We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Juliette Yan Yiu Ho. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Juliette Yan Yiu below.
Juliette Yan Yiu, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Coming from Hong Kong and navigating a film industry where few share my cultural background or lived experience, I’ve often walked into rooms where I stood out—not just in appearance, but in perspective, voice, and creative instincts. Early on, I wrestled with self-doubt, wondering if I had to adapt or explain myself in ways that would make me more “understandable” to others. In the beginning, I made a conscious effort to adapt. I tried to learn the language, the codes, and the expectations of an industry that often values convention. And I’m grateful for that phase—it taught me how the system works from the inside. I began to see what’s taken for granted, what’s considered “standard,” and the quiet absurdities baked into those assumptions. That understanding became a tool—not for assimilation, but for subversion.
But over time, I realized that success isn’t just about fitting in—it’s also about showing up fully, and allowing others to meet me where I am. My background has given me a heightened sensitivity to subtle, often overlooked emotions, and that has become a quiet strength in the grading suite. As a colorist, this allows me to help directors articulate their vision when it lives between the lines. During my time in college, I served as the director of Fusion Film Festival, a student-run film festival that celebrates the voices of female and underrepresented genders. I’ve found ways to build the kind of creative environment I once searched for—one that doesn’t just welcome different voices but is shaped by them.
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?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are empathy, adaptability, and visual intuition. These skills have shaped not only how I approach the craft of color grading, but also how I collaborate, listen, and ultimately help tell stories that resonate.
One project that truly tested and deepened all three was the short film Ruse, which screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, Oberhausen, Vienna Shorts, and Palm Springs ShortFest. The film was shot in natural light hence the footage carried some technical imperfections. However, the rusticness of the footage also held a quiet, organic beauty. In school, we’re often taught to strive for visual perfection—clean exposure, controlled lighting, and polished images. So my first pass was about fixing those “flaws.” But both the director, Rhea, and I felt something was missing. The emotion had been ironed out.
That was when I realized I needed to shift my approach and respond more thoughtfully to what the film was actually asking for. I stepped back and tried to really listen—not just to Rhea’s direction, but to the film itself. What was the story asking for? I began working with the natural light in the footage, respecting its temperature and texture, gently guiding the palette to highlight the richness of the existing production design. The film follows three teenage girls on a rainy afternoon as their dance practice evolves into something charged and quietly transformative—capturing the delicate, confusing moment of early sexual awareness. The final grade embraced the softness and imbalance of that experience. It wasn’t about making the image “perfect”—it was about making it honest.
Therefore, I would like to share my creative experience with people who are also interested in working in the creative industry: learn the rules so you can understand when—and why—to break them. The process taught me that sometimes, it’s not about having all the answers right away—it’s about listening carefully to what the film needs and allowing space for that to unfold. When things don’t go as planned, you learn to adjust, to find a balance between your own vision and what the project is asking of you. And as you step back from trying to impress, you start to feel your way through the images, trusting what resonates most deeply with the story. It’s not about creating the perfect shot—it’s about capturing one that feels honest and true to the emotion at the core of the narrative.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I’m always open to collaborating with directors and creatives who are deeply invested in the stories they’re telling—particularly those narratives that are often overlooked or neglected by mainstream narratives. I’m passionate about working with filmmakers who are dedicated to portraying the nuanced emotions and complex experiences that words alone can’t capture. For me, the art of film is about creating a shared emotional experience, a collective recognition of feelings that define our human existence. I’m drawn to directors who are willing to delve into the depth of these often unspoken emotions, offering a space for stories that challenge conventional narratives and amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard.
If you’re a director focused on telling authentic, thought-provoking stories that resonate on a deeper emotional level, and you need a colorist who can bring that vision to life with sensitivity and care, I’d love to connect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliette-ho.com/
- Instagram: @julie77e.ho
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliette-ho/
Image Credits
Photo 1: “Ruse” Dir. Rhea Shukla; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 2: “Ruse” Dir. Rhea Shukla; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 3: Ruse” Dir. Rhea Shukla; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 4: “Ice Cream Ice Queen” Dir. Jeremy Chi; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 5: Ouer Commercial Fashion Film Dir. Sin Young Kim; Color: Juliette Ho
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