Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliette Yan Yiu Ho
Hi Juliette Yan Yiu, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a colorist from Hong Kong and I occasionally also work as a cinematographer. My journey in filmmaking started with my elementary school drama performance. I was being cast as the lead role and I realized that through art and performance, I was able to express things that cannot be easily expressed in real life. In the following years, I studied rigorously and immersed myself in both science and humanities. Eventually, I discovered film as a medium that allows me to apply all of my abilities and knowledge to tell stories. Being both a visual and audio medium, film can provide the sensory and emotional experience that is closest to real life and I believe through the art of cinema, humans can be understood in ways that language cannot convey. I started my career as a colorist when I was still in film school. When I first got to film school, I tried every possible role on a film set, attempting to discover what I wanted to concentrate on. I found myself most comfortable being in a dark room and actively finding solutions to overcome challenges during the coloring process. It allows me to both explore the science and mechanism behind the craft of visual storytelling while learning about experiences and stories from all over the world and contemplate how to recreate them with the film medium. Since then, I have worked on short films from all over the world. I hope to continue to work on stories that make an impact and promote inclusivity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I first came to America, everything was foreign to me. Not only did I have to overcome the technical barrier as a filmmaker starting out but also navigated the cultural differences in a foreign country. Another challenge is work-life balance. Since the film industry needs you to dedicate a lot of energy to it, it’s easy to be lost in the stream of work. I do want to enjoy more lives. Daily life is where all the story and creativity come from. I believe a good work-life balance can facilitate better projects.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Coloring is one of the last procedures of the visual process of a film and my responsibility is to realize the vision of the director and cinematographer and make sure the final film is polished. My work has been recognized by film festivals e.g. Moscow International Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, and New York International Short Film Festival. I took pride in my ability to translate the director’s and cinematographer’s vision onto the final print. It gives me a sense of satisfaction whenever I am able to elevate the film with light, shadows, and color. I value my interactions with my collaborators as I am always able to learn something new from them.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Not necessarily advice as I believe everyone has their unique circumstance. What I wish I had known back then is to appreciate the mundane of everyday life a little more and listen to my instinct. It is what is outside of film that provides me with the best inspiration and builds a rich foundation for my creative work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliette-ho.com/
- Instagram: @julie77e_ho
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Hannah Minaya
Addt’ Photo (Pic 4) Hannah Minaya
