How Do You Beat The Odds? Museum Quality Words and Images

Odds makers give gamblers some stats, but still they almost always win in the end. They know far more about how the game is played than most who believe they know who the winners and losers will be. I can’t say what the odds were for Eris Qian to do what she’s done, but let’s just say they were staggering.

Eris contributed an inspirational interview here a while back --while she was still a student. She’d already accomplished what few students do and she did it across 3 continents. But even though she excelled in her field, the prospect of finding a job in the US in the world of media rises to level of success that Malcolm Gladwell writes about in his newest book David against Goliath. Foreign nationals who graduate from US universities have very little opportunity to get a chance to demonstrate their talents except in a small set of fields. She not only did it, she’s now a regularly profiled on the website of one of the most prestigious museums in the world  Anyone who reads this update will learn not just about Eris’ success against the odds; more importantly, they will learn that unending effort, passion, and talent do, in some cases, win.

Night at the Museum

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Since your interview a lot has happened in your life. You have had some exceptional opportunities and I hope you are willing to talk about them.

I’m one of the lucky people whose dream and career happen to be the same thing. I have dreamed to become a natural history filmmaker since I was a little girl, and after I graduated from college, I landed a full-time video production internship at the National Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian Institution is a great place for freshmen to start out, as it opens doors to both professional and academic world. I became a contract video producer after the 6-month internship, and I’m working on three different projects now.

Can you talk a little about how you undertook your job/internship search as you prepared to graduate?  Did you find things yourself, through networking, or your university's career services?

My situation was actually tough when I was doing job research before graduation. Unlike business or engineering, in which the trail has been blazed and thus newcomers could follow a well-worn path, the media industry generally does not welcome international students. So I had to really explore my own ways of finding a opportunity. I tried everything possible – networking, university career services, website openings, yet nothing was grounded until the last month of college. When I was on the edge of surrender, an email came to our department saying that the National Museum of Natural History was looking for a video production intern. It looked like a position specifically tailored for me! And as you know, I didn’t miss it.

You secured what must be one of the more coveted internships for anyone interested in media and history. Can you describe the internship and how you were selected? Or maybe the better question would be why id they pick you—what did you highlight on your resume and interview that you think stood out?

My internship was like a real job. It’s full-time, paid, and I made creative decisions instead of making coffee. I was actually shocked to learn how many applied to my position but didn’t get in.

I think the key is to go an extra mile to demonstrate that you not only qualify for the job, but also match it perfectly. That means that you are not just looking for somewhere to go after graduation, but you have been studying this field or company as your dream career, and also preparing for it.

In my case, after the first round of interview, I took a video editing assignment to demonstrate my ability. And not only did I make the video, I wrote an email to describe every step in detail to show how much I understand the software. I think that extra mile made me stand out. Plus I had a portfolio of natural history related projects, proving that I would be the right match.

Once in the internship you were such a star that you are now in a new position at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Can you describe the position and some of the things you are working on? 

My job is to produce videos and sometimes photos for three major projects. The first one is Q?rius education center, a 10,000 square feet physical space inside of the museum, and I edited most of the videos visitors see in that space. Other than that, I’m helping with Smithsonian Science How? (yes question mark always makes the name fancy), a live webcast series that feature Smithsonian scientists and bring science to a broad audience. Last but not least, I’m working on a mobile app that uses augmented reality to enhance the visitor experience of the Victorian-age bone hall, producing a key part of its multimedia contents.

On my job I have to produce high quality media with limited resources, since we are a non-profit yet prestigious organization. Every time I walk into Q?rius and see the videos I made, I feel like I’m making history.

You have already been featured 2 times on Smithsonian websites for your success. How does that make you feel? Do you feel pressure to be a star all the time?

Haha no. I did blush when I saw my big picture in the institution-wide newsletter though. There are so many stars in the Smithsonian Institution, and a lot of them are worldly renowned scientists. I’m thrilled to be featured twice in such a short period of time, and I see it as a way to inspire upcoming interns and contribute to the whole institution. My family is proud for me, of course.

