Interview with awarded production designer Zirao Zhang
Welcome Mrs Zhang, we are very excited to have you today and discuss about your work. Who is Zirao Zhang and how did his passion for filmmaking start?
I’ve always had a passion for stories ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been a keen tv audience and I cry while watching films. After getting my bachelor’s degree in architecture, I worked briefly for CallisonRTKL, an architecture design firm. It was around that time when I heard this voice for my heart that I wanted to do something more fun and creative. With the ideal of combining cinema art and architecture design, I then moved to LA to attend the AFI production design program, honing my skills in story-driven environment design. As I started working for film/tv production design, I quickly realized my strengths and interest fall on concept illustration and set design. So far, I’m working both as a production designer and a concept illustrator.
Can you tell us about your previous work?
I work on short films, music videos and YouTube shows as a production designer. Shore and One Man Band have won a few production design awards, and the kid’s show Blippi is pretty popular in the US.
I’ve also worked in the art department on MAGAZINE DREAMS (feature), HARRY POTTER: HOGWARTS TOURNAMENT OF HOUSES (TBS TV show), THE ACTIVIST (TV show), BEEF (A24 TV show), MODERN LOVE JAPAN (Amazon TV show) and BOO, BITCH (Netflix TV show). When I work on these union shows, I mostly do concept illustrations.
CONVERSATION ABOUT: ONE MAN BAND
As a production designer, what is the most important part of the job for you ?
I think it’s your understanding of the story and creation of the overall visual language. There’s a lot of brain work in this process and it’s like creating a blueprint for your upcoming physical work. Communication among the whole crew, especially with the director and the cinematographer, is key to make sure you can stick to your design plan and everyone else can work with you together to achieve the goal.
Talk to us about your film? How was it created ?
I created this film with my fellows from AFI, by the time we started on this project we knew each other pretty well and I think that laid a good foundation for this film. Due to covid reasons, we spent about a year developing the script and all aspects of visual languages for the film. We shot the film also during covid, there were quite some difficulties but we’d also gained more time to figure out solutions.I n the end, my team managed to deliver good visuals that we felt proud of.
What were the instructions for your production execution behind the scenes ?
I’d say figuring out the game plan as precisely as possible, down to the time schedule of picking up and returning props from each prop house, and the detailed dressing plan of each new piece. Sometimes clearing out the unwanted piece from a location can cost a lot of time, so be sure to count all of that in.
Making sure that all the art department crew understand the big picture and how everything should be executed will also help improve efficiency a lot.
Was there any difficulty in completing the project ?
For the art department, the hardest part was that I got too many locations to prepare given the time I had, I remember I had to dress until 1 am for an apartment scene that plays the coming day, and for the laundry room we had to work on it while the shooting crew shot on the other side of the building. We managed to finish with all the support from the other departments.
FUTURE WORK AND CLOSING LETTER
What is the message the audience should convey leaving the screening of your film ?
Going for what your heart longs for and be kind to your friends.
What is the target audience of your project ?
I think our film is for anyone who’s tasted that bittersweetness of life, someone who needs a little silver lining from the darkness.
Any future projects incoming ? Along with personal aspirations.
I have an A24 show called BEEF that I worked on as an illustrator coming soon, I’m really looking forward to it since I created a bunch of fun key props for it. In the future, I look forward to working on more fun projects and creating unique visuals to talk to and hopefully inspire the audience.
That was the interview with our beloved creator Zirao Zhang. Our community is rising everyday, new talented filmakers and screenwriters get onboard. Be sure to check the rest of our interviews and why not schedule one for yourself to promote your work. To publish an interview simply submit on the INTERVIEW OF YOUR FILM category on our Filmfreeway page.
