We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Fang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, why did you pursue a creative career?

I was a very outdoorsy and curious kid. I would spend most of my days being out with friends. I love exploring nature and discovering hidden places. I grew up in a generation when technology was blooming, colored TV was becoming a household essential. I remember being obsessed with all the cartoons, shows and movies that were available to me. It was quite fascinating as a kid. I felt I was entering a different world whenever I was watching something on television.
As I got older, literature entered my life. I was filled with imagination and sentiment from books I read. I remember, around that period, I started to search for something that connects me to the others and the world. The first time I saw a 35mm photo appear on the paper as I was agitating the tray in the darkroom, I was so thrilled. It was like magic, the kind of magic one never forgets. Since then, taking pictures has become a habit, capturing moments has become an obsession. In college, I also practiced sculpture. What attracted me was the process of making a sculpture and a photograph contains a lot of craftsmanship, which is something that has sadly mattered less and less in today’s culture.
Something clicked in the back of my head when I was introduced to moving images with a Bolex camera. Without knowing the word ‘Cinematography’, I already fell in love with the feeling I got from seeing through the viewfinder. I felt emotionally connected to the camera, it was like my eyes but also a medium for me to show others what I see. I remember that I could not let go of being with the cameras during and after class, that eventually I even got a job working at the school’s equipment checkout office so I could have more time with them. I love how cinematography is a three-dimensional process like sculpture but it translates to a two-dimensional piece like photography. Cinematography deals with the relationship between time and space, and it is an art form that is highly imaginative and versatile. I love the process of visually translating words to something people can see and feel. Realizing these, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a cinematographer.

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.

As everyone knows, pursuing a career in film is never easy and never will be.

I was lucky that I got to study at a prestigious film school and was surrounded by a group of talented and passionate filmmakers.

As a starting cinematographer, I know that there is so much I need to learn. So when any opportunity comes that I could be on a set, I would not hesitate. I learned so much by watching others do and later practicing myself.

And of course, mistakes happen and a lot of time, it can be quite embarrassing. But they are the most incredible teachers because they force me to think differently and more openly.

In my creative process, I love to dig deep into script first. I enjoy having conversations with the director about the characters and the emotional cores of the story, before jumping into logistics and technicals. I value my collaboration a lot with the art and costume department as well. I often try to exchange visual ideas with them in pre-production whenever I can. It makes me happy to see the production designer and costume designer are also happy about how their works turned out.

The word “professionalism” matters a lot to me. It means having the competence of being a professional, also having the mindset of one. We all know that being on a film set can be extremely tiring and stressful. Apart from achieving the art, having a good attitude is also very crucial to me. I learned how to communicate with others, knowing that everyone is under pressure. I bring gratitude, positivity and kindness to every person on set, and always try to carry a problem solving mind. I like to think a film crew is like a big family, and sometimes family fights, but at the end of the day, the love and bond bring us back together because we know everyone has good intentions, it’s just sometimes we have different approaches to certain things, and I believe that there are always more solutions than problems. When a day is wrapped, I like to joke around with people, sharing funny memes with them, making them laugh to lighten up the mood.

I would like the world to know that my philosophy of being a cinematographer is so much more than just making pretty images. I like to think as a storyteller. Being able to help to tell a good story is something I am most passionate about. Filmmaking to me is a shared human experience and we form connections both inside and outside the story we tell. That is what I really enjoy and love about this form of art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friend is visiting, I would take them to visit the Getty Center and maybe we’d catch a great exhibition. Drive along the PCH and enjoy the beach a little bit. Maybe plan a hike in Malibu, a bike ride around Santa Monica is also great. A must try breakfast is the breakfast burrito from Taco Por Favor, some Korean BBQ for lunch and the Brothers Taco in Palms for dinner. After that, maybe hit the bar  “Old Field” to have a glass of the spicy “Outlaw”.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

William McDonald, who was my most important cinematography professor while I was at UCLA. He is one of the kindest people I’ve known, he has shown me how much passion and love he has dedicated to cinematography and to people. He has taught me that mastering the techniques as a cinematographer is crucial, but it is more important to be a grateful and kind human being, especially when working in a highly pressured environment.

Jerry Henry, who is an incredibly talented cinematographer and my lifelong mentor. Jerry is so generous in sharing his knowledge with me. He has taught me that being a cinematographer, you have to be very good at adapting different kinds of scenarios. Things are constantly changing, technology, locations, etc. Thus, we as cinematographers, need to constantly learn, change and adapt.

David Greene, who is definitely a master in the art of cinematography. David is my mentor from the ASC Vision Program. I’m so grateful to have David as my mentor, every time I had meetings with him, he generously shared his creative process with me. He patiently explained how he lit a scene and the reason behind. He is a humble person, especially for someone that has so many incredible credits. He is very supportive of my work and my career.

Website: www. jackiefang.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/queenofcablewrapping?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits
Profile photo: by Dexter Fletcher Group photo 1&2: not applicable Stills: by Jackie Fang

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.