Meet Yao Wen | Production Designer

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

Hi Yao, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work-life balance is a topic I keep discussing with my fellow filmmaker friends. Our answer is that we have no balance yet, but we keep trying to find one.

The most important thing to maintain a work life balance for me is to set boundaries. Clearly define work hours and personal time, and communicate these boundaries to my team. However, I have to say I am not the best at setting boundaries.

As a Production Designer specifically, my working period in film production is relatively long. Usually, we are on board pretty early during pre-production. We are involved in all the creative discussions with the director and producer about how to design and build the ‘world.’ During this period of pre-production, it is more like a creative input process. Our work here involves endless researching, documenting, sourcing, etc. At this point, I can somehow maintain a work-life balance because I can either work from home or at my favorite coffee shop. I can still meet up with friends between meetings or give myself a little break.

After a few weeks of creatively working, we move to the construction and shopping period. We work with the construction coordinator to build the set, and we shop around the area to source every set-dressing and prop piece we need. Starting from this period, my life is divided into continuous 12-hour windows. I work for 12 hours, go home, take a break, and wake up to a new 12 hours of working. However, since it’s the Art Team construction period, I might be able to give myself a coffee break or choose to wrap early for a day or half.

Once the set is built, we start principal shooting. Then my life is on the clock. I work for 12 hours every day, with a 30-minute break in between. Every day is the same. My social life will primarily be talking to film crews on set. Although the hours are long and repetitive, maintain a positive attitude and talk to people is very important and relaxing for me. I enjoy random conversations with people I met on set very much. Most of the time I become friends with the crews I met on set and we will hang out in personal hours after production.

After principal shooting, other crews wrap and leave. Then the Art Team starts striking the set. Still, 12-hour days. Then, finally, the production ends for me. I get a break, go find my life back until I am on board for the next one. I do look forward for the downtime. After the intense periods of shooting and set striking, I use the breaks between projects to recharge and prepare for the next adventure.

If I ever lose the balance, which happens all the time, I guess I will just stay strong and fight on 🙂

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.
I am a freelancing Production Designer based in Los Angeles. I graduated from Brandeis University with a BFA in Film Production and a BFA in Studio Arts. Currently, I am pursuing my MFA in Film Production at the University of Southern California.

I primarily work as a Production Designer for short films, television series, commercials, and music videos. I have had the privilege of designing for global brands such as Apple Inc., Riot, Dungeon of Dragons, Pico, and more.

My design philosophy centers around creating realistic and immersive sets that feel truly lived-in, capturing the essence of the story and characters through detailed and thoughtful design. Born and raised in China, I also had the opportunity to study in South Korea, enriching my understanding and appreciation of East Asian cultures. This background allows me to design authentic and nuanced East Asian sets. Additionally, my seven years of education in the United States of Western Art History and Film History enables me to seamlessly blend diverse cultural elements into my work.

I am passionate about bringing stories to life through thoughtful and detailed production design, ensuring each set not only complements the narrative but also enhances the overall visual storytelling experience. My proudest moment in film production is when people watch the film and ask, “Hey, where did you find that location?” and I can proudly respond, “It is not a location. I built it on stage.”

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 you’re exploring Los Angeles, there are a few spots you shouldn’t miss. The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre is a haven for cinephiles, screening everything from classic films to indie gems. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in cinema history and catch screenings you won’t find elsewhere. For music fix, I recommend Amoeba Music, a legendary record store where you can lose yourself in rows of vinyl and CDs, discovering new and old sounds alike. For food, I highly recommend Otium near the Broad Museum. These spots not only inspire creativity but also capture the essence of LA’s vibrant cultural scene.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I can never say enough Thank You to my parents. They’ve been supporting me and trusting me since the beginning. They supported my idea to study abroad in the United States, they sponsored me to reach for my artistic dream. They’ve never interfere with my decisions when I choose my school, my major, my career. They trust me to challenge myself but they will also remind me ‘don’t burn yourself out’.
I have to shoutout to the Production Design track professors Michael Provart and Ross Silverman. Their guidances during my Production Designer journey means everything to me. I learned how to think and work creatively as a Production Designer, how to be a team-worker, the work ethics, the techniques, everything from them.

Website: https://wenyaofilms.squarespace.com

Instagram: @weny40_