Meet Royce Ruixi Gao: Director of Photography & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Royce Ruixi Gao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Royce Ruixi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is not an uncommon word in our lives, it’s an inevitable part of life. I am a cinematographer, while the film industry might look like a glamorous job, it’s also a risky one. It’s an industry with high investment and low or no-return. Almost everyone in film industry is considered a freelancer whether you are in union or not. While freelancing gives plenty flexibility, but with it comes risks; unstable jobs lead to unstable income, and it might lead to possible mental stress if not handled well. But once you reach the top of your profession, not only are you reimbursed plentiful, it also comes with prestige and fame. But until then, it’s a long way to go.

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.
Movie is a combination of art and modern technology. People put their beliefs and dreams and hope into movies to tell a story or to prove a point. And as a cinematographer, my job is combining art with cinematography to tell stories. Most importantly as a cinematographer, my job is to tell a story through my own eyes, bringing the written words to live.

My proudest moment is when the film comes to finish, I sit in the editing room watching the final version and bask in this wonderful story that gets to move audience on a “cellular level”. Movies have the power to go beyond language boundaries to move people. It’s a powerful and magical kind of art.

Since the day I started working as a filmmaker, I knew the path would not be easy. As an Asian female director of photography in Hollywood, I’m not only competing with the best cinematographers in the world, but I’m also striving for opportunities as a minority. It is not easy. of course, such problems are common in Hollywood. I’m just working hard and catching every opportunity to showcase my abilities, as tough as it is, and not as glamorous as it sounds, but I know the struggle is part of the test on becoming a great filmmaker.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is a city full of charm, I will tailor-make an interesting and exciting LA weekend for my best friend. First has got to be cruising and surfing on the gorgeous so-cal beach, then skilling in Big Bear, then a quick visit to Palm Springs and wineries in Temecula. My friends like extreme sports, I will also take them skydiving, feeling the adrenaline. Then of course they must take a tour at Hollywood’s studio tour, to get a closer look at filmmaking in the heart of Dream Land. I don’t think one week will suffice, there are just too many wonders in LA, and the beautiful so-cal sunset that everyone can’t get enough of.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout to my parents, their continuous support means a lot to me. My parents are not in film industry nor do they know much about filmmaking, they have been the rock for me emotionally and financially. Their love and support give me strength to keep moving forward. I’d also like to shoutout my teacher Mike. He gave me a lot of encouragement reassurance when I first started out here in Hollywood. Last but not least is my partner, who is also my teammates working hard and supporting each other altogether.

Website: https://www.royceruixigao.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoyceGaoDP

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Royce-Ruixi-Gao-1964747497153885/

Image Credits
Sussan Yeo, Kathy Wu