Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonni Lam.
Sonni, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was always a theatrical person. I grew up with a love for cinema and movie scores (or soundtracks). Much like everyone, it all started with shooting home movies on my dad’s old camcorder and editing it the best I could on my beat-up computer. Before that, my only method of video editing was having 2 VCR’s, one Television, and a lot of patience. How did I do that? It was kind of like recording your favorite songs on a radio using a cassette player (Yes, I am that generation).
Below is the first fun film project I Co-Directed and Starred in:
Equally important was my love and infatuation with movie scores. I grew up very musically influenced. My first instrument was a violin where I played all the way to the end of my High School. In middle school, I played a Trumpet up until my house fire. And sometime during High School, I taught myself piano to which I still play to this day. Both my parents ran and owned a convenience corner store where I was forced to find countless ways to entertain myself. I remember recording entire movies onto an audio cassette tape and listen to entire films audibly for entertainment. It got to the point where I can tell you specific parts of movies at specific areas of a song. I did not realize then, but I was training myself to love and appreciate music as an emotional element in a film. I sincerely feel like I experience music not just audibly, but also visually and emotionally. This spirit I carry to this day. In a nutshell much of my childhood was me finding ways of entertaining myself in my head.
Unfortunately, like many within my demographic, I grew up with the mindset that a solid college degree leads to a solid career… which is ultimately the key to success. Boy was I wrong… I literally have 2 degrees sitting in the corner of my closet (Psychology & Sociology). Not to say that I did not land a job with that… I did. I worked in Mental Health for the first few years after college. However, my heart was pulled for much more. While juggling this BIG BOY job, I kept a piece of my heart in filmmaking. Every opportunity to create, I was there! Anything from goofy videos with my cousins (Who are both currently in the video & photography world) to highlight videos for my home church, VBCHOUSTON.
However, the part of my life I would declare as a game changer were the passings of both my parents during 2010-2011, roughly six months apart. This was a monumental turn in my life where I have only God, my wife, family & friends to thank for their priceless support. Death changes you… it really does… especially if it is your own parents. That was a very rough time but today I can confidently shout that I have victory and meant for much more than to be stuck behind a desk. Which brings me to today, living this freelance filmmaker life. I quit my full-time job as a caseworker and have been running headstrong in this direction ever since. I learned that time is short and you need to seize it. “If you can do something today, do not wait till tomorrow” – Larry Lam (my dad),
I do have a business that I operate for weddings and some corporate work – www.Cinemotion.wedding. Having been married and literally playing the role of a groom in my own wedding film, I absolutely love and enjoy creating these films as it does reach me on a very personal level. On top of that, I also view wedding films as learning grounds as I push to develop my self. Today, wedding films are so much more than hitting RECORD and calling it a day, it is literally art what some of these filmmakers pull off. Some of my most noticeable influences are SCULPTING WITH TIME, 31 FILMS, CINEMAWORKS, and Brothers Marten. Specifically, in this wedding realm, I am equally pumped and eager to see how I can develop as a filmmaker.
What drives my veins and my daily steps is this Sonni-Personalized journey/growth of a filmmaker. Yes, weddings are a part of it, but as I dig deeper and deeper into this filmmaking world, I learn fast that there is so much to learn! There are weddings, there are documentaries, there are music videos, there is narrative, there are travel videos… each outlet literally has its own set of language and rules. It sounds cliche, but straight up… the sky is the limit! Your growth is your journey and I am laser-focused on figuring that out. It is terrifying, it is peaceful, and it is also very exciting.
I get asked all the time, “where do you want to take this filmmaking thing?” And I cannot answer that. I just know that I have a direction… and I am GOING that way. No matter what. I do not care to be a business owner or an entrepreneur or some sort of influencer. I care in my growth has a filmmaker. That’s it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
LOL! No, not at all. To sum up:
– Financial management as a freelancer
– Time and productivity management
– Personal-emotional hurdles
– Self Doubt & Self Esteem issues
– Maturing as a husband, friend, and family member
– Friendship losses (but also gains)
– Victorious moments but also very humbling ones
I do not want to go too deep into my past, but I am grateful for the bumps. This is my journey and I am going to go about it my way with the heart that God has given me. There is no YouTube video that is going to tell me the best solution. Just like there is no “best camera” or “best lens for a cinematic look.” Do not focus so heavily on the bumps… acknowledge that it is here, conquer it, keep that victor under your belt, and move on. These bumps are meant to make you grow. Yes, some of these bumps suck SUPER HARD sometimes… but what is important is you keep walking. There are two quotes I circulate in my head constantly:
“Failure actually helps you to recognize the areas where you need to evolve. So fail early, fail often, fail forward.”- WILL SMITH
“Dreams without goals… are just dreams… and will ultimately lead to disappointment.” – DENZEL WASHINGTON
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the CinEmotion story. Tell us more about the business.
My company is called CinEmotion – www.Cinemotion.Wedding
It is a play on words with three elements: Cinema, Motion, and Emotion. Currently, the primary focus of Cinemotion is weddings. I am very open to expanding it in other avenues but weddings is my current demographics at the moment as I do have most experience in that. The business name itself is still in its early stages but what I can say sets me apart from others is that nobody can make a film that way I can. If I am hired to produce a wedding film, I would like to believe I am hired for my artistic interpretation and not because of my price-point. Mind you, I am not saying I am better than anyone. In fact, I will humbly lift up and glorify the ones that inspire me. I am saying that everyone interprets wedding films differently. With the tools I was given growing up with music, movies, and past experiences… this is how I interpret it… and I hope you love it!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I do not believe in luck. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason in the right timing… and the only important thing is that you keep moving. I can list a long Santa Clause-of-a-list of horrible events in my life… I can also list amazing events and happenings where I know HAD to be a Godsent.
Growing pains is part of the journey. Embrace it
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cinemotion.wedding
- Phone: 8324952516
- Email: sonni@sonlamfilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonni_lam
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonLamFilms
Image Credit:
For the wedding photo: Reverent Wedding Films have ownership of the original film. They are the company I contract on the side for. However, this particular film I was the cinematographer and editor.
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