Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ino Yang Popper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ino thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I have always been a risk-taker and will always advocate for it. Many risks I took in my life have led me to where I am today. One of them I would like to shine a spotlight on is the AFI cinematography program. It is the best cinematography program in the U.S., but it’s also extremely competitive to get in, extremely intensive, and extremely expensive. I said “extremely” three times and I’m not exaggerating.

Before I went to AFI, I had just built a decent momentum as a startup cinematographer making some progress. Going to AFI means that all of those I have built would have to be put on hold, and life, has to be put on hold. Everyone who has ever attended or considered attending AFI would probably go through the same list of considerations and ask themselves: Is it worth it?

Some folks have worked in the industry for years as cinematographers, they go to AFI to step up their games, whether because they feel stuck shooting the same level of projects, or they feel creatively stuck and seek for a leap in their craft. Some folks worked in the industry as crew either in the camera or lighting department, but they are actually just closeted DPs who see AFI as an opportunity to eventually transition to do what they are actually made for. And then there might be some folks who simply just want to try it out and see if this is the right path for them.

As for me, even though with a total of 17 years of experience in the film industry by far both in China and in the U.S., having studied directing and screenwriting in film schools, and working for 12 years as an editor in China, I still have to start from the very beginning when I transitioned to cinematography. I wanted to learn the craft systematically in the best program possible. Like a plain sheet of paper that would thrive in its best possible way if molded in the most appropriate environment. That’s my logic, that’s my determination to devote myself to this craft, and that’s my ultimate drive for taking the risk of attending AFI. And AFI completely changed my life, in ways beyond my expectation.

Ino, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For folks who may not be familiar with the film industry, I’m a cinematographer, AKA director of photography. I’m the final gatekeeper of the image, a visual storyteller. I’m like a general running a big ship of the crew in both the camera and lighting department. My brain innately has both technical and creative sides running at the same time. So basically a creative nerd:)

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m glad this question was brought up. I teach cinematography on the side when I’m not shooting, and I always like to share this story: A young man walks past 3 men laying bricks building a church and asks: What are you doing? The first man answers: I’m laying bricks. The second man says: I’m building a church. Then the third man answers: I’m building the temple of God. For the first man, he’s simply doing a job. For the second man, it’s his career. For the third man, he sees it as his calling.

I’m a healer by nature (that’s also my role in video games haha). The craft of visual storytelling allows me to connect with people on an emotional and spiritual level that no other art form can do as satisfying as this one can, at least for me. Whether they simply just feel like they can relate and they are not alone, or they find hope or meaning or answers in the film, or perhaps this is just a place they can fully immerse themselves in whenever they need a little escape from everything else. A film can touch people, even change their lives, improve relationships, be therapeutic, or just be pure entertainment, I want to be part of making that happen for people, this is the forever mission driving my creative journey.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This is a good question. A lesson I had to unlearn is that you don’t have to have all the answers and that’s okay. If feels so liberating to even just say it out loud. Someone needs to hear this today, I don’t know who, but hey, you are human and you are allowed to shrug a little and be like: I don’t know! What’s more important is your attitude about the things you don’t know and what are you going to do about it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.inoyangpopper.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ino.dp/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Ino Yang Popper