Meet Tianze Edward Sun | Filmmaker/Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tianze Edward Sun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tianze Edward, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always been passionate about film-making since I was nine years old, and wish to write and direct movies that inspire audiences to examine the society we live in, encourage individuals to pursue their passion and embrace new cultures with different formats in the media industry. In 2012, during a social event for handicapped children and members of the Charitable Association of Linyi (CAL), which I established after CCTV launched a program for caring for people with disabilities, where I met a young girl. She was albino and blind and upon some interaction, I learned that she is a fan of music and ‘watching’ movies. It was quite confusing for a visually challenged individual to love watching movies. She later explained that while watching movies, the teachers accompany them and let them know what is playing on the screen. Her imagination is what makes her understand the plot, coupled with the music and dialogue. I started thinking about how broad the film audiences could be and how many audiences my films could possibly influence.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My production company 24K Onions was founded in 2023, with much help from family and friends, we have been running production from Commerical to narrative films. The road to success is never easy, and I won’t call us being successful yet. It is only a start. My business partner and I have been working hard to make it happen. I think what is essential for getting through the challenges is to have support from the people around you. We want to be successful of course, and we are trying hard to make it happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like road trips a lot, so if my friends are coming I would take them on a road trip to some other states, visiting some national parks in the United States.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my schools which made me who I am today.

To better prepare for my filmmaking journey, I selected screenwriting as my major while studying at Loyola Marymount University. Besides the script structure and some ideas related to creativity, beats, and treatment, I really enjoyed writing stories that can help the production students direct. Although the screenwriters were not allowed to register for production courses, I had the opportunity to participate in LMU student film productions every month, benefiting greatly by working on set during my four years of study. Those experiences enabled me to familiarize myself with different filming positions, including Production Designer, Assistant Director, Boom Operator, Sound Mixer, Script Supervisor, and PA.

Then I went to America Film Institute and got my master’s degree in editing because I believe editing is the best way of telling stories. With my knowledge of screenwriting, I knew how to write a story, and now I learned how to tell the story. During my two years of study at AFI, I edited more than a dozen of short films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Some of the short films I have edited went to major film festivals in the States and abroad. Such as New Port Beach Film Fest, Tallgrass Film Fest, International Puerto Rican Film Festival and etc. Winning Highland Park, Broad Humor, DTLA, Rhode Island Film Festival and etc. The thesis films I did are competing in Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, Slamdance, and other major film festivals around the world in 2023. As an editor, I was nominated for the 2023 American Cinema Editor (ACE) Eddie Awards, in the category of Anne V. Coates Award.

Website: https://suntianze.wixsite.com/website