Meet Bao Le Cheok | Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bao Le Cheok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bao Le, how do you think about risk?
I don’t think of myself as a risk taker. In fact, I think of myself as an extremely safe person. Or used to be anyway. After spending 26 years in Singapore, my life choices have often been shaped by societal norms, making it difficult to stray from the conventional path.

However, I took a leap of faith when I came to America to pursue a Masters in Cinematography over at the American Film Institute Conservatory. I recognised an opportunity to broaden my perspective and my leadership skills in the land of filmmaking – Los Angeles. The journey so far has challenged my ability to endure hardship and mental turmoil, amidst moving across the world in pursue of my dream.

This in turn has rewarded me with endless amount of lessons, in both life as well as career wise.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Navigating the film industry has been challenging both in LA and Singapore. When I graduated in 2020, Singapore was in the middle of pandemic lockdowns, and productions had halted completely. This uncertainty casted doubt on the industry’s future in our small nation, and I often questioned whether I could persevere through such difficult times. My experiences since graduating during COVID have profoundly shaped my perspective on the film industry, highlighting its fleeting nature. This realization also pushed me to seize the opportunity to move overseas, a decision I ultimately embraced. The learning curve has been steep but rewarding, and I’m eager to apply the skills I’ve gained beyond the classroom.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on nature trails, as the mountains here in LA, California, are unlike any I’ve ever seen—truly breathtaking and worth every moment. For a taste of cultural differences, I’d love to introduce my friend to a supermarket like Costco. The sheer variety of goods available there blew me away, and anyone who has not been to America, would certainly need to take a look at any kind of supermarket!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to my family – the Cheok Family as well as my mentor, Lucas Jodogne.

First of all, the unwavering support of my family has really brought me far. Be it financially and mentally, their encouragement has been a huge reason of why I persevere on. I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to study and pursue this uncanny career choice compared to the conventional path in Singapore.

Another person I would like to give a shout out to is my mentor is Lucas Jodogne. Without mentors like him, continuing on this journey would have been much more challenging. His guidance has helped me navigate the complexities of filmmaking. He has also been a strong supporter of my work at AFI, especially as I embarked on writing and shooting my own thesis.

Website: https://baole.creatorlink.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baooole/

Other: Thesis Film: https://findingyiyi2504.my.canva.site/