Meet Shi Min Yong

We were lucky to catch up with Shi Min Yong recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shi Min, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Self care is important to me as it’s the only time where I can decompress and have some downtime. The self care routine that I like most is doing a series of simple tasks – household chores, cooking and decluttering. It helps me to relief stress and enjoy small things in life. I work long hours during the week so I try to be mentally or physically active on the weekends whether it is exercise or meeting up with friends, reading, watching a old movie or visiting a museum. My time is limited so I try to make the most out of it and creatively stimulate my mind. Overtime it has a positive impact on my self discipline, organization skills, and focus.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I was born in Singapore and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 11. After high school I moved back to Singapore to study interior design at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in Spatial Design. I was interested in implementing my creativity into three-dimensional spaces where people can have an experience through tactile interactions. For the next four years I worked as a commercial interior designer on a wide variety of projects from retail to lifestyle, F&B such as restaurants, cafes, and kiosks.

I used to perceive film and television as something that others do out there. I became curious about the production designer Ken Adam when watching Kubrick’s DR. STRANGELOVE on Netflix. I borrowed a biography book from the public library and read about the role of production design and the art department. Everything clicked into place, I realized that I want to work towards being a part of the world-building process that creates a relationship to the story, to impact the audience the way I would feel when I am in the cinema. I moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2018 to pursue an MFA in Production Design at the American Film Institute. What came next was a baptism by fire in the practical working environment, learning about collaboration, the art department, production design, and the art of cinema. I have worked on various narrative shorts and features that have screened at film festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival, Sundance, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the CAA Moebius Showcase.

Currently, I am a participant in the Art Director’s Guild (ADG) Production Design Initiative and the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) LA Newcomers Program. I am currently working in the art department and eligible to work as an Assistant Art Director on union signatory projects.

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?
The three things that were most helpful to my career pivot journey were my technical skillsets, work experience, and mental fortitude. I was fortunate to have learned conceptual thinking, 3d modeling, and traditional and digital drafting at NAFA, these skillsets help to build my foundation skills which were transferrable into the film & tv art departments. My work experience in my interior design career, the challenges, and pressures in each project and its construction, have helped to build resilience, confidence, and improve my problem-solving and communication skills. During my journey, I have also learned to always be practicing and improving my skillsets to be a better designer, team player, and communicator.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Trying to find time to maximize my knowledge to improve my skillsets in software programs that I am currently using. Programs are ever-evolving, especially with the development of virtual production in the pre-production workflow. Our work hours are long but I try to do what I can to always be constantly learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yongshimin.com
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10907646/