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

Hi Tianze Edward, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In April 2023, a strike swept through Hollywood.

This large-scale strike affected the entire film and television industry, creating a challenging environment with a lack of projects to work on, which put pressure on every industry professional, including us, the young graduates.

At the same time, mini-series, which had been gaining momentum since 2022, entered a period of explosive growth. This situation made many industry professionals see the potential of short videos as a new content medium. It was under such circumstances that I ventured into this field—when film projects were scarce but mini-series were emerging, I decided to give it a try.

After making a relatively optimistic forecast about the potential of the mini-series market, I decided to start my own company – 24K Onions Production in 2023, hoping to explore more possibilities in the film and television industry and also to provide opportunities for friends and colleagues affected by the strike.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As the company took shape, 24K Onions produced its first short film and faced many of the common challenges—chief among them, adapting to the pace of the mini-series content.

The defining feature of the mini-series is their “short, straightforward, and fast” nature, which is evident not only in the final product but also throughout the production process. As a result, mini-series shoots have relatively brief schedules and heavy daily workloads. Professionals transitioning from traditional film and television must invest extra effort to adjust to this fast-paced environment.

During the first two days of shooting, we found ourselves pressed for time and struggled to stay on schedule. Observing the situation, I decided to hold a meeting on the third day to dissect and address the challenges of adaptation, identifying and filling gaps.

From 24K Onions’ experience, adapting effectively requires a shift from traditional film production thinking. Traditional filmmaking often involves detailed lighting setups, with a single shot potentially taking one or two hours, and a gradual approach to shooting. In contrast, mini-series require a much quicker pace and do not afford time for such detailed processes. Consequently, we streamlined lighting and set-up times, simplified the process, and managed to complete the tasks on schedule.

On the penultimate day of shooting, the Fourth of July coincided with our schedule. Amidst the fireworks, the crew squeezed in time to film an intense outdoor scene where the lead actress is abducted on the street. We had to wait for the gap in between the fireworks before continuing.

Despite the fireworks making their way into the final cut, I view that day’s shoot as “a beautiful mistake.” The contrast between the celebratory fireworks and the dramatic abduction scene created a unique visual effect, and it left the crew with a memorable experience of working hard together on the project.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on a road trip if I am not working, otherwise I would take them to my set (Production). I would say all the national parks are great, especially Yellow Stone.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my business partner, Crystal.. We have worked together on over 25 films and TV series, and without her support, a significant amount of work in the company would not have been possible. As a producer, she has excelled in completing all tasks and ensuring the efficient operation of production.

I would also like to extend my thanks to all my crew and cast members. Without their support, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/24k_onions/?hl=en

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