Filmmaker Deng Lu: Let the storm rage even harder

"Let the storm rage even harder. Let me see what other moves you've got, nature," Deng Lu thought while standing barefoot in a frozen river.

Deng, often called the "Steadicam Queen," is a female cinematographer and director who can skillfully operate a Steadicam. For her, any difficulties she faces seem like a challenge she's eager to take on.

Born into a family of filmmakers, Deng has worked in the film industry for over two decades. She is known for being the Steadicam operator on "An Elephant Sitting Still," which won Best Asian Chinese Language Film at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards and the FIPRESCI Award at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.

As Deng began experimenting with short videos and went viral on the internet, reactions quickly became split. Many viewers praised her work, while some film professionals questioned why a cinematographer would "play with this kind of stuff."

Deng once worried the label might overshadow her work in film, especially in an industry where female cinematographers are still rare.

Everything changed after a lecture she delivered, when a young female student told her, in tears, that watching Deng's interviews inspired her to pursue cinematography. In that moment, Deng realized short videos could carry the same power as film.

"Whether people like it or not, I will continue to shoot short videos. I think that with their fast and direct formats, short videos truly reach a lot of people and empower them. To me, that is just as meaningful as making films," she said.

As one of the female pioneers navigating the film industry, Deng believes those who came first can only mark the beginning. "Whether that path truly becomes a road depends on those who come after us. A road only exists when enough people walk it – and the steps are theirs to take," she said.

Today is International Women's Day. Here's to every woman on her journey.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Chen Hongyu, Zhao Ying

Cameraman: Han Xu

Cover: Pei Zihan