By Mark Muckenfuss

Ziwen Meng had no idea where Monterey, California, was or that there was a university there when a California State University, Monterey Bay representative walked into Meng’s high school classroom in Jiu Jiang, China, in 2015. The speaker told the class about the region where the university was located and about CSUMB’s programs. 

“He gave us some information about CSUMB and showed us some pictures,” Meng recalled. “I really liked the environment – the nature and the weather both.”

When the rep mentioned the Cinematic Arts and Technology degree the school offers, Meng was sold.

“I knew I really loved film when I was 13 or 14,” he said. “When I finished high school, I saw – with this major – the United States is the best in the world. American film majors have access to a complete set of industrialization processes.” 

Meng said he thinks American film schools are “more serious” and provide students with greater opportunities for hands-on learning. He said that’s especially true of CSUMB’s program.

“At CSUMB, you learn to collaborate with other students,” he said. “This is really similar to feature film work, so that is good. Every step, I’m able to learn really clearly. I think I can gain more knowledge, skills and experience that will be of great help to my future career development.”

Meng said he hopes to become either a director of photography or a film director. And, while he likes documentaries, he said, “If I make a film, I prefer comedy.”

His biggest challenge, he said, was finding his place at CSUMB. English is sometimes still a struggle for him. When he started classes in 2019, his language skills were limited. 

“In the beginning,” he said, “I was a really shy person, partly because my English was not really good.”

Making friends was hard and, when the pandemic hit the following year, it didn’t help. Being thousands of miles from home was also difficult. 

“The first year, I felt really lonely,” he said. “The second year, I had some friends. Some were Chinese, some were from here, some were from other countries.” 

As his community has grown, so has his confidence. 

“With this major, you have to talk to others,” Meng said. “Now I can talk with my partners or even groups in class.”

In addition to the close relationships he’s been able to build with fellow students, he’s gotten to know his instructors well too. 

“The professors are like friends,” he said. “It’s like having a friend telling me how to do it. I really enjoy the educational environment here.”

He likes the physical environment as well. 

“I’ve been to every beach from Monterey to Big Sur,” Meng said. The only thing he’s not wild about is the water temperature. “It’s really, really cold,” he laughed.

Not at all like the warm relationships he has formed at CSUMB on his way to pursuing his dreams of working in the film industry.  

Read more stories in this series.