Meet Qiujun Ma

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

Hi Qiujun, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
First, I need to know what my goal is. Once I have a clear and realistic goal, everything I do is aimed at achieving that goal. Whether or not this thing is related to my goal determines whether I choose to give up or keep going. Secondly, I need to have a clear understanding of my abilities and avoid aiming too high. Some challenges can be overcome with effort, and in such cases, I should choose to keep going. However, when a challenge exceeds my capabilities, I should consider finding alternative solutions to avoid wasting time and energy. Giving up on a current project or plan does not mean giving up on the ultimate goal. You can try other approaches and plans, which might be more efficient and easier to achieve.
Of course, efficiency and cost are also within my consideration. If the time and money spent on continuing exceed the value that the endeavor itself can create, I will choose to give up. If the cost is within a controllable range, I will try to keep going.
Whether choosing to give up or to keep going, it is crucial to recognize your abilities, maintain confidence, be clear about your goals, and keep a spirit of exploration.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been lucky, but the journey hasn’t been smooth. As a screenwriter, rewriting scripts is inevitable. Each revision makes the script better and more exciting. Early in my career, I worked on a movie script. Having completed two TV projects, I felt confident this one would go smoothly. But after the sixteenth rewrite, the director was still not satisfied. Each draft felt like a complete rewrite. I became very frustrated and started to doubt my writing skills. I wondered if I could really be a good screenwriter. This self-doubt made it hard to focus on writing. I talked to the producer about quitting the project. He was surprised but understanding. He didn’t blame me. Instead, he reminded me that being chosen from many writers proved my ability. He said that writing is never easy, and he had seen many scripts go through ten or twenty revisions. Rewriting is just part of making the script better. Each director has their own style and different requirements. This director was particularly demanding. The producer told me that finishing this project would help me a lot with future scripts.
I decided to stick with it and completed the script. When I saw the final film, I felt that all those revisions were worth it.

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.
There are many interesting places in LA, but if I were to plan the itinerary, I would first take my friend to Venice Beach for breakfast, then stroll along the beach and enjoy the LA sunshine. After that, we might head to the Arts District in downtown. If we want to visit a museum, we can go to the Getty Center. For shopping, we could go to Rodeo Drive or The Grove. In the evening, we definitely have to check out Hollywood Boulevard. If we’re interested, we can even buy a ticket to see a classic movie at a theater. Afterwards, we might find a small bar to chat in, and of course, going to the Griffith Observatory to enjoy the night view is also a great option.

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?
I must thank my mother. After graduating from university, I gave up the opportunity to work at a stable company and chose to pursue full-time writing. My whole family was against it, except for my mother. Later, I faced setbacks in my work, and during that time, I was very depressed and even started to doubt myself, considering giving up. During a phone call, my mother noticed the change in my mood, and the next day she bought a train ticket to come to the city where I worked. She stayed with me for half a month, constantly comforting and encouraging me, helping me get through that period of low confidence.

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