Meet Mason Ma

We were lucky to catch up with Mason Ma recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mason, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

There isn’t a particular skill or ability that I feel stands out about me, as I believe many others have much more to say. I’m just a simple guy, born into a middle-class family in Suzhou, China, now somehow living in Los Angeles, trying to break into the film industry. I studied Acting and Screenwriting in college because I watch tons of movies and daydream a lot. Some of my writing friends have called my pitches creative, which I consider a gift. I love making movies, and I believe this is the only job I should be doing, no matter the position. But turning what I love into work has ruined it for me. What’s the point of making a film if it’s never going to be seen? Then it feels like the biggest waste of time. Every story seems like it’s already been told, and writing a clichéd expositional scene or cheesy jokes can be soul-crushing. After a while, you just don’t want to be creative anymore; you get lazy.

When moments like this happen, I watch what public consider as ”terrible films”, or TikTok videos. It helps to vent my frustration on them, and boost my confidence and reminds me of the purpose of creating – to prove myself, to entertain others, and to leave something meaningful behind after I die. Learning from other people’s creations motivates me too, especially if I can find their passion in their work. When you reach a certain age and have been doing similar work for decades with nothing in return, passion needs to be reminded constantly, and that’s important for creating.

I’m not sure if this really answers the question, but I often find myself bouncing between feeling like the most creative filmmaker alive, and feeling completely drained of ideas like a stupid-head. But it doesn’t matter, as long as I haven’t stopped creating.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I was born into a middle-class family in Suzhou, China. I came to Los Angeles to study acting and screenwriting, hoping to become a filmmaker. I love being on set, having a clear goal, and everyone working towards it, it is the best. We have a team that often collaborates, helping each other make indie films come to life.

I was briefly a cinematographer and editor back in China, where I shot wedding videos and celebrity interviews. I’ve done some film subtitle translations, though it was non-profit. I also worked as a drama teacher, teaching kids how to act on stage, developing their hobby – and that was the most fun I’ve had.

Looking back over the past ten years, I’ve done a lot, but also nothing worth talking about. It was all just work, just part of life. If you need a hand in making a movie, let me know.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Be true to yourself. In showbiz, especially with the political correctness going on, people tend to be “Yes Men” to keep themselves out of trouble. They’ll say one thing but think differently. It’s okay for them to do so, but you must know your work and understand its true quality. Set high standards for yourself. Don’t be overly sensitive or vulnerable – create work that you are truly proud of.

Make sure you are bringing something positive to the world. That doesn’t mean you have to educate people with your work. Even if it’s purely entertainment, lead it with the right purpose and point of view. Think about if anybody out there will truly appropriate your work, and if anybody will get hurt through your work.

Learn more. Always be learning and experiencing, so you can meet different people in different corners of the world. Learn about different cultures, try different foods, accept differences. Take what is good and apply to your own. Avoid relying solely on the news because it only shows one side of the story – go see things for yourself.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Being a foreigner is hard.

The homesickness, cultural differences, loneliness. You can’t talk to anyone because they won’t understand your struggles with visas, or why you dislike burgers and pizza. I can’t believe it takes an hour to reach T-Mobile customer service, or that delivery also takes an hour even after I’ve tipped. Don’t even get me started on the DMV. The challenges I face aren’t work-related; they’re mostly about the living environment. I was used to the L.A. lifestyle, until I turned 30, and I’m still a foreigner.

However, a tough environment can breed better ideas for storytelling. I recently realized it’s almost impossible to think of new script ideas when I’m in my hometown, as I discovered during a break last month. Life there was so comfortable that all I could think about was what to eat the next day. Only when I’m suffering do I have something to say through my writing. Ironic, isn’t it?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immasonma/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-ma-0abbb1299/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4735694/