Today we’d like to introduce you to Violet Wu.
Violet, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been interested in film. I used to plan to work in the film industry. Still, my bachelor’s degree was in Illustration, so I tried practicing my drawing skills to get involved in cinema as a concept artist or environment designer. I can also draw or design movie posters, I used to tell myself. I tried to get as close to this job as possible, but getting inside an area different from my major was hard for me. In my master’s degree, I found that I could become an animation student, which required drawing skills and filmography knowledge. I can learn something I have always wanted to study, such as camera language or scene design. So, I changed my major from Illustration to animation and just graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design. I am ready to join the industry to make animations.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, this road contained lots of struggles. I remember the first difficulty I faced after changing my major to animation, which was that my work was static compared to other students’ work. I can make the work beautiful visual-wise, but it does not look like an animation work. The second problem is that I have no experience in basic animation skills (such as the 21 animation principles), camera language, or basic lens knowledge. Everything is new for me; I need to learn it from the beginning. Even though I love film (no matter animation or live-action), the reason behind every shot design is still unclear. As an audience, I can feel the information expressed by the director, but I cannot explain why this shot needs to be set this way or why I felt such a specific feeling when I saw the scene. Therefore, I spend lots of my free time learning the camera language and metaphor behind shots. This road is difficult for me, but I still do not regret it, and I feel happy about my choice because that is what I want to do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in concept arts (character design) and storyboard design. I can also draw environment designs and comics. I used to be a comic artist when I was an undergraduate. I love to write stories and make “puzzle films.” I think it is an interesting interaction between audiences and creators. I greatly value using metaphor in my creation at this stage. I want to express more information through lens language and shot design instead of using character conversations to speak it out. I think the reveal “The Hidden Secrets” is an exciting game. I will pay more attention to the storytelling and shot design. Even though I want to communicate with my audiences through the “hidden puzzle” inside my film, I am the creator who does not want to express myself. I want to build a new world depending on the story, but I don’t want to be part of it; I do not want to talk about myself; for me, the creation has its own life and will stay longer than me, I am just a person who makes the artwork appears inside the reality. I think these set me apart from others.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am not a risk-taker. I can easily imagine the potential risks behind many events and behaviors. But I want to be a person who can take more risks in the future, and I am trying to push myself to walk out of my comfort zone. I think not being a risk-taker will make me feel safe, but it will also mean I will lose some potential chances, and bravery is a crucial personality trait for people to achieve their goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/vn7
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limotic.v/
