We were lucky to catch up with Ging Chen Sow recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ging Chen, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I went to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts to pursue a BFA in Film and Television Production, however, my emphasis was on other fields instead of production design and art directing. It wasn’t until my last year in college that I took on the role of production designer for a film, and I finally learned what it meant to be one.

Looking back, taking on a position you’ve never done, nor looked into, was daunting. However, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I had to pick up a lot of my skills by just doing it, I have never used a power tool, but after a few sets where I was constructing stuff, I quickly picked up the gist of it and now have a very useful skill. The point is, you have to believe in yourself and be willing to learn on the job.

One of the most essential skills one could have as a designer is to be open to new ideas, your job is to ingest art and do it in a way that has both your take and also something that suits the story. The easiest way for you to do this is to design as many things as you can. Beggers can’t be choosers, therefor don’t be picky in what genre of films you are working on, just do it!

As a kid, I loved to read books and explore my city. I often find myself wandering down streets and taking photos of random things. Never did I know this skillset would be useful in this line of work, as I often use this method to observe a neighborhood and get inspiration for my next project.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ging Chen Sow, and I am a production designer and art director in the motion picture industry. I design film sets and build or set dress them to standard. Whatever you see in a film or television show is designed by someone like us.

Making period pieces is something that I am known for, as I have done different periods and locations, such as 1920s America, 1970s China and 1970s Greece. The amount of research that has to go into one of these period pieces is immense, and I take much pride is executing my designs within a limited budget. Let’s just say I have several tricks up my sleeve.

What sets me apart is my ability to acquire hyper specific props and set dressing. I have established great connections with vendors and also prop houses, as well as having a library of great places to locate and hunt down these items. If all else fails, I also possess the skills to make them from scratch.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As someone who works in the art department, one thing I look forward to isn’t just completing the set, but it is also the “striking” down of the set. What that means is that we tear down the set and demolish what we’ve built. For most people, it would hurt a lot to tear down something that they’ve worked so hard on; for me, it’s joy and relief.

Tearing down a set symbolizes a new beginning; it means that another production has successfully been completed, and now we can move on and create new things. The space, usually a soundstage, would see hundreds of productions go through its doors, and now we are part of the hundreds of productions that have called this place home.

As an ancient Chinese proverb once said, “out with the old, in with the new.” Saying goodbye isn’t sad, it is just the start of a brand new production cycle, and a brand new adventure.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

A great resource I wish I knew is that you should not be afraid to ask for help. Ther are so many people who are more senior than you in this industry who are always willing to give you a helping hand. People want to see you succeed, and they are very willing to offer their time and experience to guide you on your journey.

Ask questions, it can be a serious one or a silly one, but more often than not people will remember you for it. The more you interact with people, the more people will remember you and know you. After all, this is a people’s business; the more people you know, the merrier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gingchensow.com
• Instagram: @gings_fs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingchensow/