Teddy Zee advice to Chinese students in Los Angeles
Teddy Zee
As one of most successful Chinese American in Hollywood, Teddy Zee shared his experience and advice to about 200 Chinese students of UCLA and other local universities Chinese student at 2018 SoCal Mixer on 2/24.
As keynote speaker, in his speech, he said:
When I see all of you I am reminded about how bright the future is. I look at this group and see a room full of trailblazers. You have done things your way. You have already taken a giant risk as many of you have come to the US from China. You have done things differently than everybody else. And what I encourage you to continue to do so, as many of you are undertaking your search for jobs.
But what I really ask you to do is look beyond money and try to discover your true purpose. Is there something in your life that you’d like to accomplish that means more than money? Something that can really unlock what is special about each and every one of you? Because I believe that we all have special talents. And the ones that are really successful in life are the ones that discover that seed inside themselves, that talent that makes them unique and what makes them stand out.
I’m telling you this as a person who grew up not speaking English. My parents moved here from Shanghai. Of course this is a different world then but I learned how to speak English and I learned about American culture by watching American television and American movies.
I grew up very disadvantaged but I didn’t know that I was disadvantaged. I only saw what was possible and never concerned myself with all the obstacles in pursuing my dreams. And I stand here today as a person who discovered what was different about me. Today, I don’t call myself a producer. I don’t call myself a businessperson. I call myself a storyteller. Because I believe, whether it’s telling the story through film, telling my personal story, pitching the story about a startup, or a new technology, it’s all about finding what’s special in telling that story.
Identifying the special, creating an emotional connection, and creating something compelling. And I urge you all be great storytellers of yourself. Discover what’s different between you and the person standing to your right. Learn to understand why you’re here and what you were placed on this earth to do that was beyond just making money. And I promise you that that will unlock incredible riches beyond your imagination. It will unlock productivity inside of you. And there will be immense satisfaction; you will enjoy getting up each and every day to do your work; because work doesn’t feel like work when you’re pursing your purpose with passion.
I produced the movie Pursuit of Happiness and I really believe that Pursuit of Happiness should’ve been entitled the Pursuit of Purpose. Because if you find what you were placed on this earth to do then you will truly find happiness. I’ve spent time talking to many of you and I’m really encouraged because you have taken risks and are setting out on an exciting times.
You are all risk takers. Some of the people are interested in Hollywood and I ask if you want the Hollywood from the past. The Hollywood we glamorize as represented by the big screen is being disrupted by the small mobile phone screens and digital media. So much change is happening. I urge you to keep your eye not on the rearview mirror and looking back at the glory of Hollywood past, but I urge you to look to the future to a new world. Create your own personal story about how you want to fit into the future as the world changes. In the blink of an eye, there’s change happening.. Blaze your own trail, be a part of the future, ride the first wave, know who you are and tell your own story. ”
Teddy Zee is a Chinese whose films he had produced and supervised have amassed over $2.6 billion in revenue. He served as Executive Vice President at Columbia Pictures, Senior Vice President at Paramount Pictures, President of Sony-based Overbrook Films, President of Fox-based Davis Entertainment, and now under the banner of Teddy Zee Productions. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars), Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmys) & Producers Guild of America and Committee 100. In addition to film and entertainment, Zee has built an active consulting and advisory practice that spans media, technology and commerce while bridging Hollywood with Asia.
Teddy (Left 4) talking with students
Teddy Zee (Right 2)
