We recently connected with Belinda Chen and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Belinda, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I learn most of my skills on the job. My college degree is in Media design, which is related, but also really different from VFX work. However, I was fortunate to have a basic understandings of using the software, thanks to my college professors at the time, that gets me one foot into the door. I was able to land an internship that taught me how to do roto, paint and some basic compositing. After the internship I got a full-time job as a Jr. Compositor. From there, I learned the skills through my co-workers and through problem-solving. One thing that would help speeding up the learning process would be express your concerns and problems that you get stuck to, and ask people for their thoughts and second opinion when you are unsure about something. I think the most essential skill is to trust your eyes and instinct. If you feel something does not look quite right to you, a lot of time it won’t look right to your supes. One obstacle that stood in the way is probably ego. Keep open-minded, and there is nothing wrong learning from someone who has less seniority than you.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Belinda and I am a compositor. My past experience spreads across different medium, including features films, Episodics, as well as commercials. I moved to the States when I was seventeen, with a goal to pursuit commercial art in mind. I studied Design Media Arts at UCLA. After graduated I started working as a compositor while taking animation classes at Gnomon and other online schools. On top of compositing work, I am also interested in on-set and virtual production work.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Back when I was studying design in college, my department didn’t exactly offer classes that tailored towards visual effects. Therefore, when I graduated, I didn’t have a proper reel nor any work that could lead me into a career in VFX. Most of the school works are design related, which is not really suitable for applying for VFX job. At that time, I thought to myself, what do I have to lose. I started emailing to various studios I found online, asking for mentorship and/or an opportunity to intern there. Along the way, I received a lot of rejections, and most of the time, no responses. However, one of the person I emailed kindly responded and provided me online resources and tutorials that I can look into. I followed his instructions and he became the first person I know in the VFX industry, and we remained friends until today.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I would say the most rewarding aspect of work comes from my family. It is easy to get lost with all the nitty gritty bits of the craft while you are so deep into it. However, whenever a project that I worked on came out and my family saw them. Their support and just how proud they are when they told their friends that I am one of the people who contribute to the work brings me back to reality and reminds me how lucky and fortunate I am to be able to do something and keep doing something that I am passionate about
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/905419493?share=copy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blingchen
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6131574/
Image Credits
Tun-en Chen