Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuxin Cha.
Hi Yuxin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Yuxin, a cinematographer currently pursuing my MFA at UCLA. Born and raised in Guiyang, China, I discovered my love for cameras in middle school and taught myself filming and editing skills along the way. After completing my undergraduate degree at UC Irvine, studying Film and Media Studies, I decided to keep studying film production, focusing on cinematography. I like to tell the story through visual content, lighting, frame, camera movement, and lens choices. For me, realistic lighting is key in helping audiences connect with the characters on screen. Since I am an international student, I have limitations in my projects. I can’t work on many non-school projects since many of them asked for a working visa. Hence, I currently work for student sets and small Indi projects as either DP or 1st AC. I want to explore my career once I graduate from UCLA later this year. I’m always exploring new technologies, such as virtual production, to stay at the forefront of the ever-changing film industry.
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?
Looking back on my journey so far, I wouldn’t say it’s been a completely smooth road. As an international student, one of the biggest obstacles I faced was navigating the visa process. It can be challenging to maintain a stable visa status while pursuing a career in filmmaking, particularly when working as a freelancer. This was definitely a struggle for me, but I remained committed to my passion for cinematography and persevered. In addition to the visa challenges, breaking into the film industry and finding opportunities to gain hands-on experience as a student was also difficult. It took a lot of hard work and persistence, but I was able to network and connect with professionals who helped me get my foot in the door. Overall, I’ve learned that setbacks and challenges are just a natural part of the process, and it’s important to stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward. I believe that as long as I follow my passion, I could conquer these challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since I am still in school, many of my works are still in post-production. At this point, only one film, There Was a Dove, But… was selected for the festival. I currently have five short films that are still in post-production, and hopefully, they’ll be picked up by more festivals later this year. Meanwhile, I’m excited to continue honing my craft and sharing my work with people. As a cinematographer, I’m constantly striving to push myself and experiment with new techniques, so I’m eager to see how my work evolves. As I mentioned, I’m passionate about using lighting to create realistic visuals. I’ve also been expanding my skill set by learning about lighting in virtual production, which is the topic of my thesis project. My goal is to find ways for students to embrace virtual production and incorporate it into their future projects. I’m excited to be at the forefront of this trend and to see how virtual production can enhance the filmmaking process
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I’m fully committed to pursuing my passion for film production and cinematography. I know that it won’t be easy, especially as an international freelancer, but I truly love this work and believe in its power to tell meaningful stories.
To make this happen, I’m currently in the process of finding a full-time job that can sponsor my working visa. This will allow me to gain more experience in the industry and build up my portfolio, as well as give me a stable visa status. I’m also continuing to work on sets to gather the material I need for my O1 Visa application. Ideally, I can be a lecturer for some cinematography course. I also find my passion in teaching while TAing for my professors.
I understand that building a successful career in film production and cinematography takes time and dedication, but I’m ready for the challenge. I’m eager to take on new projects, push myself creatively, and grow as an artist. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me and am grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Pricing:
- Depends, but hopefully I can be full-time DP, which would be $350-$600/ day
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yuxincine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuxin.zyx/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuxincha
Image Credits
Stills from: Tender Diana There Was a Dove, But… Early Check-In
