Meet Maggie Mingqi Tao | Film Producer

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

Hi Maggie Mingqi, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally from China, and I came to the U.S. by myself when I was a teenager. My upbringing in China instilled in me a strong sense of determination and the value of hard work. Moving to a new country at a young age was a challenging experience that taught me resilience and adaptability.

Upon graduating from college at the age of almost twenty-one, I was fortunate enough to land a role as a Production Director in ABC 7 & FOX 22, Maine. Achieving this goal was a dream come true, and I cherished the wonderful experience working in such a dynamic and creative environment.

However, as I continued to grow both personally and professionally, I started questioning my career trajectory. I realized that while being a Production Director was an incredible achievement, I yearned for new challenges and opportunities to expand my horizons.

After my tenure at ABC 7 & FOX 22, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a Film Producer. So, I applied to Chapman University’s esteemed Producing program and was thrilled to receive an acceptance letter. This turning point marked the beginning of my journey as a Film Producer, and I have been passionately honing my skills ever since.

Growing up in China and building my career in the U.S. has granted me a unique perspective that enriches my creativity and problem-solving abilities. The journey from China to the U.S. taught me valuable life lessons and inspired me to push beyond my comfort zone. As a Film Producer, I am proud of my background that encompasses multiple cultures because it’s a treasure trove for me to discover new stories deeply and truly.

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.
As a film producer, I believe our greatest responsibility is to convey the best content to the audience through the beauty of art. I suppose this is also the core aspiration of every filmmaker. I am drawn to authentic, emotional, and meaningful stories, and I thoroughly enjoy using my professional skills to bring the words from a script to life on the screen. Helping every member of the crew to solve challenges and eventually seeing a film come to fruition from concept to reality is a rewarding experience. In this role, I feel that I play a crucial part in blending different elements together to create a memorable cinematic work.

I believe I have a natural aptitude for being a film producer. Whether it’s during the pre-production planning or in the midst of filming, my presence brings a sense of security to everyone involved, allowing them to focus on their tasks with greater dedication. I feel that this single aspect alone sufficiently demonstrates my competence as a film producer. My ability to create a supportive and efficient working environment is a testament to my skills in this role.

Also, I started my journey in Producing with low-budget movies, and I have a strong ability to complete projects while saving costs without compromising on quality. I respect the director’s artistic creativity and never interfere with their vision. However, if they require it, I’m always ready to provide the utmost professional support. My goal is to deliver high-quality films while maximizing the project’s budget, ensuring successful outcomes for every production.

Currently, the films I produce have been selected and nominated at numerous international film festivals, and most of them are Oscar-qualified. Each time I watch my movies at these film festivals, I am deeply moved and cherish the opportunities to interact with other filmmakers. It’s a rewarding experience to witness the audience enjoy our work and be recognized on such a prestigious stage. I aspire to create more films in the future to cater to the audience and the global community.

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 currently live in West Hollywood, so during my best friend’s visit, we’d start our days at The Grove, enjoying coffee and the California sun. We’d explore LACMA to indulge in art and culture. Evenings would be magical, either admiring LA’s night view from Griffith Park or watching the sunset at Malibu Beach. We’d also experience West Hollywood’s vibrant neighborhoods, savoring local cuisines. Additionally, I know some authentic Chinese restaurants in the lively Chinatown; maybe we could give those a shot as well. With my best friend, it doesn’t matter where we go; it’ll be an unforgettable and fun time anyway.

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 of all, I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and love. I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up in an open-minded and nurturing home. My parents always strive to provide the best for me, nurturing my capacity for love and empowering me to pursue my dreams with confidence.

Secondly, I want to express my gratitude to my husband, Mike Xu, who is a talented sound editor and ADR Mixer in Hollywood. Thank you for being my best friend and wholeheartedly supporting all of my decisions. You are an incredibly important part of my life, and I look forward to exploring more unknown and beautiful moments together with you.

Thirdly, I want to thank all the people I’ve worked with in the past on Film Projects. Your talent and collaboration have been instrumental in motivating me to persist and continue on this path. Thank you for being part of my journey and inspiring me to keep going.

At the end, I want to shoutout to all the people I’ve met in Maine. Thank you for your kindness and care, which allowed me to experience the beauty of humanity. This journey has been truly unforgettable, and I will always cherish the love from each and every one of you.

IMdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13390068/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_1_nm_7_q_mingqi