Today we’d like to introduce you to Yin Fu.
Hi Yin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am from China. I have been interested in art since childhood and chose animation as my major in college. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I went to Savannah College of Art and Design in the United States to pursue a master’s degree. Currently, I’m working in the film and television industry in Los Angeles.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the difficulties throughout my career has been the incomprehension of my family and friends. I was born in a small city, and there is no one in my family who is engaged in art-related industries, engaging in art is considered to have no future in public perception. Therefore, when I announced to my parents that I would choose art as my major, I was strongly opposed by my family. It was only in the past two years that I was recognized by my family that my original choice was correct after I had a stable job and made a living on my own. Another of the biggest challenges came from the process of figuring out which way I want to go. Although I have been interested in art since I was very young, I did not begin to receive systematic art education until I decided to choose art as my major in middle school. Moreover, due to limited resources, I had a very narrow cognition of the specific direction suitable for me. From undergraduate study to job hunting after graduation, the cognition of my own development direction has gone through several profound dissociation processes with the expansion of my vision. This process is to find a more suitable direction step by step after constantly breaking the ideas I always believed and insisted on. This process is painful, and it requires me to recognize myself and start over, but it also makes me more brave and sober.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m working at The Third Floor Inc as a visualization artist providing previsualization and postvisualization for movies. Specifically, my work is creating the shots into 3D animation according to the script or storyboard to provide a reference for the real shooting, and composing the previs elements with the live-action photography after production to quickly preview the film before implementing final VFX. I recently worked on Loki. This job requires the artist to be technically proficient in multiple software and undertake multiple tasks, to know animating, compositing, editing, and artistically to have the same comprehensive ability as a director, knowing about photography, composition, and concept art. Visualization is like the bridge between departments playing a crucial role in film production. One of the most surprising things about my work was that I realized that some of the things that I had done that didn’t seem useful or meaningful at the moment had become my aesthetic nourishment, and had played a crucial role in my work and allowed me to create work that was different from others. My interest in art is not limited to my animation major. I am also interested in traditional art, modern art, fashion design, and so on. In my spare time, I learn and try various forms of art creation, visit art museums and listen to various art lectures. Art is interlinked. Whether it is learning a variety of software in professional education or being exposed to a large number of diversified art forms in daily life, continuous learning and broadening my horizon enable me to have a unique artistic vision after work or comprehend work content more quickly and draw analogies.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be good at asking questions. The people who have helped me the most in my career are my colleagues. I have to say that all the people I have met from work are super friendly. They are always open to discussion, no matter in their professional field or career development. As an introvert, I tend to shut myself down a lot, but when you ask questions honestly to the people around you everyone is very enthusiastic. Almost everyone in my industry has their own technical skills, and everyone can be a mentor to me. Never be afraid to ask questions.
Applaud the work of others. In the art industry, everyone is unique. I am often amazed by the excellent works of my colleagues at work. At such times, I will not be stingy with my own praise and ask them how they made their works. These are great opportunities to communicate with my coworkers.
Be genuine, be grateful. Express sincere gratitude to the people you work with for their help at the end of each project. At this time, I will ask them to give me feedback on my work performance or career development. As a newcomer in the workplace, my predecessors are always willing to impart their experience and offer constructive suggestions to me, and I will also keep a sincere and candid attitude.
Contact Info:
- Email: fuyin529@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.yinfuportfolio.com/
Image Credits
Mountain Spirits – Yin Fu Senior Film STRICTLY BATHROOM – Yin Fu MFA Thesis Film STRICTLY BATHROOM 2 – Yin Fu MFA Thesis Film Loki Credit – Yin Fu
