The name Disney is synonymous with big productions. From their own brand of family entertainment to the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, Disney is the world’s biggest name when it comes to making films with global appeal. However, maintaining that preeminence requires an anticipation of what is to come; the recent Disney + premier of Disney Launchpad Films confirms that the company is betting on the next generation of great filmmakers creating unique and diverse stories.
Two of the films which were a part of this May 28th premier on the streaming platform shared the common element of Nan Zhou. Nan’s exemplary costume work in numerous films, as well as her collaborations with some of the most notable names in the industry such as two time Oscar Winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao, confirms that she’s one of the brightest behind-the-scenes talent in present day Hollywood.
Zhou was a key part of establishing the authentic identity of the films Dinner is Served and Little Prince(ss) which both premiered as part of Disney Launchpad Films. As the film industry begins to open up again post-pandemic, Zhou and her fellow filmmakers are injecting an invigorating freshness to the industry’s streaming platform original films.
Dinner is Served is one of the most profound films of this new Disney series. It speaks to both the universal spirit to discover one’s self as well as the awareness that the world may attempt to define you for its own purposes. The film centers around Xiaoyu (Qi Sun), a Chinese student attending a prestigious American boarding school. Though his fellow international students do not relate to Xiaoyu’s dream of being the maître d’ of the school’s dining facilities, he remains undeterred.
When he begins to realize that he is an unwitting pawn of a racial agenda, Xiaoyu responds with historic defiance. A native of China who was educated in both her home country and the U.S., Nan’s own personal experiences gave her an intuitive ability to conduct her role as key costumer for Dinner is Served. The costuming in this film is immensely adept in its subtlety, providing nearly unnoticeable clues about the discomfort which Xiaoyu and other students feel because of their environment.
While some American viewers may not feel the full weight and impact of this, it resonates profoundly with those of Chinese nationality and Chinese descent. Dinner is Served was created by Hao Zheng whose 2019 film The Chef won eighteen awards at prestigious festivals across the planet like the Hollywood Silver Screen Festival, Asians on Film Festival, Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film, and others.
Little Prince(ss) saw a repeat of the collaboration Nan had on Dinner is Served with Costume Designer Lynn Ollie. Also a featured film on Disney Launchpad Films, this story explores the idea of culture and society’s attitude towards gender norms. At a time when so much of the country seems fixated on defining adherence to a “type”, Little Prince(ss) chooses to make the discussion one of the individual and their character.
Gabriel is a young boy who is inclined to choices that may not be typically masculine centric. When he makes friends with another young boy named Rob, Rob’s father is uneasy with this and confronts Gabriel’s parents. This film packs the triple punch of addressing gender definition, culture, and generational perspectives. Many of the triggers for conflict in the story are based on Gabriel’s choices in clothing and accessories.
Again, these factors rooted in the costuming are pivotal to the message of the film. Nan concedes that changes were numerous due to so many young actors being the majority of the cast, but notes that her portable sewing machine circumvented any possible wardrobe related delays or derailments.
There’s an inherent dichotomy in what Nan Zhou does; taking brand new costumes and making them appear aged in a way that complements the films she works on. This is the very inverse of what most of us want to achieve in our attire. Nan acknowledges this but reiterates that her work, like that of any other film professional, is about believability. She was excited to be a part of these films for Disney because they provided a platform for not only great storytelling but important storytelling.
Ms. Zhou states, “This project is very special for me. It was my first job since the pandemic hit. A lot of projects got canceled but Disney didn’t back out. The pandemic made the experience working for Disney even more surreal for everyone on set during the shoot. I felt so proud to be part of this team. I strong believe Disney made the right choice. This special project not only gave young filmmakers an opportunity but also brought new blood to Disney. Each leading role of every department was the best in their field. I hope the industry will have more chances like this for diverse filmmakers.”
Writer: Arlen Gann