Meet Yiwen Ma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yiwen Ma.

Hi Yiwen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been working as a sound editor in this field for approximately seven years. This story begins with an observation chance in a recording studio. When I was fourteen, my father worked in a sound studio. I was always curious about his working environment and what exactly he did. Sometimes he sneaked me into his studio when he wasn’t very busy, and this provided me the initial opportunity of visiting a professional recording studio. During this visit, I was fortunate to observe an ADR recording project for a television show by chance. That was the first time I know that sound is editable and there’s more space to design. The backstage sound works gave me a mystery feeling and attracted me a lot.

As I learned more about sound, I decided to pursue a professional study experience for improving my knowledge. During my undergraduate studies, I started from learning foundational knowledge of film and gained practical experience in film sound. Fortunately, I got an internship chance at a TV series company. Because of the work experience, I just realized that being a sound editor was the goal I want to pursue in the future.

The advanced film industry in the United States motivated me and I thought it was time to improve further knowledge in sound design at the US. Later, I enrolled at Savannah College of Art and Design. The various courses offered me many opportunities to explore unfamiliar fields, such as game audio and sound synthesis. Thus, not only I got lots of ideas about sound design from these classes, but also, I made a lot of friends by doing sound design for student film projects. Discussing the sound design ideas with team members was very inspiring me, and it was also very rewarding for me to present the sound design to the audience.

After graduating from SCAD, I moved to Los Angeles and became a freelance sound editor and sound designer since then. Now, I have worked on many projects ranging from feature films, short videos and advertisements. Sound design often sparks my creativity and leads me to new possibilities. In the future, I plan to keep working in this field, keep learning, and create more outstanding sound design works.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The most struggle thing I have ever faced was in 2020. As I moved to Los Angeles, I planned to work for several projects, which I was very excepted and excited with. However, the panic of Covid-19 came up. As we know, most of the film studios and productions were asked to shut down. For coming over this hard time, I got a part-time job which can provide me a flexible working schedule and income. Meanwhile, I still had time to do some film projects as a sound designer. That was a difficult situation, but everything was getting better in the middle of 2021. With the recovery of the film industry, I can gradually get on track with my career.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Now I am a sound effect editor and sound designer. Sound effect editing includes foley editing, ambiance editing, hard effect editing, and sometimes may include special sound effect editing. Matching the sound effects, as tiny footsteps, rustles, even hand actions, with picture, always needs lots of time, but I’m happy and patient with that. The most important thing is how to make sound elements and clips fit the picture. Not only the timing is significant, but also the texture. It is delightful for me to rebuild an appropriate soundscape for picture.

For the sound design work, I would like to have a meeting with the main crews before working starts to discuss what kind of sound style they want to achieve. If they can provide some examples of film clips, that will be helpful for me to know their designing idea.

How do you define success?
There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yiwen093.wixsite.com/website
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yiwen-ma-92685667/