Who is Chloe Zhao? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Zhao Ting

Age: 42 Years, 42 Year Old Females

Family:

father: Zhao Yuji

Born Country: China

Directors Chinese Women

Notable Alumni: Mount Holyoke College

City: Beijing, China

More Facts

education: New York University, Mount Holyoke College

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1

What inspired Chloe Zhao to become a filmmaker?

Chloe Zhao was inspired by her love for movies and her desire to tell stories that reflect the lives of people on the margins of society.
2

How does Chloe Zhao approach directing her films?

Chloe Zhao is known for her intimate and immersive style of directing, often using handheld cameras and natural lighting to create a sense of authenticity and realism in her films.
3

What is the significance of Chloe Zhao being the first woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Director?

Chloe Zhao's historic win at the Academy Awards is seen as a breakthrough moment for diversity and representation in the film industry, inspiring other filmmakers from underrepresented communities to pursue their creative dreams.
4

How does Chloe Zhao's background in independent filmmaking influence her approach to storytelling?

Chloe Zhao's background in independent filmmaking has shaped her commitment to authenticity and storytelling that prioritizes human connections and emotions over spectacle.
5

What themes and topics does Chloe Zhao often explore in her films?

Chloe Zhao's films often explore themes of identity, resilience, and the human connection to nature, highlighting the experiences of individuals who exist on the fringes of society.

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Childhood & Early Life

Chloe Zhao was born Zhao Ting, on March 31, 1982, in Beijing, China, to Zhao Yuji, a former General Manager of a steel company. Her mother worked in a hospital. Chloe was raised in an upper middle class Chinese household and was exposed to the western culture ever since she was a kid. It turned out to be a huge influence on her during her growing up years.

She was always a rebellious kid. She loved reading and narrating stories. She was also deeply influenced by the Japanese manga culture that had a huge impact on the Chinese pop culture in the pre-boom era. She was not good in academics; she was a lazy kid and always indulged in doing something artistic.

She started watching movies from her teens. Wong Kar Wai, an avant garde filmmaker from Hong Kong had a huge influence on her. She closely followed his work and borrowed his visual style to some extent in her future work.

In the mid-1990s, China began opening itself up to the world and that was the time when China became a big market for Hollywood films and music. She listened to Michael Jackson’s music and became a fan. By then she had already dreamed about becoming a storyteller. She wanted to become a manga artist.

Her parents sent her to London for school education; she attended a boarding school at London. Thereafter she moved to Los Angeles and finished her high school graduation.

To understand the world around her better, she studied political science in the Mount Holyoke College, but realised that political science was not for her. She then moved to New York and did odd jobs, including bartending for the next two years.

She finally became serious about her filmmaking career and enrolled at ‘Tisch School of the Arts’ to study film production.

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Career

Following the completion of her film production course at ‘Tisch,’ she wrote, directed, and produced a short film ‘Daughters.’ The film received accolades at national and international film festivals. It premiered at the ‘Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.’ It also won the ‘Best Student Live Action Short film’ at the ‘Palm Springs International ShortFest.’ Being her first attempt at filmmaking, it was a huge beginning for the young writer/director. The film then won the ‘Special Jury Prize’ at the 2010 ‘Cinequest Film Festival.’

She graduated from the university and began working on her debut film project, ‘Songs My Brothers Taught Me.’ It took her many years to gather enough funds for the production budget of the film. She shot the film in real locations, mostly in a remote tribal area in South Dakota.

The film ‘Songs My Brothers Taught Me,’ released in 2015, narrated the story of a young man from the ‘Lakota Sioux’ tribe and his relationship with his younger sister. It was a simple film, but strong characters of the film caught the immediate attention of jury members at various film festivals.

The film had its grand premiere as a part of the ‘U.S. Dramatic Competition’ at the highly prestigious ‘Sundance Film Festival,’ where it received huge critical acclaim. The film also received nomination for the ‘Best First Feature’ at the 31st ‘Independent Spirit Awards.’

At the ‘Cannes Film Festival,’ where it was showcased in the Directors’ Fortnight section and won the ‘Art Cinema Award.’

Enthused by the success of her first feature, she began working on her second feature film, ‘The Rider.’ Since she was unable to raise funds, she used her own savings and credit card money to fund the film. Her then boyfriend, who also happened to be the cinematographer of the film, also funded it partly.

Due to budget issues, she hired mostly non-actors. The film was released in 2017 and received huge critical and commercial acclaim. The contemporary western drama film told the story of a cowboy ‘Brady,’ who shares a complex relationship with his family. The film was shown at the ‘Directors’ Fortnight’ section at the ‘Cannes Film Festival’ where she won the ‘Art Cinema Award.’ Made on a very small budget, the film grossed $3.4 million upon its theatrical release and received widespread appreciation.

This was the big break she was looking for, as the success of the film opened the doors of Hollywood. She was hired to direct a big budget Marvel superhero film ‘The Eternals,’ which is set to release in 2020.

She is also all set to direct an untitled biographical film for Amazon Studios.

Family & Personal Life

Chloe Zhao has been dating cinematographer Joshua James Richards. The two have worked together on ‘The Rider.’

Chloe is a huge fan of Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai and watches his film ‘Happy Together,’ whenever she sets out editing her films.

Facts About Chloe Zhao

Chloe Zhao is the first woman of Asian descent and only the second woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

Before pursuing a career in filmmaking, Chloe Zhao worked as a waitress and a DJ.

She is known for her unique approach to filmmaking, often blending documentary-style techniques with fictional storytelling.

Chloe Zhao is a self-taught filmmaker who learned the craft by watching classic films and experimenting with her own projects.

In addition to her success in Hollywood, Chloe Zhao is also an accomplished writer and has published several essays and short stories.

2021	Best Motion Picture of the Year	Nomadland (2020)
2021	Best Achievement in Directing	Nomadland (2020)

2021	Best Film	Nomadland (2020)
2021	Best Director	Nomadland (2020)

Chloe Zhao Biography

You wanted to know

What inspired Chloe Zhao to become a filmmaker?

How does Chloe Zhao approach directing her films?

What is the significance of Chloe Zhao being the first woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Director?

How does Chloe Zhao's background in independent filmmaking influence her approach to storytelling?

What themes and topics does Chloe Zhao often explore in her films?