On January 16th, the documentary “The Firsts in Life” jointly produced by CCTV Network Video Center and Shanghai Media Group Documentary Center was broadcast on CCTV Network, Dragon TV, and other platforms. In the list of cast members at the end of the show, Liu Huaigu, a senior majoring in marketing at Wenzhou-Kean University, appeared on the director assistant’s list. Currently, this documentary holds a high score of 9.2 on the Douban Film website.

the poster of the documentary “The Firsts in Life” 

In 2018, Liu directed WKU’s first graduation microfilm, “Letter,” and participated in the production of CCTV’s “The Firsts in Life” in the summer of 2019. Just after 2020, as an intern, he joined the short video media team — “Cat’s Kitchen,” which has 51 million fans. On the “film” of his own life, he expresses with the lens, leaving his unique image. Nearing graduation, he has already received an offer from Shanghai Media Group (SMG).

Dream is my best booster

Liu Huaigu

“Don’t be limited by your major. Many choices are not set in stone. The practice is the best way, to tell the truth. It can intuitively make you feel whether you are suitable for the industry and job or not,” Liu said. Who would have thought that this young man from Wenzhou, who is walking on the road of film and television production, is a student majoring in marketing? For Liu, every choice in life and every experience will not be useless.

When asked why Liu photography and filming, his reason is simple, “I am eager to record the state with photos.” He yearns to capture a state of being, perhaps, a couple, a pedestrian hurrying by, or a crowded bus. Behind these states, mixed emotions permeate. Liu imagines the stories of the people in the photos and expects the stories the viewer will associate with them. Like countless people who love photography, Liu longs for the feeling of carrying a camera back and forth between different school activities. After numerous practices, he realized that technology was the prerequisite for photography. So, he began to pursue high-quality work by digging into the abstract emotions behind the photos.

Liu Huaigu's photography work (1)

Learning the ABC of filming depends on self-study. He drew lessons from videos on YouTube and Bilibili, bought online courses, studied in projects with students from related majors abroad, and practiced offline in Wenzhou’s local wedding imaging company. Day by day, Liu’s works are gradually refined in visual angle, and the composition and light and shadow also become more coordinated.

On-campus, he joined the Public Relations Department of Student Ambassadors, the “Moment” Filming Department of Student Media and Design Center, and produced a series of videos, such as “Breakfast” and “Travel with the US”. He gradually showed his edge and became the filming expert in WKU. In the summer of 2018, he filmed WKU’s first graduation microfilm, “Letter”.

Always be prepared

The birth of “Letter” made Liu’s work presented in front of more audiences for the first time. In the past, he only needed to consider whether the composition was beautiful. But now, he has to arrange directing, shooting, editing, color matching, etc. and needs to consider the coordination of the scene and all the work in the later stage. Liu said frankly that these are difficulties he had never imagined. But after getting familiar with the team members, they understood each other better, and the shooting gradually went on the right track. Finally, the microfilm also won him a significant award, the second prize of the “Moving · Graduation Season” Micro Video Creation Competition. This experience also made Liu realize the importance of teamwork. He realized how helpful it is for self-improvement by being in the right team.

Liu Huaigu's photography work (2)

Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. With the previous experiences, he quickly seized the opportunity when it came. When he participated in an event held by the innovation network speech platform WIN, he met a guest, who would later become the director of the film, “The Firsts in Life”. Later, Liu received and agreed to the director’s internship invitation. In the professional team of “The Firsts in Life”, he plans the progress with the director and occasionally participates in the shooting.

In January of this year, Liu joined the creative team of “Cat’s Kitchen”. With the notion of “one person, one cat” and a healing style, “Cat’s Kitchen” has become the most eye-catching head IP in the domestic gourmet self-media in China. Liu said that “Cat’s Kitchen” is a space for young people to exchange ideas. For him, this is undoubtedly the best stage. Now, he is immersed in new knowledge, while learning in the team has become his instinct. “If you join an interesting team and work with a group of interesting people, even if the current work is boring and rigid, life will be full of happiness,” he said.

See the World Through the Lens

Liu Huaigu's photography work (3)

Looking through Liu’s Moments of WeChat, you will find many beautiful photos that can be saved directly as wallpapers. His footprints cover all over the world, and the photos that he takes record various cities. He seldom goes to places of interest, but he is interested in fascinating areas that are little known. Liu enjoys photographing and communicating with the locals and listening to their stories.

What traveling brings is not only visual enjoyment but also the interaction with a variety of people. So during the holidays, besides traveling, Liu went to various summits and expos around the world to find like-minded friends. In his view, networking, though sounds cliché, is essential. Through networking, Liu successfully joined the team of “The Firsts in Life”. Until now, he has traveled through 13 countries and met a group of like-minded partners.

At present, Liu has received an offer from Shanghai Media Group (SMG). But he is still not satisfied with the status quo. In addition to photography and video production, he also wants to start his own business and set up his own video company in the future.

“Every time I take a picture, every time I send out a resume, and every time I go to a country, I am changing.” For Liu, if he dares to chase his dreams, there is nothing impossible.