Meet Weiqi Cai

We were lucky to catch up with Weiqi Cai recently and have shared our conversation below.

Weiqi, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Finding a personal goal in life is a luxury for many. I always remember the line from “Forrest Gump” where Forrest, holding a box of chocolates at the bus stop, says, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” So, in pursuing a goal, it might be like eating chocolates: you have to keep trying, piece after piece. If it’s good, you finish it; if it’s not, you move on. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to taste our favorite flavor before life ends; other times, we aren’t fortunate enough to find it. All we can do is keep searching.

I recall an event near my college graduation that solidified my path towards filmmaking. At the time, I was an animation student who had unexpectedly developed an interest in film. I aspired to learn filmmaking and become a director, but this ambition was challenging for someone with no background in film production. I started reading books on filmmaking and tried to self-study the craft during my postgraduate studies. I even began shooting short films, but I was still hesitant to tell others about my desire to become a director. To me, directing seemed like a sacred profession, and I was afraid to reveal this ambition to others. Then, one day, I suddenly fell ill.

I had been coughing for some time, and the pain in my chest was intense during each cough. After a while, I noticed a swelling near my lungs. When I touched it, I felt a hard lump. I had to go to the hospital. The doctor arranged for an X-ray after examining me. The nurse told me I could get my X-ray results in an hour and a half. While waiting, I wondered what I would do if I had a serious illness. Would I still want to study film? Was there anything else I wanted to do? After more than two hours without any news, I asked the nurse. She told me the X-ray was ready, but the report wasn’t. She suggested I take the X-ray to the doctor first. I thought, perhaps I really had a severe condition. As I walked to the doctor’s office with the X-ray, my mind was racing. I considered returning to my hometown, buying a good camera, spending time with my family, capturing scenes and stories I loved, and watching favorite movies. At that moment, I realized how important filmmaking was to me. Eventually, the doctor informed me that I only had a respiratory infection affecting my lungs, causing some fluid accumulation. After over half a month of treatment, I recovered.

This experience made me understand that a dream is something I want to pursue even when facing death.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a film director. For me, film is a way to understand the world. When I watch movies, I can experience the director’s perspective and approach to viewing the world. This helps me appreciate the world from different viewpoints. Similarly, when I start filming, I share what I see and feel with the audience, and in return, I gain energy and new perspectives from them. All of this excites me immensely!

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?

I believe the three most crucial traits are: passion, gratitude, and luck. Firstly, filmmaking is an immensely challenging endeavor, involving hardships beyond ordinary imagination. The career journey in film varies significantly for each filmmaker, necessitating strong passion to persist on their chosen path. We inevitably confront numerous failures and obstacles, essentially constituting our journey. This is where our second trait, gratitude, becomes essential. Despite enduring mistreatment, we must persevere and maintain gratitude for the challenges and assistance we receive. Only then can we avoid succumbing to self-doubt. Lastly, luck is paramount. Encountering an exceptional team, seizing unexpected opportunities, or undergoing unique experiences—luck often determines critical turning points in the film industry. For directors, luck is a decisive factor in this specialized profession. While countless aspire to become film directors daily, only a select few have the chance to actualize their cinematic visions. Frequently, those who get the opportunity to direct may not be the most skilled, but they are certainly fortunate.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest challenge I am currently facing is securing funding for my feature film. This is not an easy task, especially for an auteur director. Given the current global economic downturn, making a feature film is an even more daunting challenge for new directors, particularly Asian directors. What I can do is prepare a solid script and work on commercial projects to cover my living expenses. At the same time, I aim to demonstrate my commercial value through these projects while participating in various film festivals with my short films.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://weiqicai.webflow.io/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weechee_cai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiqi-cai-136477175/