We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yintao Gong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

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

My journey as a film editor began organically, intertwined with my early experiences in filmmaking. Initially, I found myself editing as a natural progression while creating short films and animations solo. Operating as a one-person crew compelled me to learn every aspect of the filmmaking process. At that time, editing served as the means to execute my vision, with decisions largely guided by pre-planning.

When I entered into film school, I started to shift towards a more professional approach to editing. I learned the basic of film editing, and also gained a solid foundation in theory and technical skills. However, the real learning process happened through practical experience on various projects.

Editing films I directed posed a unique challenge: detaching myself from the directorial identity to approach footage with fresh perspectives. This transition demanded a delicate balance, yet it fostered profound growth in my craft. On top of it, collaborating on other people’s projects allowed me to expose to a myriad of genres, from drama to comedy to western. In this process, I didn’t only learned how to reinterpreting narratives in post-production, but also realized how important it is to navigate the collaborative process with directors to actualize the finest outcomes.

Reflecting on my learning process, I realize that one way to speed up my learning could have been to seek out more mentorship opportunities. Having an experienced editor guide me through the process and offer personalized feedback would have been invaluable in accelerating my growth.

The essential skills for editor is the proficiency in editing softwares. However, beyond technical proficiency, I think creativity and knowledge of storytelling, and a keen eye for detail are equally essential. Understanding pacing, rhythm, and how to evoke emotion through editing are also crucial skills that demand continual refinement and practice.

The obstacle of learning for me is finding the balance between working on projects and finding time to learn new stuff. Editing is all about story, so I need to keep soaking up new narratives by reading, watching movies, and reflecting on the materials. I believe it’s crucial to balance current projects with ongoing learning to ensure a long-lasting career path.

Yintao , 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 work as an editor and director for film, animation, and commercials. My work includes narrative shorts in multiple genres including drama, comedy, western, and thriller. My stop motion animation short “I am” won the Young Creative Awards from the International Emmys. Both my short films, “The Silent Water” and “Upstream,” have been chosen for multiple film festivals and have won awards. The web series I worked on has garnered millions of views.

I think empathy is the key of storytelling. As an editor and director, I strive to deeply understand the characters, their motivations, and the overarching narrative arc. By empathizing with the characters’ experiences and emotions, I can craft stories that resonate authentically with the audience. I always prioritize evoking genuine emotional responses from viewers. Whether it’s through the pacing of a sequence, the choice of music, or the nuances of a performance, I aim to guide the audience on a powerful and immersive journey.

I’m most proud of my film “Upstream”, which is about a sex robot who decides to learn what love is to impress her detached female master. I’ve always been interested in feminism themes, and I think this story contains most of me: my anger, frustration, and thoughts. Being a woman is like walking against the stream: the world tries to impose its definition on you, so you have to work harder to fight the force and keep being yourself. This is where Upstream was born. A tale about surpassing definitions and finding one’s true self. A story about love, companionship, and humanity. I’m proud of it as I fulfilled dual roles as both director and editor. It’s definitely a challenge to balance between execute my vision and reinterpret the story with a fresh perspective, but I learned a lot in the process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a creative is the opportunity to immerse in a diverse range of projects and experiences every day. As a film editor, I’m always working on different stories and experiencing different emotions. This variety not only keeps my work fresh and exciting but also allows me to continually expand my creative horizons. Each project presents new challenges and opportunities for growth, whether it’s experimenting with different editing techniques, exploring various genres, or collaborating with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I embarked on my creative journey with a simple desire—to become a storyteller. However, as I delved deeper into this pursuit, I find that there’s something special about strangers sitting in the dark theatre and sharing their feelings for a brief moment. I started to pursue a creative career because I wanted to express myself, but stayed for that connection between people. I firmly believe that film has the power to bridge divides, foster understanding, and inspire positive change, and that’s also my goal as a creator: to make our world a kinder, more compassionate place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gongyintao1999.wixsite.com/yintao
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yintaog?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==

Image Credits
BTS cr to Harry Xingyu Chen