Maxim Zhuze
Castro Valley,CA
Summary
Aspiring filmmaker with experience in cinematography, editing, directing, and screenwriting, eager to join NYU Tisch to hone my storytelling and filmmaking skills. My goal is to make one day films that resonate deeply with people, inspiring them to see themselves and others in a new light.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
Work History
Sound Designer - "In a Puff of Smoke"
SOCAPA
- Worked on sound recording and mixing in post-production
- Advised the director on enhancing the film’s tense mood by using recorded sound
- Collaborated with director to determine and achieve desired sound for film
Director-Cinematographer - Streets of Abandonment
SOCAPA
- Directed the visual elements to enhance Chantal’s music
- Collaborated with my two co-directors, Zoe and Sophie, to create an idea that will match Chantal’s gorgeous song
- Wrote the original script for the video
- Advised Zoe and Sophie on how to match the musical beats with their cuts
- Directed the cinematography to complement the song’s tone
Cinematographer - "Obsessed"
Interlochen Arts Camp
- Planned and executed a grimy look of the film to match the horror tones, using different methods of lighting to make the antagonist seem more ghostly to the female protagonist
- Color graded the film in DaVinci Resolve to establish an unsettling look in the first half and a comedic tone in the second
- Performed research on available locations, sun position, props and weather conditions at prospective film sites to find perfect grimy lighting for our film
Director, Cinematographer, and Editor
CVHS
- Edited and directed the final project for APUSH, summarizing the year’s learning in a single day of production
- Collaborated with friends to make the best possible film
- Applied techniques learned from SOCAPA, creating fast cuts in Adobe Premiere to match the rapid flow of Kendrick Lamar’s music
- Won the “Best Film” award in the class, an award I didn’t anticipate to win
Film Critic
MZ Movie Reviews
- Inspired by Siskel & Ebert and searching for a way to show my deep affection towards cinema, my friend, Mark Zilberman, and I created film reviews on Youtube
- Worked on creating scripts and recording our reviews every Saturday, consistently improving content and presentation
- Reviewed a wide variety of films from cult classics like American Psycho, to Russian art films, like Zvygantsiev’s The Return, with a focus on the quality of storytelling and other techniques being presented on screen
- Our channel gained traction in the Russian community of San Francisco with family friends requesting us to review movies they’ve recently seen
Photographer
CVHS
- Capturing dynamic photos of the soccer team to display their accomplishments across the school campus, focusing on key moments that highlight their fullest potential
- Experimenting with different types of lenses to get different types of angles when shooting a certain moment
- Using Photoshop to enhance photos, applying color correction and other techniques to create the most visually striking photos
- Creating edits of the games, so people can experience the game and see my creativity prosper at the same time
Cashier
Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church
12.2017 - Current
- Welcomed customers and helped determine their needs.
- Operated cash register for cash, check, and credit card transactions with excellent accuracy levels.
- Addressed customer needs and made product recommendations to increase sales during Christmas Bazar
Education
High School Diploma -
Castro Valley High School
19400 Santa Maria Ave, Castro Valley, CA05-2025
Skills
- Languages: Fluent in English, French, and Russian
- Video Editing: Proficient in Adobe Premiere, Davinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro
- Photo Editing: Skilled in Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom
- Screenwriting: Experienced with Celtx, Final Draft
- Instruments: Proficient in guitar, piano, trumpet, and sousaphone
- Adaptability: Quickly adjusting to changing artistic or technical needs
- Social Media Marketing: Promoting creative projects or events
Timeline
Cashier
Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church
12.2017 - Current
Sound Designer - "In a Puff of Smoke"
SOCAPA
Director-Cinematographer - Streets of Abandonment
SOCAPA
Cinematographer - "Obsessed"
Interlochen Arts Camp
Director, Cinematographer, and Editor
CVHS
Film Critic
MZ Movie Reviews
Photographer
CVHS
High School Diploma -
Castro Valley High School
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