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

Hi zhen, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I see risk, I also see opportunity. In my opinion, opportunity has always coexisted with risk. Risk is more like a mirror or a close friend to me, and it will make me see clearly what I am lacking in my life or my career path. In other words, it reminded me that I need to strengthen some areas of my ability to better hedge risks.

My biggest adventure was probably when I discovered that I wasn’t a traditional person who just wanted to do one thing really well. I hesitated to follow one path when I discovered that I didn’t just want to be a composer or sound artist, but also wanted to pick up a camera and create something visual. The passion and energy within me supported me to overcome my fear of starting from scratch. It is also this enthusiasm that makes me have the courage to ask the mentors around me for help and keep improving. There might not have been a clear career path in front of me, but I listened to my heart and continued to sharpen my skills and explore the possibilities in this world as an interdisciplinary artist.

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? 
I would say the answer is yes…and no. Looking back, it was easy because I was doing what I love and I am good at it. My passion naturally drives me forward. At the same time, it is also a process that requires a lot of heart and soul. When you do what you love, you can’t help but to put in extra effort to make your work better. Whether it’s conceiving a recording project, sound art or visual project, I always take a moment to focus on the “root” of the ideas and how I can use my voice to form the perspective. Then I think about how I can bring the story to life with existing technology and means. After finishing a project, I also take the time to review carefully what could be improved in terms of conception and execution. Last but not least, if I have a question, I never hesitate to find the answer. Keeping this habit allows me to keep improving and growing as a creative person.

When I first entered the filmmaking industry, I was actively looking for opportunities. I said yes to everything. When I grow to a certain point, rejecting projects that don’t fit my goal is a lesson we all need to learn. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time and energy. I think the whole industry is like a pool of water. It’s fluid. You will encounter your opportunities as long as everyone keeps it flowing. All we can do is to direct the right opportunities to the right people. This is how we support our peers and nourish the community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For some not-so-typical LA vibes, a little unexpected, I would recommend Venice Canals and Santa Catalina Island. These are two places I personally like. For New York, I would recommend the cloister museum at the top of Manhattan. She is different in all seasons. And of course any performances and movie screenings at Lincoln Center that interest you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
What a great question! I would love to share with you. I have always felt that gratitude is a valuable quality and mindset for people to grow. It is important to recognize all the help and support I’ve received and be grateful for the gains in life. So many people I met have colored my life and helped me become who I am today. My good friend and mentor Arin helped me get into the world of photography and videography, starting from scratch. Phil and Sound Coop used their every action to show me how to build a community and how to support each other. Erin and Story Collider made me realize the power of storytelling. Over time, I have also become more aware of the role that diversity and inclusion play in our day-to-day lives. My good friend Olive taught me better communication, always being creative and what true support is…
Although my list could go on forever, some keywords keep showing up: community, diversity, inclusion, support, and love, and my understanding of them is constantly deepening.

Website: https://zhenqin.wixsite.com/hello

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

Other: IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9718870/ Photography https://www.flickr.com/photos/145918171@N05/albums

Image Credits
Melissa De Leon
Olive Hui

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.