Daily Inspiration: Meet Yimin Zhang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yimin Zhang.

Hi Yimin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was originally born in China and immigrated to the U.S. with my family when I was starting Middle School. Growing up, I have always been captured by the magic of animation and filmmaking. In Middle School, I found my passion for animation by helping my social studies teacher make animated intros for a school news program. That teacher referred me to a vocational high school for film production in New York City, where I learned the principles of filmmaking. I then went to study animation at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where I was exposed to emerging mediums such as projection mapping, Virtual and Augmented Reality. I also gained experience using new innovations such as LED walls and real-time game engines that are currently disrupting the entertainment industry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many immigrant students, I had a difficult journey assimilating into American public schools. Being a shy kid only made learning English and making friends harder. I am blessed, however, to have supportive parents and teachers who guided me along the way. Navigating my post-secondary education as a first-generation college student had challenges of its own. I did not have people to guide me every step of the way, but I found a network of amazing peers and professors who made the college experience extremely worthwhile and rewarding. Being in an environment where everyone is striving for excellence was a great motivator to produce art and fueled my curiosity to learn as much as I can.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I am working as an Unreal Engine Technical Artist at a previsualization studio called The Third Floor. In live action, previsualization is 3D animation created to articulate complex scenes and facilitate shooting. TTF is an incubator to many Hollywood blockbusters, where artists help directors envision their film and turn scripts and drawings into fully realized animated sequences that guide the entirety of the production pipeline. My role as an Engine TA is to help my team deliver the best possible previs by leveraging the rendering capabilities of a robust game engine. I help design particle systems, special material shaders, and programmable effect setups that empower the animators to tell more complex and convincing stories in the layout stage of the film. I am proud that I am part of the workforce that is pushing the quality bar of previs. Additionally, I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to so many amazing films at their infant stage.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Like it is for many, 2020 was a difficult year for me. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was working on a large-scale Location-Based VR theme park attraction in ShangHai. The project got derailed by the pandemic. As the saying goes, “when one door closes another one opens”. I have moved onto another exciting opportunity since then. But Looking back, there was a moment I felt helpless because there were many things outside of my control. It was an eye-opening experience of how volatile life can be. But I think that focusing my efforts on my passion for animation, as well as having the flexibility to adapt to the changing currents helped me stay the course.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: yiminfx.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativeelf/