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Big blockbuster films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Superman Returns,” and “The Matrix” all display a stunning amount of visual effects created by talented computer animators.
Peipei Yuan is one of the freelance animators who have worked on such films and has a list of credits that also include “Elf,” “Constantine,” “Sky High,” “Spider-Man 3,” “Panic Room,” and “The Chronicles of Riddick.”
“Being a computer artist is the epitome of what my personality is: I love geeking out on technology, gadgets, and electronics, and I love to be creative, imaginative, and entertain people with my art,” said Yuan.
Peipei At work at Sony Studios, Culver City on Spiderman III.
one of the shots peipei prevized in Spiderman III "Dream Sequence"
Yuan, who specializes in pre-visualization sequences, helps directors create storyboards that build a base and structure for animators to create the visual effects.
One of Yuan’s favorite sequences she has worked on was for “Pirates of the Caribbean 3: World’s End.” In the film she animated the tentacles of a giant monster, named The Kraken, who attacks Jack Sparrow’s ship, the Black Pearl.
While Yuan was animating for “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” she was inspired by the stunt work performed on set. With her athletic background, Yuan found a career in stunts to be a natural transition for her.
“Everything I’ve ever done in my entire life has led me to desire to be a professional stuntwoman. I grew up doing competitive gymnastics, martial arts and spring board diving and always was known to be a tough girl or dare devil who played with the boys. I’ve taken some terrible falls in my life and I feel I have a good sense of body awareness,” Yuan said.
Only after a year of training with a stunt team called Reel Kick, Yuan has worked as a professional stunt woman on the hit television show “Numb3rs” and two commercials. One commercial was for EBay and the other was called “Head Wind” for Farmer’s Insurance.
At the age of 31 she practices yoga and martial arts weekly to keep her body in shape for her stunt practices. Yuan doesn’t feel discouraged about starting a stunt career late at her age. She feels that her age gives her more confidence and motivation to not be lazy and hone the craft of becoming a stuntwoman.
Amazingly, in addition to her occupations as an animator and stuntwoman, Yuan is also able to pursue a career as a professional dancer. Although she loves both animation and stunts, dancing is where her true passion is.
“Pretty much everything I do is male dominated: break dancing, previz, stunts, martial arts, snowboarding,” said Yuan.
Yuan feels most at ease and comfortable when she dances.
At her Venice Beach dance studio with the sound of jazz, hip hop, and funk flowing through the background, she gave an explosive performance as she meticulously moved her hands and feet to the sound of the beat.
Yuan is known in the dance scene as a B-Girl, which is also short for what is familiar in the hip-hop world as a female break dancer. She has performed with many singing sensations from Pink for the 2003 Billboard Music Awards to more recently Gwen Stefani during the Harajuku Lovers tour.
Yuan finds that there are no boundaries when it comes to break dancing. She incorporates different styles of dance such as swing, lindy hop, salsa, and jazz into her choreography. These different styles help her build technique into her foot work and bring uniqueness into her dance.
Her passion for break dancing was sparked by her love for hip hop music. She came across break dancing in her mid teens while participating in the underground hip hop dance scene in New York. She was mesmerized and entranced by their edgy fast paced movements that seemed to defy gravity. Since break dancing classes weren’t widely offered then, she learned to break dance by mimicking other dancers and asking those dancers to teach her their moves. Her life has never been the same ever since.
“Dancing has given me the power to gain confidence and helped me express my emotions,” Yuan said.
With her new love of break dancing came disapproval and little support from her parents. Yuan’s parents didn’t believe their daughter’s love for a form of street dancing would get her anywhere in life, or even be considered a profession.
They wanted her to just pursue and commit to something safe such as her computer animation career. According to Yuan getting her parents to understand the true essence of hip-hop culture has been a very long and slow process.
“I wanted to break down the stereotypes that my parents, as well as the mainstream public, has about hip-hop being involved only with gangsters, criminals, foul language, and tough ghetto life.” Yuan said “I want to show them that everyone who performs and breaks does it purely for the love of hip-hop culture, the arts, and the dance.”
Since 2003 Yuan has been on a solo mission to break the stereotypes of hip hop and founded a program called B. A. D. standing for Breakers against Drugs. It is a non profit organization held at the Electric Lodge, a dance studio in Venice Beach. Every Sunday Yuan gives free break dancing lessons to at-risk youth or anyone who just wants to learn about hip-hop culture.
The sky is the limit for Yuan. She has accomplished much at the age of 31 and does not feel discouraged about pursuing new professions at her age. She has an appreciation for all the opportunities and possibilities life has to offer. There is really no stopping this colorful woman who plans to live life to the fullest.
“I am a student for life,” said Yuan. |
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