Meet Yi Lin Zhao

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

Yi Lin, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
How I keep my creativity alive is through constantly absorbing.

By staying aware, by noticing the small things in life, by people-watching, because as a storyteller I have to draw from life. So I take walks, explore the city, talk to old friends, and meet new people,

All art forms are interconnected – whether it’s painting, music, or writing. Anything can be a wealth of inspiration. To absorb is to nourish your creativity. I watch films, shows, and theater, observing how others in the field approach their work. I read more, something I can never do enough of. After all, the creation process for theater and film is translating text to image to stage and screen.

When your passion is your profession, when you need to constantly create and produce, you might feel your ideas and energy run dry. I know it is hard for us to stop, but we need to take time and make room for creativity to thrive.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a traditionally trained fine artist and a designer for theater and film.

As a multidisciplinary artist, I wear many hats and explore various mediums. For theater, I design scenery, costumes, and sometimes puppets. For film, I take on many roles within the art department, and I’m a member of the Art Directors Guild.

My passion for the performing arts led me to this country to study scenic design for theater — working in theater is my childhood dream came true and turned into a profession. During my studies, I also discovered my love for designing for the big screen, and working in film is truly fulfilling.

Each project is exciting and unique with different challenges. Every project introduces me to a new group of people, with new friendships and opportunities.

Since earning my MFA from UCLA last year, I’ve contributed to many projects, spanning experimental films, music videos, and horror, all set to release this year.

Currently, I’m the assistant scenic designer for a new one-man show at the Geffen Playhouse. I have more projects lined up for the year, and I also try to participate in art shows.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
For those who are early in their journey, my advice is to be patient, to be friendly, and to be brave.

Mastering your craft takes time, and there are so many skill sets and programs to learn. This is especially so for the creative fundamentals, which may seem dry and tedious, but they are the foundation all other skills are built upon. Opportunities favour those who are prepared, and big ideas and dreams can only be realized when you have the necessary skills.

Expand your circle, build connections, make friends, and leave a positive impression on everyone around you. Presenting not just what you do but also who you are, exerting a memorable presence will open countless doors.

Confidence comes from preparation – now that you have accumulated your knowledge and skills, with the peers and friends you’ve made along the way. Embrace projects outside your comfort zone. The initial fear may be daunting, once you start the process and step onto the set, that fear will subside.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always, always looking for like-minded people to collaborate with — Theater and film are collaborative forms of art where creatives come together to inspire each other and work towards, and achieve things one cannot possibly do alone.

I’m always eager to meet people with similar interests, narratives, personalities, and energy, to meet someone who respects each other crafts and ideas. I want to connect with writers, directors, actors, photographers, musicians, comic artists — creatives with a skill set unlike my own, someone I can learn from and bounce ideas with.

You can find my work on my website yilinzhao.com , if you like my style, I’d love to connect with you. Feel free to contact me through Instagram, I’m very active on it, and my email is [email protected]

Contact Info:

Image Credits
<Ministry of Loneliness> Production designer: Marie Fucile <Into the Unknown> Director: Luo-Bing Pan <Encantó> Photos by Maria Baranova

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