Interview with Maxine Yip (An experience with burnout)

 

  How is artist supposed to process burnout and how can they move on from their past? Given the capitalistic nature of the current economy, what is plausible for the transition? During my 45-minute interview, Maxine reflected on her life in SFU for the past 3 years.

 

Lief

 What got you into art school, and who and what started the motivation?

Maxine

  I got into film through high school drama teacher, and watching Disney movie with their imaginative stories and world designs.

 

Lief

  What was your creative process?

Maxine

  My style is that I would watch a scene and edit parts of it in my head. This means I had no idea how to implant the changes effected in a practical sense. But, I will lose interest if the project doesn’t grab me immediately.

 

Lief

  What did envision when you first started in your major?

Maxine

  I would say I was “blinded by dream”. It was like a kid who thinks the world is filled with princesses and not think about the sacrifices that come with that.

 

Lief

  What made you doubt your choice in major?

Maxine

  Well, I was inspired by the creative freedom that comes with working in film. My ideas for films were not practical for making a living. I was idealistic and thought school would be smooth sailing. The technical aspect was another side, I didn’t put many thoughts in which mean my ideas were not realistic and disjointed.

  Another thing is that I had ideas that were meant for commercial products, meaning others in the major had no interest in them. They are more “artistic” with their projects and we would clash constantly. For a long while, I thought my ideas were just shit. And this just made me more and more cynical, because I just can’t relate to others at SFU film major. But then I talk to other people in different schools, and they were a lot less critical and likes my proposals.

 

Lief

  Given your experience did the class materials help or hinder your burnout

Maxine

  The classes ended up being more theoretical and less practical. Which given my vision of what SFU would teach me, stressed e out more. So, I would say, yes, the class did affect my burnout somewhat.

 

Lief

  How would you describe your experience in school?

Maxine

  Right, Uhm, I think film school opened my mind up to explore a darker subject and made me want to understand victims/the concept of victim-blaming.

 

Lief

  Given your burnout on film, would you return in the future, and what goal had shifted for you?

Maxine

  I guess I am in survival mode because I do need to feed myself. I am working to build a platform that will provide me a decent income. And as for film, in the foreseeable future, no.

In the end, Maxine told me that despite her personal experience she did gain a lot throughout her years in school.