Daily Inspiration: Meet Irvin Liu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Irvin Liu.

Hi Irvin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Taiwan and found my way into an elementary art school when I was in the second grade. My family and I then moved to Los Angeles when I was ten, and while I was not introduced to filmmaking until college, it was love at first sight when I first laid hands on a 16mm camera. I was mesmerized by being able to tell a story visually, the emotions a film can evoke, and the seemingly endless creative choices one can make.

Cinematography felt like the perfect evolution from my childhood fine arts upbringing of drawing and painting. I studied further by going to graduate film school at Chapman University, where I really came into my own. I met many lifelong friends who I still collaborate with today. Since then, I’ve been very fortunate to have shot many narrative feature films and commercials for brands like Nike, Converse, and Bandai.

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?
Being freelance has definitely been a challenge at times, dealing with the ebbs and flows of the film industry. Striving to find a healthier work-life balance, I’ve found cooking to be really enjoyable and almost therapeutic. It’s been a great reminder to take pleasure in the little things in life as well.

I also like to remind myself that ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ and not to fall into the trap of measuring myself against others on social media. The only thing I can control is myself, so I try to just focus on improving my own craft and enjoying the journey along the way, knowing that the goalposts will always be moving.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Director of Photography shooting commercials and narrative films. I am particularly attracted to projects that explore the human condition and our diverse cultures. I believe the greatest power that film has is its ability to convey that we are not alone in our experiences and to share our struggles and triumphs so that we can empathize with each other simply as human beings despite any differences we may have.

My goal for each project has always been to dramatize the stories that I am helping to tell visually and to capture the emotion at the story’s core. While there are many decisions to be made on set, I often let my experience and emotional response to the material and performances be my guide. After all, great storytelling is about taking a universal experience and conveying it through a unique lens – which is informed by my worldview and life experience.

I am most proud of my work on How I Learned to Fly, a narrative feature that is to be released soon. My work on it felt like a culmination of my development as a cinematographer thus far. The story (a coming-of-age drama) very much resonated with me and I was as emotionally in tune on set as I’ve ever been.

I am also very proud of the friendships with my collaborators that I’ve been able to form throughout the years.

Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I recently also had the privilege of teaching a Film Independent Masterclass in Cinematography in Egypt. I’m very lucky to be able to pay it forward to the next generation of filmmakers and I couldn’t be prouder of my students.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during Covid was simply being grateful. The pandemic made me realize that I took so many things for granted, such as my health, time with family and friends, and even just going into indoor spaces.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.irvinliu.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irvinliu