Layla Jian Luo
“ON YOUR RADAR” IS A WEEKLY GRAD FILM NEWS SEGMENT THAT FEATURES A STUDENT PICKED AT RANDOM.
LAYLA JIAN IS CURRENTLY A 3RD YEAR STUDENT AT GRAD FILM. WE ASKED HER A FEW QUESTIONS AND HERE’S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY:
Where are you from and what is it like there?
An Uyghur Autonomous Region in the very west of China.
It's a one of a kind type of place. It is controlled by the most conservative political power, yet ruled and defined by diverse ethnic cultures, histories and aesthetics. Truly stunning. Full of stories. Too bad I didn't take my time to enjoy my motherland more.
What or who is inspiring you right now and why?
I'm recently inspired by the success of AlphaGo. Having been a child Go player, I used to worship the game and how much human intelligence it carries. Silly me. In the near future when AI takes on more and more work/responsibilities, will we be less of thinkers? We’ve already been through the centralization of power and assets - and then? Of intelligence? Funny question.
Another inspiring thing is to watch a 3-D film that’s been done in the right way for the first time on the correct projector. I recently had a chance to visit Ang Lee’s studio in New York. Their work and their workflow are eye-opening. Seeing Tim Squyres catch a bad frame that only lasts 1/120sec is also pretty cool. I'm so brainwashed after the visit that I don’t want to make 2-D films anymore - not sure if this counts as being inspired.
I’m cutting a 2-D 24fps film now and every choice I make, I think, "this is just a temporary solution due to the technical limitations." My head is in a very bad space. That’s what you get when you are truly inspired I guess.
What has been your most rewarding experience at NYU Tisch Grad Film so far?
Tisch is a tight, lovely community. In here I learn, grow and shape myself. Once in a while, I get a sneak-peek of the big cruel real world outside of Tisch - and these moments make me realize how rewarding my Tisch experience has been.
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