Today we’d like to introduce you to Jin Rhim.
Jin, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve had a roundabout journey to get to where I am now. I’ve grown up always doing something related to art, doodling, writing stories, making comics with friends, making costumes, etc, but they were always considered hobbies, and up until I went to New York for college, I was on track to becoming a doctor, psychology/neuroscience double major on the pre-med track.
As a part of student life, I joined theatre clubs and did set design for fun, but a friend in NYU’s film school who I worked with on a theatrical production suggested that I help her design some student films, and once I did that, I fell in love. So in the span of a semester, I applied to transfer (successfully) to the film program at NYU Tisch. Film school is really where I could flourish as an artist since I could combine all of my artistic interests, as well as my academic interests into one medium.
Since then, I’ve written and directed a couple of short films, and production designed many, many more. My focus during film school is in Production Design – this includes props, set design, sometimes costumes. I’ve been really lucky to have worked professionally in the theatre scene here in New York City, in props, and on a couple network television shows in the Art Department. And also abroad in the Czech Republic in collaboration with Barrandov Studios.
I’m currently in pre-production for my senior thesis film, a script which I’ve been developing since the summer, under mentorship of Emmy Award-winning producer Janet Grillo. I am also serving as a Production Designer for a couple of my friends’ senior thesis films too. I still do illustration on the side, and keep a sketchbook handy, since a designer (and the artist in general) is all about observation and expression. I’ve recently had the honor to meet Academy Award-winning production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein, who was a long-time collaborator of the late Czech director Miloš Forman, and she couldn’t express that enough.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am an artist of many mediums. First and foremost, I would call myself a storyteller — through writing a screenplay, or designing the world of the story. When I write, it’s mostly comedies that are led by complex women in extenuating and ridiculous circumstances. In production design, I have to admit that I have a certain fondness for period films and maximalist designs – my influences are Amy Sherman-Palladino, Patrizia von Brandenstein, Alexandra Byrne, Sandy Powell, and Josie Rourke.
My goal as an artist is to promote diversity. In my senior thesis film, titled “The Will,” which is a comedy set in the 1940’s, I am prioritizing women and people of color in the crew and cast. Less than 8% of top films in 2016 were directed by women. I’d imagine even less (or any at all) were directed by women of color. I tell stories of those often marginalized and excluded from the mainstream narrative. I’m making it a point with “The Will” that people of color have always existed, and that should be reflected on the screen – too many period films these days are filled with white people, and I’m actively trying to defy that notion.
I want to normalize diversity on the screen to reflect the real world. I write characters who are diverse, in stories that aren’t necessarily a centered around their gender, race, or sexual orientation. As a designer, I create the world of these complex characters through the way they express themselves in the way they fill up their space.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
No job is too small. I’ve worked on a network television show. I’ve worked in NYC theatres. I’ve also spent all day doing grunt work. These days I’m freelancing and picking up any day playing gigs that come up, but I also have a stable part-time job that isn’t related to my art. If you’re passionate about something, make time for it! All of my spare time is dedicated towards my film. Art is a wonderful thing that can be done in downtime. It’s all about prioritizing!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have a website, jinrhim.com where I’ve posted stills from films I’ve worked on, as well as some illustrations that I’ve done. If you want to support my upcoming film, we’ve just launched its Instagram page @thewillmovie – Twitter and Facebook pages are in development!
Contact Info:
- Website: jinrhim.com
- Instagram: @thewillmovie OR @jinrhim
Image Credit:
Hannah Ponder, Leonardo Nussenzveig, Samuel Rinkacs, Jin Rhim
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