BIO
Nathan (Bo) Zhe (He/Him) is a Kingston-based Multidisciplinary Artist, Producer, Director, Arts Administrator, Photographer, Videographer, and Marketing Director. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and Performance Production (MAPP) with a minor in Employment Relations (EMPR) at Queen’s University.
Born and raised in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, Nathan began his artistic journey as a Cinephile and Film Critic, cultivating a deep interest in contemporary cinema. His creative outlook is influenced by directors such as Olivier Assayas, Hong Sang-soo, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Johnnie To and Philippe Grandrieux. Inspired by these directors, he began working as an Experimental Filmmaker prior to attending Queen’s, focusing on blending different mediums to create self-reflective and visually evocative imagery.
In 2023, Nathan started to work as a Set & Props Designer, Actor, Assistant Stage Manager and Assistant Technical Director in Theatre at Queen's. These experiences sharpened his skills in teamwork, logistics, and creative collaboration. Drawing on this theatrical knowledge, he went on to direct and produce his first narrative short film, The Bachelorette Party (2024), leading an international team through production. The film was selected for the Local Shorts program and premiered at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF) in 2025.
Meanwhile, Nathan began developing his skills and artistic voice in photography and videography, with a particular focus on theatre and creative portrait photography. Collaborating with numerous organizations at Queen’s University and across the City of Kingston, he launched his personal brand and artistic portfolio, offering commission-based photo and video services. His photographic work emphasizes the use of lighting to shape atmosphere, evoke mood, and support visual storytelling. Whereas his videographic work focuses on conveying the artistic vision of each client through creative editing, intentional structure, and thoughtful sound design elements.
In 2025, Nathan made his directorial debut in theatre with Snow in Midsummer: The Silence, which premiered at the Kingston Grand Theatre. This original mime production focused on choreographic storytelling, shadow play, live sound, and special effects. The piece was widely praised by local press, the Queen’s community, and Kingston audiences for its experimentalism, bold creative vision, and striking visual design. It is also regarded as the first student-produced mime production in Kingston. Same year, Nathan served as Producer for Heathers: The Musical, bringing one of the most iconic titles in musical theatre history to Kingston. The production achieved three-time sold out, and was celebrated as a phenomenal success by local residents and the broader theatre community.
In his free time, Nathan began exploring installation art. His debut piece in 2025, Virtual Mannequin, reflects his signature aesthetic by incorporating 3D scanning technology to evoke a deliberately, distorted visual experience.
Alongside his creative pursuits, he also developed practical skills in marketing, budgeting, human resources management, graphic design, and outreach/sponsorship coordination through his involvement with multiple student organizations at Queen’s. These experiences have equipped him with the tools and mindset to pursue his long-term goals of becoming a Creative Entrepreneur, Arts Administrator, Marketing Director, and Producer. He launched a student-focused film production company called NoZy Universe, with the goal of creating a collaborative platform where students can develop their artistic skills, market, distribute their work, and connect with like-minded creatives.
Currently, Nathan is expanding into the political realm, where he challenges himself to provide stronger professional support for Queen’s students by applying his marketing expertise within Canada’s oldest student union—the Alma Mater Society. In this role, he is committed to amplifying the voices of students, with special focues on international and minority communities, while continuing to shape and apply his creative leadership in new, impactful contexts.