Meet Ruichen Bai

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ruichen Bai. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ruichen below.

Ruichen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I am currently working professionally as a Production Designer for Film and TV. Four years ago, I decided to enter the film industry. Before that, I was a graphic design student. When I look back on my decision to switch careers, I realize it wasn’t a sudden impulse; it had been brewing for a while. During my time in school, I found myself more drawn to visual storytelling compared to traditional graphic design, and I accumulated a lot of experience in animation and experimental filmmaking. My first self-directed experimental film, “404 Not Found,” was featured at the Shanghai Biennale exhibition, where I also made many friends in the film industry. They encouraged me to try working as a director, so initially, that was my goal.

My friends helped me break into the film industry by assisting me in joining short film crews to learn. The hours on set were tough, and I became deeply engrossed (almost neglecting my studies at school, which wasn’t good). I enjoyed meeting new people, acquiring new knowledge, and discovering new stories. While I aspired to be a director, perhaps because of my background as a design student, I often found myself on set as a production designer. Over time, I discovered the allure of production design in film. I realized that production designers also tell stories, but they tell the stories of characters by designing the spaces they inhabit. I enjoy the feeling of experiencing different lives through this role.

Although I acknowledge that becoming a production designer had some unexpected elements, isn’t it true that when you’re young, you should explore and experiment to find the path that suits you best? After graduating from my undergraduate program, I decided to pursue further education in the more mature film industry in the United States, so I enrolled in NYU’s Design for Stage and Film program, where I gradually found my place.

Now, my goal is to participate in designing feature-length films and large-scale TV productions.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am currently working professionally as a Production Designer for Film and TV. Four years ago, I decided to enter the film industry. Before that, I was a graphic design student. When I look back on my decision to switch careers, I realize it wasn’t a sudden impulse; it had been brewing for a while. During my time in school, I found myself more drawn to visual storytelling compared to traditional graphic design, and I accumulated a lot of experience in animation and experimental filmmaking. One of my self-directed experimental films, “404 Not Found,” was featured in the Shanghai International Art Biennale, where I also made many friends in the film industry. They encouraged me to try working as a director, so initially, that was my goal.

My friends helped me break into the film industry by assisting me in joining short film crews to learn. The hours on set were tough, and I became deeply engrossed (almost neglecting my studies at school, which wasn’t good). I enjoyed meeting new people, acquiring new knowledge, and discovering new stories. While I aspired to be a director, perhaps because of my background as a design student, I often found myself on set as a production designer. Over time, I discovered the allure of production design in film. I realized that production designers also tell stories, but they tell the stories of characters through designing the spaces they inhabit. I enjoy the feeling of experiencing different lives through this role.

Although I acknowledge that becoming a production designer had some unexpected elements, isn’t it true that when you’re young, you should explore and experiment to find the path that suits you best? After graduating from my undergraduate program, I decided to pursue further education in the more mature film industry in the United States, so I enrolled in NYU’s Design for Stage and Film program, where I gradually found my place.

Now, my goal is to participate in designing feature-length films and large-scale TV productions.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

To meet people from different fields and learn from them, to stay true to your feelings, and to persistently strive for your goals（or to find a goal if you don’t have one yet）.

Through conversations with people from different fields, you can broaden your perspective and maintain a positive outlook on life. Everyone is like a book, and when you open up to read about them, you’re bound to be inspired, seeing the diversity of life. Never feel despair or lose confidence in your current difficulties.

Being true to your inner feelings means acknowledging your inner confusion and fears, which is perfectly normal. Don’t feel ashamed because of your fears. You can sensibly avoid decisions you perceive as risky and do what you believe is right without regret.

Persistence in effort is crucial. You may not be perfect now, and mistakes at work may have offended some people, but these can serve as markers for your progress. Strive to correct your mistakes, and this personal improvement will elevate you.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I hope to connect with more professional filmmakers. You can find me on Instagram under my name Ruichen Bai.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: ruichen_bai
• Facebook: Ruichen Bai

Image Credits

Film: Rooster Will Crow Again
Film: The Pink Funeral
Film: Playas
Film: Hollow