Check Out Shuang Qin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shuang Qin

Hi Shuang, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2024, I graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts with a master’s degree in Cinematography. As a cinematographer, the short film I shot, Egg Man, was selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner and the Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles Hollywood. It also won the Silver Prize Award at the WorldFest-Houston Film Festival and the Outstanding Film Award at the Meihodo International Media Festival. Currently, I work as a Director of Photography for TV mini-series in Los Angeles, with the series I have shot garnering over a million views on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Looking ahead, I plan to continue working as a Director of Photography for TV mini-series and to prepare several feature film projects.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was born in a small city in China, where the first movie theater opened only when I was 18 years old. As a result, my family and I knew very little about films. It wasn’t until I went to college that I had the opportunity to truly experience cinema. I watched a movie called The Shawshank Redemption in my dorm room, and it left a profound impact on me. It was then that I realized there was such a perfect way to tell stories. That moment sparked my dream of Los Angeles and Hollywood, and the idea of studying filmmaking in the United States began to take root.

However, I had never received any formal training in filmmaking, and my parents, unfamiliar with the field, opposed my desire to study it. Undeterred, I embarked on a challenging journey of self-learning. Eventually, the first short film I directed and shot, Double Bliss, became a finalist at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. This achievement helped me gain admission to Chapman University, where I finally came to the United States to pursue my dream of learning filmmaking.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently a freelance cinematographer, primarily working as a Director of Photography on TV mini-series productions. One of the series I shot, Billionaire Marries the Wrong Wife, garnered 438K favorites and over a million views on the Loveshots app, ranking as the second most popular TV mini-series on the platform. Other TV mini-series I served as the Director of Photography for include Vampire’s Remedy, Return of Divorced Heiress, and Small Town Girl. Collectively, these projects have amassed millions of views across various streaming platforms, achieving significant commercial success.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Film industry is highly competitive, especially in Los Angeles, the global hub of the film industry. All we can do is continuously learn, accumulate experience, and wait for opportunities. As cinematographers, in particular, we often lack the ability to initiate a project ourselves. Many times, we rely on opportunities brought by producers or directors.

When those opportunities arise, it’s crucial to unleash our creativity and make each project as good as it can be. Over time, we can collaborate with more talented producers and directors, shine at film festivals, or achieve commercial success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shuangcine/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/1007554259

Image Credits
Amber Li