Looking at the World in a Creative Light with Junbai Zhou
Written by Malana VanTyler
Junbai Zhou knows better than most that our perception is holistic. Her specific role as chief lighting technician resonates throughout every aspect of a production, from the performances to the way that audiences evaluate the sets, wardrobes, and story being presented. When executed with great creativity and precision, the execution of an ideal lighting design elevates what is captured by the camera from something interesting to purely intoxicating. Regardless of whether the format is that of television, film, music videos, or others, the lighting is essential to the viewer “buying” into the narrative. While she has worked in a variety of settings, music videos offer perhaps the most stylized application of Junbai’s skill set. Reviewing her work on some of these productions is illuminating (completely intentional pun) as to why Ms. Zhou has become one of the most desired collaborators in her field.
Junbai has worked repeatedly on music videos for Grammy Award–Winner Muni Long. The variety of looks and emotional tones of these range from spartan settings to cinematic approaches that rival feature films in aesthetics and grandeur. The aptly titled “Revenge” music video vacillates between romantic moments and those of dark stalking. In contrast, “Superpowers” offers a music video (lyric video) with a single subject in a mostly dark room as a lighted star moves around her. “Providing options is very important” Junbai states, “I always plan ahead for choosing the lighting that can serve multi-purpose in terms of the lighting quality, textures, colors. Reacting fast and giving solutions on the spot from creative director’s notes on the spot is an essential part of helping the director and the team reach their goal while excitement is peaked.”
Teddy Swims has received immense attention in the last two years, including his nomination from the Grammy’s for Best New Artist in 2025. The official music video for his hit song “The Door” features a blend of narrative storytelling and emotional performance where Teddy moves through emotionally charged spaces - sometimes isolated, sometimes illuminated by dramatic lighting. While the lighting may not be what a viewer focuses on throughout this video, it definitely prompts different emotional responses. From the black void surrealistic setting of the table scene seduction to the warm tones of Teddy’s solo performance moments, the lighting clearly establishes the internal mood of the artist in the physical world. Junbai states,
“This is possibly what’s most overlooked about lighting, it brings us into an emotional space. It’s not just about seeing what is happening through the camera, it’s about feeling it. Yes, there is a precision to my work but at its core, it’s all about emotions and how to create the connection for the audience to feel from the perspective we want them to have. It’s deeply expressive to do this type of work.”
While there are days when a music video challenges her to problem solve how to dramatically light many dancers in a factory while sparks erupt all around them, as in her work on Grammy Award and BET Award Nominee Arya Starr’s “Goodbye (Warm Up) ft. Asake”, there are also more calm settings which Ms. Zhou finds attractive. As the chief lighting technician on “The Enterprise Psychic: Bottleneck” commercial for Zapier’s AI platform, which was a Telly Award Winner this past May, Junbai worked closely with cinematographer Andy Hoffman to craft a comical yet awe-inspired mysterious tone. She describes,
“The goal here was to keep the general office look for the office space but use dramatic light for the psychologist, creating this silhouette look from a window behind her with an overly warm sunset lighting, to make sure she has this empowered feeling to fix the client’s problem in no time. We utilized lighting of cold tone versus warm and sharp versus soft lights to show the relationship of the people in the office who need help and psychologist.”
Junbai notes that one of the most enjoyable parts for her is working with DPs whose work she admires, such as on the Sofie Birth commercial “Unwell energy drink ft Alex Harper” which she did with cinematographer Cristina Dunlap (cinematographer on the 2024 Oscar Award–Winning film American Fiction, Sundance Film Festival Award Winner Cha Cha Real Smooth - starring Dakota Johnson, and the official tour cinematographer of the Golden Globe Nominated Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film). What Junbai has created with professionals like these and their teams is an indicator of how great the results can be when highly skilled artistic professionals come together to create something that sparks an emotional response in the public.
