Meet Julie Zhao | Film Producer

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

Hi Julie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue an artistic career initially out of childish spite – you know when you’re told to do a certain thing and you do the complete opposite just to try and make a point? I grew up in Shanghai but went to the French international school there, which did not have much artistic courses included in the program. So whenever I had the chance, I would go to art exhibitions, independent film screenings, try to shoot short skits with my dad’s camera. I wanted to be involved in bringing new worlds to life through moving pictures, whether that be animation or live-action. I remember watching films on cassette tapes and rewinding them incessantly. Miyazaki’s films, especially, and the way they toed the line between fantasy and reality influenced my taste. That helped me develop taste in material and laid the foundation for my career path as an aspiring producer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a recent graduate of NYU Tisch’s Film and TV program, with a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology, who focuses mostly on producing for narrative and commercial content. I was selected as a mentee for the HEAR US 2023 Grant cohort and a Student Producer Grant recipient. Films I have worked on received recognition at the 2023 Student DGA awards and 2023 SXSW competition. Aside from that I am also a commercial editor by trade, having worked in the advertising industry in Shanghai, with some of the branding videos I edited having obtained more than 4M views on TikTok.

I’ve always enjoyed producing because every film felt like its own start-up: you have to manage budgets, pitch to investors, network with festival programmers to get it shown…etcetera. It’s an immense amount of sweat and tears, of hearing “No”, of finding your people, but there is nothing more magical than the feeling you get on set as the vision you contributed to finally comes to life. I especially put emphasis on uplifting diverse narratives in film and working on projects that are eye-opening. I had the experience of producing South Asian dance films, Chinese family dramas, experimental films, and many more. On career level, I’ve interned at top talent agencies and management companies such as WME and Cinetic Media. The key lesson I’ve learnt along the way is to always remain resilient in the face of adversity and to never forget your passion for the medium, as that will be your driving force.

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?
I would absolutely recommend the Valley, hiking Griffith park, and Little Tokyo. Tujunga has the best brunch/coffee place called Aroma Coffee. They have some AMAZING breakfast foods and pastries available, though the downside is that they always have a wait on weekends. It’s quite funny too because every single time I’ve been there, the neighboring tables are always in the middle of industry talk. LA is quite fascinating like that because you’re always surrounded by vibrant creatives. Also in the Valley, the Wat Thai temple food market happens every weekend – definitely a go-to spot if you like authentic Thai food and cheap eats! Griffith park trail has the most beautiful sunset hikes whenever you’re looking for a place to just think and surround yourself with nature. Little Tokyo has great food and shopping complexes with cute vintage stores you can browse.

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?
First, I’d like to shoutout my parents who supported me whole-heartedly in pursuing a creative career in the United States (with the occasional “You should’ve just gone into finance” comment). I would not be here today if it weren’t for your constant guidance and mentorship. Thank you.

Next, I’d like to thank all of my mentors who supported me and helped me land my first jobs in the industry. My advanced film professor at Tisch who pushed me to set goals for myself and the multiple agents at WME who vouched for me.

And finally, the friends I made along the way who became my support system in a foreign country. Much love for you!

Website: https://www.juliezhao.com

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