Meet Yang Tsao

We were lucky to catch up with Yang Tsao recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yang, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I believe the most important thing is that we need to give ourselves more space and time to truly feel and explore everything with our own feeling. Nowadays, people are too consumed by social media and things that require no thought. While these do bring us simple joys and fill our lives and time, they also cause our minds to become increasingly simplistic. Just like short videos, they constantly try to capture our attention and entertain us through simpler forms of media, but in the process, we lose our ability to think and create independently.

I’ve noticed that people around me today tend to prefer listening to others’ ideas and creativity rather than thinking and creating on their own. To maintain creativity, it’s important to slow down your life, go out more often, and personally experience different landscapes and cultures. Give yourself some time alone to reflect and create with your own thoughts.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My artistic journey began with photography, which was influenced by my family’s profession. From a very young age, I was exposed to photography, giving me many opportunities to experience different cultures and places. This greatly developed my creativity.

Later, in high school, I was introduced to stage art design and production design for the first time. Gradually, I began to shift my career focus toward this field because of my lifelong fascination with mechanical crafting and handmade work. This interest felt almost ingrained in my genes, and it has played a significant role in my ability to create within the world of film art.

As I connected with more peers and gained practical experience, I moved to Los Angeles and entered film school to receive formal training in filmmaking. During college, I created my own studio. While continuing my work in production design, I began taking on more prop-making projects. Leveraging my knowledge of industrial and mechanical manufacturing, I incorporated new materials and techniques into film art and prop creation, such as photopolymer resin 3D printing and powder metallurgy. These innovations brought more possibilities to the world of film props and Design.

In the future, I will continue to create and adapt as the industry’s demands evolve. I also plan to build a versatile film shooting studio, among other projects. In short, I will keep pushing boundaries and innovating.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Observation, independent thinking, and passion.

I believe it’s very important to constantly observe everything around you. Only through observation can you truly learn more. This is different from passive learning—active observation deepens impressions. Whether as a production designer or a prop master, this skill is essential. The more you observe, the more you can create.

The ability to think independently is crucial for any artist in any field. Great creations are often unique, and only by strengthening your capacity for independent thinking can you fully enhance your creativity. In daily life, unless absolutely necessary, it’s important to try to think or solve problems on your own as much as possible.

If you can develop passion and interest in more things, it will make everything better—whether it’s art, work, or life. If a person never tries to cultivate interest in things, it becomes a vicious cycle where creativity gradually fades, and emotions grow dull. That’s why I believe passion is incredibly important for everyone.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents trust me and support my work. Unlike most Asian parents who might reject the idea of pursuing art as a life path or career, they firmly believe that anything pursued with persistence will lead to good results. This belief has been a major source of motivation for me in my work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stc_production_studio_service/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Image Credits

Yang Tsao