Meet Moxie Zhang | Filmmaker

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

Hi Moxie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a filmmaker, my work-life balance has evolved significantly. While the heavy workload and irregular working hours are challenging, my biggest struggle is carrying the creative mindset into everyday life, leading to overthinking and exhaustion. Balancing creative passion with personal life requires intentional planning and flexibility, ensuring that I stay productive while also maintaining my well-being. When I feel mentally and physically drained, I make it point to step away from films-related topic and people, engaging in simple, mundane activities to regain balance and happiness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My works do not follow a specific style, for me, attitude takes precedence over style. In other words, different styles serve different content. What sets me apart is my strong personality and open-mindedness- My work spans various genres-mockumentary, comedy, experimental, and narrative-allowing me to explore and understand the world more deeply.

I grew up in a modest family, but my parents’ passion for literature and the arts immersed me in an artistic environment from a young age. This early exposure instilled in me a deep appreciation for the beauty of art. At that time, I didn’t have a clear goal, but I always strived to be unique and create something interesting and beautiful. Over time, my interest in filmmaking grew, but my family’s financial situation couldn’t support film studies. So, like many Chinese students, I took the college entrance exam and chose a major for university.

I remained passionate about filmmaking during my undergraduate years, seeking internships on film sets whenever possible. There were moments of doubt, wondering if I loved watching films more than making them and whether I should pursue this as a career. I explored other fields but eventually realized that filmmaking was the perfect media for my expression. I have no regrets about the experiences and trials along the way and am grateful for making a choice that aligns with my heart.

If you had asked me how I overcame difficulties in the past, I would have said it was through pure passion and dreams. Nowadays, it’s about persevering while maintaining a chill mindset.

I remain committed to expressing my experiences and feelings, my culture and my aesthetics, hoping my work is open and fluid, capturing the spontaneous moments of life.

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 probably take my friend to explore Silver Lake, a neighborhood that initially captured my imagination through the film Under the Silver Lake. The movie captures the enigmatic essence of Los Angeles, and each visit to Silver Lake evokes the sense of secrets lying beneath its shimmering surface. Over time, I’ve grown to love Silver Lake for its vibrant yet tranquil atmosphere. The area is alive with people jogging, strolling, walking their dogs, or simply unwinding. As day turns into evening, the sunset transforms the sky from a warm yellow to a rich, deep purple, casting long mysterious shadows from the trees. The ambiance becomes serene, with only the faintest sounds punctuating the stillness, making Silver Lake an ideal spot to pause, reflect, and soak in the surroundings.

While Los Angeles may not be a city known for walking, exploring downtown during the day reveals its hidden gems. Here, you might uncover a secret underground cinema or stumble upon other intriguing, lesser-known spots, making for a delightful urban adventure.

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?
There are many people I’d like to acknowledge—my mom, my friend, and more. But right now, I want to give a special shoutout to one of my undergraduate professors, Ying.

I majored in Chinese Literature during my undergraduate studies, and before meeting her, my view of the field was limited to just literature and knowledge. Ying completely transformed my perspective and broadened my understanding.

Six or seven years ago, feminism was not as widely recognized or discussed in China as it is today, and online conversations about it were still considered niche. Yet, Ying introduced feminist ideas into our classroom, offering critiques of classic literature and the male gaze from a feminist perspective. At that time, some of the professors mocked her as “avant-garde,” but I found her to be incredibly inspiring—oh, woman can live like this.

Ying’s most profound impact on me was in how I experience cities. This began with one of her classes on Benjamin and Baudelaire, which explored the relationship between the flâneur and the city. While I don’t remember all the details of the class, it opened up a new world for me, where I started to measure cities with my own feet. After that class, I began to naturally slow down and pay attention to walking, especially while exploring urban spaces. I felt a deep connection between myself and the city, as if a magnetic field had been activated. The city’s landscape, heartbeat, and rhythm made me curious about their underlying reasons, and everything started to take on new meaning. Since then, every time I visit a new city, I gain fresh experiences and discover new facets of myself.

I’m truly grateful to Ying for teaching me how to understand and experience the world in such a meaningful way.

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