know their perspective on art and religion. During this time, I change parts of the story because those conversations give me more sense of the theme of the story. So I feel being open mind to different voices is a key to me to grow.

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 will take my friend to visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures after that we can go to New Beverly Cinema to check out a film which is screened by original film copy. LA is heaven for a gastronome, you can find everything. My favorite spot for the nightlife in LA is the Pinkys Los Feliz

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout to my uncle Zhou Mi. He is a close friend of my father and an established photographer based in San Francisco. Even though I barely met him in person as a child, I knew a lot of his achievements from my father. When I discovered my interest in image, I tried to connect with him through the email he put on his website. I sent him the photos I took, and he would reply with his notes. Without his encouragement, I would have not pursued this career. When I shared with him my desire to own my first legit camera, he talked to my parents and convinced them to buy me one. We kept in touch through emails for years. In my teenage years, he is my mentor and friend who not only helps me with technical problems, but also leads me to find my artistic voices. Now, I would also provide my advice in the field of cinematography. I would like to take this opportunity to shoutout to my uncle who has helped me so much along the way.

Website: http://jo-zhou.com/

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