Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yuxin Cha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yuxin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I have to say I’m very proud of my parents. They are super supportive of my decisions.
I was born and raised in China, so my perspectives may be different from most artists in the U.S. Some Chinese parents don’t like their children to work in art because they don’t see the potential of the art industry. Some believe that only the kids who are not doing well in school will study arts. They want their children to work in industries like finance, tech and law that are stable and high-paying. Instead of asking me to go to law school, my parents respected and even admired my decision to pursue my dream career as a cinematographer. They supported my decision even though they have limited resources.
It’s very crucial for me to have support from family, especially when I feel lost. They give me valuable advice from non-artist perspectives, which normally clears my mind and points out a new and clear path for me.
Yuxin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello folks, my name is Yuxin Cha. My pronouns are She/Her. I’m a cinematographer who just graduted from UCLA with an MFA. 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 in Film and Media Studies, I decided to keep studying film production at UCLA, focusing on cinematography. I like to tell the story through visual content, lighting, frame, camera movement, and lens choices. For me, realistic lighting is the key in helping audiences connect with the characters on screen. I mainly work as DP on sets including narrative films, commercial and documentaries. Now that I graduated from UCLA, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next in my career.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
If I have to say a goal, then it’s being free: I want to work in flexible hours and be in a group that allows me to freely express my thoughts. I don’t want to lock myself in an office, working for a 9-5 job from Mondays to Fridays. Maybe I’m being a little stubborn as well.
I never really think about my final goal, because I think I will often change it because of what happens in my life. But my mindset doesn’t change a lot. I can use my skills to fit different jobs or sets, and always learn and adapt to new things along the way. I also feel satisfied and accomplished when people like my work or appreciate my help.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I have many non-creative friends, and I think they sometimes struggle to understand the meaning of being an artist. I would tell them about me being on set for 12 hours, five days in a row, and they would ask me, “oh, how much did you make in the past five days?” They will be shocked about how much I get paid and how much time I work on set. I think it is fine since everyone has different careers and we don’t know each others’ work that well.
We are doing creative jobs because we love it. Don’t judge us only based on how little our pay is. We get it, and we are still doing it. If you have a friend who is a creative, and they’re having a hard time, just give them a hug and some support. If you happen to know someone who may help your friends, don’t hesitate to reach out and offer some help.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yuxincine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuxin.zyx/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuxincha/
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11482494/?ref_=tt_rvi_nm_i_2
Image Credits
Your Room is Ready (dir. by Armando Gonzalez) Aphasia (dir. by Shan Jiang) Tender (dir. by Naomi Segal) Koi (dir. by Taige Shi)