Hugo Li
My Journey to the Cinematic Arts
I began my journey relatively young but really pursued it at high school. Around 6 years of age, my family introduced me to several family comedy movies. We watched constantly and I got immersed in the experience overtime. Like any child, movies are what I keep talking about all my life. Until high school, where I created my first video project, is where I found my passion for the cinematic arts.
Throughout my life, I elaborate on movies specifically the knowledge what I’ve learned from them even to the point of using them in my lifestyle. I also reenact scenes for entertainment especially for emotional support. Today, I continue this habit for movies ranging in different genres and even animated ones.
My inspiration comes from a weird habit I adopted at a young age. I tend to look around my environment at angles that is generally abnormal. For instance, sometimes I look at a tree trunk up close while others would normally look from a distance. It is through this habit that is how I create my film visuals. In addition, I also draw from my life experience and hobbies including fencing, ice hockey, music, martial arts, and add small elements of them into my films.
When I began to really pursue film, I took lots of summer classes including ones from the Vancouver Film School. From this one class, I learned so much about the industry and the standards they have, which motivated me to really perfect my craft.
As I began my college years at Simon Fraser University, studying Communications, I craved for every opportunity to make films and I got lots of experience from advertisement to marketing to contemporary arts classes. Though they aren’t primary film projects, I got to make documentaries, promotions ads, and artistic videos, which I recall are some of the best experience and gaining different film styles in the process.
After 3 years into my college life, I continued my film studies at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles before returning to college to begin 4th year. Here I was given the privilege to learn from lots of talented professionals with many currently working in the industry. Not only did I learn more about filmmaking, but also the nature of the film industry and the hardships that comes with. Additional experiences include a film internship under Hong Kong Stage/TV director Peter Poon during a Japan Explorer Tour and participating in the creation of the stage performance “Deviance: Society of Monsters”. All of which, continually motivates my pursuit in film.
After 4 years since beginning my pursuit in film, I’ve learned more than I can imagine. From professionals, instructors, and even my friends, all have benefited me in my journey. I’m truly humbled to have gone through this journey with them and look forward to continuing it in the future.
Looking into the future, it is unpredictable. However, I’m certain that it is chopped full of opportunities to the cinematic arts. As I learned from my parents and mentors, learning is a never-ending road. Even though there will be obstacles trying to stop me, they are not excuses to give up on my dreams and my love for film only pushes me to bash through.