Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Trung “Jacob” Ho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Trung “Jacob”, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Growing up in Hanoi (Vietnam), I wasn’t exposed to a lot of art. I grew up in an academic home, with my dad in biology, my mom in the medical field, and, eventually, my sister in computer science. However, ever since I was a kid, I’ve been taught that memories can be captured and relived through printed photos, tucked away in a closet somewhere. We would often bring them out, to look back at our family vacations, or to look at how I got chubbier every year. That was when I first learned the value of capturing emotions through stills. I was in fifth grade when my dad brought home this little Canon Point-and-Shoot camera. I quickly learned about its video-recording capability and thought to myself “Why just take photos, when you can capture a segment of time, with voices and laughter, of your favorite memories”. That was when I started video graphing things in my life. The older I get, I more I realize what I was doing was my way of savoring a moment and storing it forever. I still have all of those shaky, low-resolution memories tucked away in a digital closet that I always keep close by.

Trung “Jacob”, 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?

I’m fortunate to have an extremely supportive family, though what I pursue is vastly different from what any family members do. Given the opportunity to go to the States and learn about the film industry and what each role entails, I locked in on becoming a cinematographer early on in my first year of college. I wouldn’t call myself a “creative” or who can come up with unique and candid stories that can excavate the audience’s emotions through their storytelling. I consider myself someone who can execute ideas creatively, who can help craft creatives’ scripts, visions, and intentions, and turn them into motion pictures on screens, aiding the “excavation process”. I love collaboration and problem-solving – the two skills which I think are vital for a cinematographer who’s trying to understand the director’s vision and execute them well.
Going to Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA taught me invaluable lessons. Having so many talented filmmakers under one roof deeply humbled me, but at the same time, gave me great motivation to continue pursuing this passion.
The discipline in my work is greatly shaped based on how this industry work – building good connections. People are more inclined to remember you and call you back for the next job through your professionalism, diligence, and attention to detail. Whether it’s a student project or a feature film, I always show up energized, ready, and professional throughout the production. The film industry is such a competitive field, you just cannot get caught not delivering on set, because that might be your last time getting called back to work with the same people – something I constantly remind myself.
I consistently try to find growth in every project I take on. Doesn’t matter if it’s a small project, I find ways to challenge myself creatively and to eventually learn new skills as I move forward.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love the unique experiences that freelancing in film gives me. Being able to work on different continents, different cultures, and environments, for me, is the best part of filmmaking. Everyone has something they want to tell the world. Embracing their ideas, and taking part in their journey broadens my mind and fills up my heart.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Throughout my years in college, I spent so much time watching films, breaking them down, and overanalyzing them, only to re-execute ideas that have already been done a million times. I wish I took inspiration from more than just motion pictures. I’m forcing myself to read more books, go to more museums, listen to more music, and see more plays. Any kind of art form that strays away from film will usually shape the most unique ideas. There are infinite numbers of mediums that can be used for storytelling, so why not expand your tool set and explore them all?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacobhofilm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobhofilm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobhofilm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS9mJ2BkerHCbANUWsyJzEA (For my older work in highschool)
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Courtney Beauchamp, Pong Tulyathan, Rex Wong