We had the good fortune of connecting with Unhae Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Unhae, how do you think about risk?
I took the risk of coming to the US as a foreigner to study Animation, if I did not find a job in time I had to leave the country after school. I was fortunate to find a job after school, but there was also a high possibility that I would not find a job and need to go back to my home country. However, I believe even if I had to go back to South Korea after school, taking the risk of coming here definitely gave me priceless life experiences and lessons.
I believe any risk that has something I can learn from it, it is a risk I am willing to take. Especially, if it is something I can put effort to change the chance of it. If I’m risking my money on something like lottery or gambling, it is probably not the risk I’m willing to take, because there is nothing I can do to change the result.
However, if it is a risk that I can at least try and put effort to have a better outcome, even if the result is not something I wished for, I learn from the experience of me trying and working hard. Not only the results matter, but the process and experience mean more to me.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a 3D Artist who loves 3D modeling and lighting. I’m currently working as a Junior 3D Artist at the Advertising agency Bond located in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Getting the first job in the industry was difficult, and now in the fast-changing technology and market, trying to catch up with the technology and industry can feel overwhelming from time to time as a starting out a young professional. I tend to worry a lot, so I try my best to not think about all the negative possibilities. Instead, I try to stay positive and focus on what I can do at the moment. I can’t control anyone else’s decisions, I even have a hard time controlling myself in front of a pint of ice cream. So it would be better to focus on myself and what I can do to make life more happy and fulfilling.
Career-wise, I have participated in creating posters and key art for Shazam Fury of the Gods, Lost Ark, and Mortal Kombat Onslaught. I have seen my work on the streets and the internet, and it is an amazing feeling. I appreciate that I got to participate in those projects with amazingly talented people at my work.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would love to take my best friend to Getty Villa and have a nice drive along the Malibu beach. I love cafe hopping around Echo park, Silver Lake, and Pasadena also. Hiking during the day and a night drive on Mulholland Drive too! Los Angeles is a city where it has so much to offer for visitors. Beautiful nature, diverse culture fun night life. A week might not be enough to enjoy this city.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my family, especially my parents. Coming to the US and starting my career wasn’t possible if it wasn’t them. I talked about taking the risk of coming to the US earlier, but it was actually my parents who took the most risk to send me here to study. Studying at any art school in the US is financially taxing, and on top of that, I was not able to see them regularly because of our distance.
I think about if I will ever be somebody who is so supportive of someone who I can see in person barely a year. Their support and love in me motivate me to work and try harder to make my life something worth their support and love. Not only being successful in my career and having glamorous life, I want to be someone who is healthy and happy with their lives. I believe if I am healthy and happy and living my life fully, my parents will be happy as well. It is a blessing to have them as my family and I want to give them all the credit for the small and big things I have achieved in my life so far.
Website: Www.unhaepark.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unhae-park-31576a1b3
Image Credits
Works by BOND, last 2 by Bellzi