Cool to be a creative… Q&A with Yiqing Chi

When she was a child, Yiqing Chi once dreamed of becoming an actress or a painter, but now she has embarked on a career as a video producer. However, in Qing's view, video creation is a combination of both, for she can create dynamic works by photographing as well as visualise her ideas through artistic design.

Qing graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelor's degree in Film Making, then obtained a Master's degree in Digital Direction from the Royal College of Art. With a distinguished background from universities like CAFA and RCA, Qing’s passion for art never fades all the way from Harbin to Beijing, London to Shanghai. Young as she is, Qing hopes to be bold and fealess with her future creativities. Now as the Video Producer in dentzu Z team, Qing would like to share us some cool stuffs that young creatives do in her own words. The story is also published on Creative Minds, a new column by Campaign APAC.

1. How did you end up being a creative?

When I was a child, I have been fond of some creative games, such as puzzles, assembling toy cars, drawing graffiti and so on. What I liked most was painting. I could  stay quiet and draw for several hours. Painting was the happiest and most incredible thing for me; I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I finished a piece of artwork. After entering university (CAFA), I became obsessed with creating films. While studying film at school, I would  listen to lectures about film and see exhibitions related to film history and film creation I also summarized script creation methods and shooting techniques by enjoying many classic films. I organized my own team in school to shoot films. Both CAFA and RCA provided me with a fabulous creative environment, allowing my imagination to display. Studying at RCA has also opened my creative mind and taught me to think from multiple perspectives. Step by step, I become passionate with everything related to creation. It’s really cool to be a creative!

2. What's your favourite piece of work in your portfolio? 

One of my favorite pieces of work is "jungle games" that I created. It was my first attempt to use stop-motion animation in a short film. It was also the first time I wrote, directed, shot and edited the whole film all by myself, which took about two months to finish it. From script writing, scene designing to prop making, sub-screening and shooting, all the details were deeply impressed in my mind. Looking back now, the time I spent on this work and the night I stayed up late is still such a crazy thing.

3. What's the one piece of work you most wish you'd done? 

One of the pieces of work I most wish I’ve done is a work I did in the dentsu Z Camp with the other three members in my group. We only had one day from getting the brief to creating the final output. Under the guidance of our mentor, the we finished the creative idea and a short film as fast as we could. After the presentation we got first place in the competition. I really liked the teamwork, which inspired our creative passion. So, I really hope I can continue to complete this project if we have the chance.

4. What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

Go hiking to DaochengYading (a plateau, in the southwest of Sichuan Province, China). In order to see the most beautiful scenery, I walked from day to night on the plateau at the altitude of more than 6,000 meters. I was uncomfortable due to plateau reactions and needed to keep inhaling oxygen from the portable oxygen bottle I carried with me. But nothing stopped me from wanting to see the most beautiful view of the plateau.Challenge the limits of my body, and do something crazy when I am young, of course!

5. What career did you think you'd have when you were a kid?

Well, do you know when I was a kid, I dreamed of being a painter and an actress! I hope I can do some creative work on my own in my spare time. It is a pity that I didn't have the chance to learn acting at that time, but now my career has somehow realized the combination of my childhood dream: I can create works as much as a painter and shoot as much as an actress. The difference is that video works are more dynamic than paintings, and occasionally I can be the person being filmed.

6. What advice would you give to 10-year-old you, if you could?

I would say to myself: don't worry too much, try something if you want! Sometimes you must be bold and brave.

7. What’s your favorite music / film / TV show / book / other of the past year, and why?

My favorite film of the past year was Nolan's "Tenet". I am a big fan of Nolan, also crazy about psychology and suspense films. I like to think deeply about the logic of the script and the intention of the movie when I watch it. As a result, the more brain-burning the movie is, the more I like it. “Tenet” is such kind of film, which involves plenty of new concepts on space and time. I can undertand some deep thinking of the director Nolan in the creation of this film. After watching his films, you will always look forward to the future world, at the same time it will also inspire your passion for creation.

8. Do you have a nickname? Why?

My nickname is Nuan (means warm). When I was not yet born, my mother was worried that I would be cold in winter, and that girls must be mummy’s warm sweetheart. So, my nickname is Nuan.

9. What makes you really happy?

The thing that makes me happiest is street dancing! Undoubtedly! Seven years with it makes me completely in love with it. When dancing I think about nothing, just focus on the movements. If there is any worry or trouble, just dance! 

10. Do you have any recurring dreams?

I was abroad during the COVID-19 outbreak and often slept at night dreaming that I was walking alone in a large empty city with a somewhat futuristic feel, surrounded by no one I knew, only some dark shadows that I didn't know who they were.

11. Cats or dogs?

I really like cats! I always stop for a long time when I see one on the road. I am a person who is never late, but one day I lost track of time and missed my morning study session just because I saw a cute cat on my way.

As to question 3, Qing would like something to add: 

Another one of the pieces of work I wish I’ve done is a work I did in the dentsu Z Camp with the other three members in my group. We only had one day from getting the brief to creating the final output. Under the guidance of our mentor, the we finished the creative idea and a short film as fast as we could. After the presentation we got first place in the competition. I really liked the teamwork, which inspired our creative passion. So, I really hope I can continue to complete this project if we have the chance.

You can also read it on Campaign APAC:

 https://www.campaignasia.com/article/creative-minds-yiqing-chi/470916