Key Takeaways
- Vancouver Film School Film Production alum Rui (Mary) Zhang created The Loglines, an online platform connecting filmmakers, writers, and creatives with real-time industry opportunities.
- The Loglines now reaches over 3,500 global subscribers and 10,000 monthly visitors, including producers, festival programmers, agencies, and studios.
- Rui is offering exclusive access to The Loglines newsletter for VFS Film Production students and alumni, helping them showcase their work and access real-world opportunities.
In the entertainment industry, networking is crucial to success – whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand-new to the industry, looking for film career opportunities and ways to get your work seen. For many who are starting out their career, this can be a daunting process. While some may be hesitant to put themselves out there, others might be new to town and having trouble meeting the right people.
In an effort to bring filmmakers together from around the world, VFS Film Production alum Rui (Mary) Zhang has created The Loglines – an online newsletter and filmmaker showcase platform that connects filmmakers, writers, and creatives with real-time industry opportunities.
“When I was a student, I often saw how difficult it could be for students to connect their work with opportunities beyond the classroom” comments Rui on the genesis of The Loglines. “That experience inspired me to create The Loglines, which now reaches more than 3,000 active subscribers worldwide, including producers, festival programmers, agencies, and studios.”
We were fortunate enough to sit down with Rui to discuss how she brought The Loglines to life, her student experience at VFS, and advice for aspiring filmmakers.
EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VFS’S FILM STUDENTS
Rui has graciously extended her platform to Vancouver Film School’s current and future Film Production students. Alumni and students have already been provided exclusive access to The Loglines newsletter, giving our creators the opportunity to highlight and promote their projects to an ever-growing readership (typically a paid service).
Additionally, The Loglines will serve as a resource for VFS’s students and alumni who are seeking film industry networking opportunities and professional exposure alongside real-world opportunities within the industry. This might just even lead them to their next (or first) gig!
“VFS was a turning point for me” – Rui (Mary) Zhang on her experience as a Film Production student at VFS. OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE LOGLINES CREATOR RUI ZHANG
Tell us all about how you brought The Loglines to life?
The Loglines began with a simple idea: to help creators get seen. The pursuit of “getting seen” has always given my work meaning. As a teenager studying traditional Chinese opera, performing felt powerful because it gave stories and voices a stage. Later, while living in Los Angeles, I hosted the radio program Rui Zhang’s Opera on AM1300, sharing the beauty of this art form and the artists behind it. During my time at VFS, I came to realize that many filmmakers faced the same challenge. So much talent, yet so few clear paths to visibility. That’s what inspired me to build The Loglines, a platform dedicated to gathering and sharing film industry opportunities in one place – right in filmmakers’ inboxes.
What impact has The Loglines made within the film community thus far?
The response from the Loglines community has been incredibly encouraging. We’ve received emails from readers saying the opportunities we share have helped them, and even social media posts from people who say they read us every day. In just three months, our readership has grown to over 3,500 subscribers and around 10,000 monthly web visitors. We’ve also featured 12 filmmakers so far, introducing their work to a wider community of peers and collaborators. It’s been rewarding to see how simply sharing the right information at the right time can open real doors for people.
As a filmmaker yourself, how do you think platforms like The Loglines are helping bridge the gap between emerging creators and industry opportunities?
When you’re starting out, the hardest part is just knowing where to begin. Platforms like The Loglines help by putting opportunities in front of people who might not otherwise have access. It’s not about replacing connections, but making the first step more approachable. Running it has also taught me a lot about community and education – how to listen, share, and build spaces that help artists grow. The Loglines builds a global community with subscribers from all over the world. Curating opportunities for this diverse group has changed how I think about creative education and how art can be shared across communities and cultures.
Do you feel VFS’s Film Production program adequately prepared you for the demands of the entertainment industry?
VFS was a turning point for me. It was intense but rewarding. You collaborate nonstop and learn how to turn ideas into something tangible under real deadlines. The experience gave me both creative confidence and practical discipline.
What really stayed with me was how the instructors pushed us to think like filmmakers, not just technicians. They encouraged us to see the bigger picture – to understand storytelling, collaboration, and problem-solving as part of every creative decision. That mindset has shaped everything I’ve done since, from producing projects to building The Loglines community.
What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers looking to get their work seen and build meaningful connections in the industry?
Don’t wait for permission to start. Use what you have, share what you know, and be generous with others – that’s how real connections form. The industry is full of talented people, but kindness and persistence go a long way.
And never forget where your inspiration comes from. My years in Chinese Opera taught me that emotion and storytelling transcend language. One of my long-term dreams is to bring that art form to the screen – to create a modern story inspired by Chinese Opera for global audiences. In the end, that’s what filmmaking is about: finding what moves you and letting it guide how you connect, create, and share your voice with the world.
READY TO BECOME AN INDUSTRY-READY FILMMAKER?
There are so many exciting and diverse filmmaking career paths to pursue within the film and television industry, and VFS can train you for them all! In just 1 short year in Vancouver Film School’s Film Production program, you can master not one, but TWO of the following specializations: directing, producing, cinematography, post-production, and production design.
Book an appointment with a VFS Advisor to learn more about the program, scholarship opportunities, and to apply!