Meet Linqing Iris Liu | Sound Mixer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Linqing Iris Liu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linqing Iris, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Pursuing an artistic career is answering my calling. I always knew my career would be in some creative field. My mother is a huge movie fan and my father is obsessed with literature. I was born an empath. It feels natural for me to express my thoughts and emotions through artistic means. I started painting and a journal at a very young age. Then the journal turned into my workbook for short stories. I got my first digital camera, a Sony cyber-shot T700, in middle school and I went everywhere with it. There is no surprise that I work in the film industry since storytelling is something I have always been doing. Working in this industry, however, I also need to be realistic; there is so much more than creativity itself. So I decided to become a sound mixer, a career that mixes creativity and practicality. My artistic aesthetics enables me to create soundscapes that complement the story, and my technical knowledge aids me to solve practical problems. Sound is a narrative tool and has the power to connect with people on a deep level. It has a significant impact on the emotional response of the audience. It serves my purpose to communicate and inspire through art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am always excited about capturing the best-quality dialogue on set!

I mainly do narrative works but also take on commercial opportunities when they come my way. I am interested in cross-cultural, female-driven narratives, and I have been seeking out these productions in particular.

The feature film, “No New Wave,” explores the identity of a young woman and the challenges she faces in a bustling foreign metropolis. I was the sound supervisor and sound mixer for it. Last year, it was nominated for Best Film at the Pingyao International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious Asian film festivals for independent and arthouse films. It was also nominated for Emerging Director Award at the Asian American International Film Festival, which is known as “The First Home to Asian American Cinema.”

A short film I sound mixed for, “One for Sorrow, Two for Joy,” discusses the struggles of a Chinese high school girl to deal with life after her 48-year-old mother is pregnant again to have a boy to pass on the family line. Last year, it was a Jury Winner at the Austin Film Festival, which is considered one of the premier film festivals for storytelling. It was Best Narrative Short at the LA Independent Women Film Awards, which celebrates the achievement of female filmmakers in the industry.

Another short film, “Like Wave Like Cloud,” is still in the festival circuit. It tells a story of a female couple with an age difference attempting to navigate their relationship during an unexpected change in life. It has been nominated for Best Short Film at the Krakow Film Festival, one of the oldest and most prestigious film events in Poland.

I just completed the production phase for a feature film, “Three Things About Her (Working Title),” that examines the daily life of a middle-aged woman struggling with loss and love. I am currently sound designing for an animated short, “Amy (Working Title),” and I love how animation gives me more freedom to experiment with sound design and go wild.

It was not easy to get where I am today professionally. Years ago, I was an international student on my own in a foreign country. I worked extra hard to improve and prove myself. From my early days in college, I began to collaborate with classmates and build connections. Paying my dues by not letting go of any opportunity and consistently delivering the best-quality audio have played a role in my success. The industry can be highly competitive, and breaking into it requires persistence and a strong work ethic. My mentor’s advice to prioritize professionalism, punctuality, and friendliness in my work has contributed to my positive reputation. My ability to adapt and learn something new on every job has helped me gain valuable experience. I have always sought out new techniques, attended workshops, and stayed tuned with the latest industry trends. Continuous learning has not only enhanced my skills but also made me a valuable asset to my clients. My journey to where I am now professionally is undoubtedly filled with obstacles. It was not easy, but my determination, resilience, and commitment to personal and professional growth allowed me to overcome these challenges. By embracing each hurdle as a learning opportunity, I have positioned myself as a successful sound mixer in my field.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If in NYC, I would take them to Kenka, an izakaya restaurant in East Village. It has alternative Japanese decor and affordable food. They used to remain open till 4 in the morning before the pandemic. Now they close around midnight I think, but it is a great place to hang out. Although I do not drink anymore, I’d recommend my friend to try their array of sake.

If in LA, I would recommend the Last Bookstore, an independent bookstore in DTLA. They have an eclectic selection of books and records. It is easy to spend hours there exploring their large collection of new and used books. You can always find something interesting there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Besides my loving family, especially my mother and nai-nai (grandmother), and dear friends who have been supporting me throughout the years, I would like to shout out to Chat Gunter, an incredible sound mixer and a true mentor. I am grateful for the invaluable support and guidance he provided me during my college years and through my career. Not only did Chat teach me the technical skills and knowledge necessary for success in the industry, but he also instilled in me the importance of taking pride in what I do and standing up for myself. In a field that can sometimes be challenging for underrepresented individuals, Chat’s unwavering belief in my abilities gave me the confidence to overtime any obstacles I faced. His encouragement and advocacy empowered me to embrace my unique perspective and voice, ultimately shaping me into the artist and professional I am today.

Website: https://irisliu607.wixsite.com/sound

Other: Email: irisliu607@gmail.com IMDb; https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9900244/

Image Credits
credit 1: Xiao Han credit 2: Mark Xie credit 3: Ziwei Yao credit 4: bklinephoto