In addition to your job, you continue to be very active with your own photography and film projects.  Can you share some of your photographs and perhaps talk about how your vision might have changed now you are out in the real world.

My idea of photography has definitely grown with my real world experience. Two years ago, when I told my mentor that I’d like to become a museum photographer, all I cared about was the pure prettiness of art crafts or specimens. And I thought taking beautiful pictures was enough. It wasn’t. 

Photography is a commission, which means it’s always serving a purpose higher than beauty, or the photographer’s self-appreciation. How to tell a story through images, what is the story trying to tell people, and who will care? I think these are valid questions not only for photojournalists, but also for photographers that shoot weddings and fashion etc.

As for my photography projects, I’m starting off a portrait series called “Indefinable”, featuring young Chinese females. This project is to break gender stereotypes and promote feminist ideas. I think carrying out this project is my best answer to those three questions.

Recently you returned to China to do some research on an upcoming documentary. Can you share anything about the topic and your approach?

I talked to several people working in TV but it seems the project would be no easy. I’m still talking to people and considering different approaches, but at this point I don’t have much to share.

Do you feel differently about yourself when you go back to China?  Do you feel differently about China?

It was amazing to realize how much I have changed since I studied abroad, as well as how much China has changed. On the one hand, everything was so new compared to the US – the metro, the high-speed railway, the grand shopping malls and skyscrapers etc. They gave me so many awes, while being completely ordinary to the local people. I found myself taking pictures like a foreign tourist. On the other hand, I did get an anti-cultural shock. I would have to catch up with China’s rapid development, and adapt myself to the social customs when I go back. But overall, I believe China will continue opening up and the number opportunities in media will grow even larger. The West would be amazed by how much Chinese people understand and embrace the outside world.

You have just enrolled in an acting class too. Why? And how do you find the time to do all the things you do?

Acting is fabulous. It’s a process of coping with the self, and feeling comfortable with it. I enjoy the moments when I am freed from my conscience and ego, and concentrate on something beyond “me”. I tried to break my self-constrains by acting throughout adolescence, and now it’s exciting to know that I can do it more seriously and confidently. I hope that I would apply my acting skills to directing my own film in the future.  

As for time management, I’m still learning to simplify my life. Before graduation, I had no idea that work would take up a big chunk of my time. Now I’m trying to do only one or two tasks a day after work, even though I might have ten tasks on the list. Prioritization helps to relieve stress and reduce distraction, thus prevents procrastination.

Any other updates or advice you might give to those seeking to make it in competitive fields you are in?

Break your great ambition into small tasks and just take action. Confidence and persistence is the key. Never be intimidated as there is no safe way after all. Looking back, I feel so lucky and grateful that I didn’t give up. And now I know that the fate doesn’t choose you, it’s you that choose the fate.

Eris at work

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The word ‘grit’ gets thrown around a lot these days in education. Schools look for students who demonstrate it and employers look for it too. Eris could well define the term. Overcoming barriers is never easy and requires strength of character and a belief in oneself that not many of us have.

But sometimes grit isn’t enough. Recently, an article highlighted some traits common to highly successful people. At or near the top of almost all of them: a mentor. Eris found people who could show her how to become a better photographer and filmmaker. They saw her talents but also felt her drive and opened up some doors for her. My experience is that mentors come in many shapes and sizes but almost all of them respond when someone has the will to work exceptionally hard to achieve a dream.

For those who want to see how the Smithsonian has profiled Eris recently, here is a link. I have no doubt that we will be hearing lots more about Eris in the coming months and years. I will continue to follow her success because I want to be able to say, “I knew her way back when….” as she completes some projects and films that I believe will get her even more international attention. As you can tell, Eris is about as busy as someone can be, so I would like to thank her for giving us the benefit of her well-wrought words and her example of how to achieve a dream against all the odds.

Screenshot of Eris in Samantha' Liu's film "Last Flowers"