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

Alright, Jiayue thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

As a scenic designer, my journey from idea to execution in both theater and film was a thrilling and multifaceted adventure. It all began with a spark of inspiration, often ignited by a script, a director’s vision, or even just a fleeting image in my mind.

Picture this: It was a crisp autumn evening, and I found myself immersed in the pages of a captivating script. As I read, my mind began to swirl with visions of sets, colors, and atmospheres that could bring the story to life on stage or screen. That initial idea was like a tiny seed planted in the fertile soil of my imagination, waiting to germinate and grow into something magnificent.

The next day dawned with a sense of excitement and possibility. Armed with my inspiration, I embarked on the journey of turning my vision into reality. The first step was to immerse myself in research. Whether it was delving into historical references for a period piece or studying the nuances of a particular location for a film, thorough research was essential to creating a believable and immersive world.

With a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips, I began sketching out ideas and concepts. This was where the magic truly began to take shape as I translated abstract thoughts into tangible designs. Hours were spent refining and iterating, each stroke of the pencil bringing me closer to capturing the essence of the story.

As the designs took form, collaboration became key. I worked closely with directors, producers, and fellow designers to ensure that my vision aligned with their creative vision. This collaborative process involved countless meetings, brainstorming sessions, and revisions as we fine-tuned every detail to perfection.

But the journey didn’t end there. With the designs finalized, it was time to bring them to life. This involved coordinating with a team of skilled craftsmen, carpenters, painters, and artisans who would transform my two-dimensional drawings into three-dimensional masterpieces. It was a symphony of creativity and craftsmanship as each element came together to create a cohesive and immersive world.

And finally, the moment of truth arrived as the curtain rose or the cameras started rolling. Seeing my designs come to life before a live audience or on the big screen was an indescribable thrill, a culmination of months of hard work, creativity, and passion.

But even as one project ended, the cycle began anew as I embarked on the next creative endeavor, fueled by the endless possibilities of storytelling and the boundless depths of my imagination. And thus, the journey of a scenic designer continued, a never-ending quest to bring dreams to life on stage and screen.

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

Certainly! I’d be happy to introduce myself and provide insight into my work in theater and film.

I am a seasoned professional in the realm of theater and film, specializing in scene design. I was a dancer before I was in the University, once I had a serious injury, so I had to give up my dance career in my life. By chance, I realized that my journey into this field began with a profound passion for storytelling and visual arts. I still love stage and performing, so I decided to do the backstage rather than the performers on the stage. From a young age, I was captivated by the magic of theater and the power of cinema to transport audiences to new worlds and evoke deep emotions. My expertise lies in crafting immersive and visually stunning environments that enhance the narrative and bring the director’s vision to life.

In terms of the type of scene design I provide, I specialize in creating immersive and evocative environments that serve as the backdrop for compelling storytelling. Whether it’s a minimalist stage setting for an intimate theater production or a sprawling, intricately detailed set for a film production, I tailor my designs to suit each project’s unique vision.

I am the theater kid doing the theater scene design for my undergraduate major. As everybody can tell, theater scenes and film production designs have entirely different design systems. Therefore, My goal is to combine theater and film scene design together and create a brand-new design systems and performances in front of the audience, and develop more possibility of scene design rather than limit the design into one filed.

One of the key aspects of my role as a scene designer is problem-solving. Directors often come to me with a myriad of challenges, whether it’s finding practical solutions to budget constraints, translating abstract concepts into tangible set pieces, or maximizing the use of space to facilitate seamless transitions between scenes. My ability to think creatively, adaptively, and collaboratively enables me to tackle these challenges head-on, ultimately enhancing the overall production value and storytelling experience.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am the theater kid doing the theater scene design for my undergraduate major. As everybody can tell, theater scene design and film production design have entirely different design systems. Therefore, My goal is to combine theater and film scene design to create a brand-new design system for performances in front of the audience and develop more possibilities for scene design rather than limit the design to one field.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a scenic designer, I always felt lots of pressure when I was working in a team. In theater, lighting design needs to be based on the scene design, costume design also needs to have good collaboration with a scene in color and styles, and performance also needs to be based on the scene design, which means the scene designer usually needs to shoulder more responsibility for the team. Scene design has the most visual effect. The scene design is just like a key for leading the audience into the environment and feeling the show’s vibe and spirit. To be honest, the design process is a very long journey, usually taking around half a year to finish, so every scenic designer needs to be resilient to hold the expectations and responsibilities of the team until the plan is perfect for every member of the creative team. After I finish the show, I will feel very accomplished!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jz_scenedesign
• Linkedin: https://www.instagram.com/jz_scenedesign?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Jiayue Zang Film Director：Yanchu Zhou, Miao Chen, Yiwen Cao Theater Director： Tyrone Davis