Patrick
Yen is a rising filmmaker/photojournalist. He is basically a multimedia
badass. He has a bright future ahead of him and once he finishes up at
Western Kentucky University...well there's no tellin'...he could be doing
your next music video or documenting the new strain of virus to hit your
town. He's also quite a funny guy. Want to know more...read on.
1. Did you always know you wanted to be a multi faceted visual artist?
I've wanted to be a Filmmaker since I was 12 years old.
2. What do you enjoy most - photography, film, etc.
Digital photography is my favorite medium for two
reasons. It's immediate and it is easy to manipulate for graphic design
purposes. You don't need a television, a
projector, or a computer to "watch" a photograph.
3. How long have you been doing each?
I acquired my first video camera when I was 12, set
up a cramped dark room when I was 14, and began shooting super 8 and 16mm
when I was 16. At 16 I began working at a place in Louisville called Video
Kitchen, where I went on to learn non-linear video editing. I've been
studying new media photojournalism for over two years now at WKU.
4. Where do your ideas stem from?
My ideas stem from remote viewing. I often feel as though I'm downloading information subconciously from the network Carl Jung spoke of as the collective conciousness.
5. Do you have a certain agenda with your art? Is there a message in there?
Insanity is defined as an inability to question one's perceptions. Being a counter-culturalist, I seek to provoke people into questioning their perceptions as well as their sense of normalcy. All too often people accept things without reflection.
6. What do you want to see yourself doing in five years?
In five years I want to be managing an international network of Commercial MultiMedia Artists as well as shooting both films and nonprofit news features around the world for independent outlets.
7. Most challenging thing you've been faced with?
I am most challenged by bureaucracy. I don't bullshit people; I'm open and honest and the average person is very threatened by that. I simply refuse to suck corporate dick.
8. What types of equipment/software are you using?
I use a Canon Digital Rebel SLR for stills and for
video I just borrow any camera I can get my hands on. I edit with a very
portable 15-inch Powerbook G4 equipped
with Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Flash MX Pro 2004. I buy everything
used.
9. Dream project?
My short term Dream project is to shoot a news video on the spread of Avian Bird Flu in Taiwan this December. My long term Dream Project is to produce two books: one book - a photographic study on mixed people, the other book - a photographic study on androgyny. I want to shoot numerous photo stories on the cultural displacement of those exposed to two cultures growing up and I want to do the same for the urban movement towards androgyny as gender roles progressively fade away.
10. If it was your last meal what would you order?
My grandma's meatloaf.
You can find out much more on Mr. Yen on his 
myspace
profile: www.myspace.com/binjiminyin
Check out his website for services, film and other information as well: www.militantmultimedia.com
http://www.patrickyen.com/horn.html
http://www.patrickyen.com/tdfc/