China-centric Pixar flick gives food for thought

When asked how she felt to be the first female director to direct a short film at Pixar, Shi said, "I'm humbled and honored. I'm very lucky, Pixar has always been supportive to me as a creative storyteller. I hope I am the first of many to follow."

"The fact that I am the first woman and first Chinese writer/director of a Pixar short is the best indication of the impact of the #Timesup movement on motion pictures and Pixar in particular. Things are changing. In some animation schools nowadays, there are 75 percent women and only 25 percent guys."

"The fact that this story got made is the best example of the change and progress Pixar has made to embrace stories from other cultures," she added.

But, to be chosen to break Pixar's glass ceiling did not come overnight. Shi had to pay her dues. Over the last seven years at Pixar, she worked as one of many animators on such classics as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Incredibles 2, as she developed her creativity and style.

She spoke of Inside Out directors Pete Doctor and Ronnie Del Carmen, saying "Pete and Ronnie were generous leaders who shared their knowledge with me. I learned a lot from them."

Next, Shi had to run the gauntlet of a rigorous selection process. Pixar invited all their animators to work up three ideas for short animated films. About 60 artists applied and pitched their ideas to a panel of top Pixar executives and producers looking for their next golden goose.

Shi's cross-cultural, female-centric family story struck a chord with the judges and carried her through both rounds of judging to win the top prize. This gave her the opportunity to lead an entire 100-person Pixar production team to bring her story idea to life.

Shi feels she owes much to her parents, from whom she inherited her creativity. "As a child of immigrants, your parents are always reminding you to work extra hard and you are always trying to be worthy of all the sacrifices they made for you."

Born in Chongqing, southwest China, Shi resided in Toronto, Canada most of her life. Her mother is a gifted cook, while her father is an artist and arts professor at Sichuan Fine Arts. It was he who first encouraged her to draw.

In Bao, Shi set out to make a short film that would profile real Chinese culture yet appeal to all audiences. "There are cultural differences, just like with 'Coco'. We had to explain to our American crew why we had to do things a certain way and what a traditional Chinese home would look like."