Shih-Ching Tsou

Shih-Ching Tsou
鄒時擎
Born
Taipei, Taiwan
EducationFu Jen Catholic University (BA)
The New School (MA)
Occupation(s)Film producer, director, actress
Years active2004–present

Shih-Ching Tsou (Chinese: 鄒時擎) is a Taiwanese-American film producer, director, and actress. She co-directed the film Take Out (2004) with Sean Baker. She also produced Baker's other films Starlet (2012), Tangerine (2015), The Florida Project (2017) and Red Rocket (2021).

Early life and education

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Tsou was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. After graduating from Fu Jen Catholic University,[1] Tsou came to New York City for her master's degree in Media Studies at The New School.[2]

Career

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Tsou's first film Take Out which she co-directed, co-wrote, co-produced with Sean Baker. The film had its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2004,[3] then going on to screen at the Nashville Film Festival where it won the grand jury prize.[4] It was released in a limited release in the United States on June 6, 2008.[5] In 2009, it was nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award.[2] Take Out had a 4K digital restoration release on Bluray by the Criterion Collection in 2022.[3]

Tsou went on to work with Baker on his third film, Starlet, as an executive producer and costume designer.[6] The film had its world premiere at SXSW on March 11, 2012.[7] The film was released in a limited release on September 9, 2012 by Music Box Films.[8] Tsou along with Baker and the ensemble cast were given the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award in 2013.[9]

Baker and Tsou collaborated again on Tangerine, where she served as a producer on the film as well as the costume designer, art department, additional camera operator, and made her acting debut in the film. It was filmed completely on iPhone 5s.[6] The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2015.[10] The film had a limited release by Magnolia Pictures on July 10, 2015.[11]

After Tangerine, Tsou produced Baker's next feature The Florida Project. The film premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival[12] and was theatrically released in the United States on October 6, 2017 by A24.[13] It won at least 38 and was nominated for at least 104 awards including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Willem Dafoe (see List of accolades received by The Florida Project).

In 2022, Tsou began production on her first solo directorial feature, Left-Handed Girl, a family drama set in a night market in Taipei, Taiwan.[14]

Her latest producing work is Baker's feature Red Rocket, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and has received rave reviews.[15] In 2021, along with other members of the Red Rocket team, she received the Producer Award at the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards.[16]

Tsou was one of the finalists of 2009 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise Honoree in Filmmaking.[17] She served as a programmer[18] for the Slamdance Film Festival and was a member of the jury in 2019.[19]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Take Out Director, producer, writer, editor
2012 Starlet Executive producer, costume designer
2015 Tangerine Mamasan Producer, costume designer, additional camera operator, cameo
2016 Snowbird Producer
2017 The Florida Project Perfume Wholesaler Producer, cameo
2021 Red Rocket Ms. Phan Producer, cameo
TBA Left-Handed Girl Director, writer, producer, editor

References

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  1. ^ 《奇幻城堡》奧斯卡入圍　台灣製片意外踏上電影路│TVBS新聞網
  2. ^ a b "Spirit Awards ‘09: 'Take Out' Director Shih-Ching Tsou", IndieWIRE, February 19, 2009, retrieved 2011-03-26
  3. ^ a b AnOther (2022-10-17). "Sean Baker Shares the Story Behind His 2004 Masterpiece Take Out". AnOther. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  4. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (2005-11-02). "'Take Out' for party of two". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  5. ^ "Take Out". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Hess, Taylor (February 10, 2015). ""I Don't Particularly Like Networking…. I Just Care About Making Good Films": Shih-Ching Tsou on Producing". FilmmakerMagazine.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "Starlet". SXSW.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Starlet". MusicBoxFilms.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2013 SPIRIT AWARDS". Film Independent. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. ^ Marine, Joe (July 23, 2015). "How the Filmmakers Behind Sundance Hit 'Tangerine' Shot on an iPhone & Got Cinematic Results". NoFilmSchool.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  11. ^ "Tangerine". Magnolia Pictures. Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  12. ^ "Fortnight 2017 | La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs". 2017-04-19. Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  13. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2017-06-12). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Title 'The Florida Project' Stakes Out October Date". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  14. ^ Lavallée, Eric (2022-07-11). "Street...Food for Thought: Shih-Ching Tsou Begins Production on "Left-Handed Girl"". IONCINEMA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  15. ^ Davis, Clayton (2021-09-03). "It's Okay Academy: You Can Nominate Simon Rex for Best Actor for 'Red Rocket'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  16. ^ Pener, Degen (2021-11-14). "Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Honor 'Spencer,' 'The Harder They Fall' and 'The Lost Daughter'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  17. ^ "Centering Voices from the Fringe: Shih-Ching Tsou". Vilcek Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  18. ^ "The Extended Slamdance Family". Slamdance. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  19. ^ "'Dollhouse' Leads 2019 Slamdance Awards Winners". TheWrap. 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.


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