Exploring Life & Business with Christine Chen of Get Reelisms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Chen.

Hi Christine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey in film began in 2008, entering an industry largely dominated by white men—with no film school background, no industry connections, and no roadmap. As a first-generation Asian American, I often felt isolated, learning through trial, error, and the rare kindness of a mentor. Too often, I watched new filmmakers get mocked or dismissed simply for not knowing the “rules.” I wanted to change that.

To gain experience, I started my own production company, Moth to Flame, which allowed me to fund and direct my own projects. I built a close-knit team of collaborators—friends I brought with me from set to set. On my own sets, filmmaking felt joyful and collaborative. But as I branched out to larger productions, I was confronted with how toxic and gatekept set culture could be.

That contrast inspired Get Reelisms. While working freelance gigs with my friends, we began developing an approachable, illustrated guide to help demystify set life. I wrote and designed the book; my co-founder Kellie Penna created the illustrations, and Jason Cates brought his zine-inspired design flair. I still remember jotting down notes on my phone between takes—we spent over two years slowly piecing the book together while working full-time in the industry.

In 2019, we self-published our first book, Get Reelisms—a cheeky, illustrated guide that breaks down intimidating set lingo and etiquette in a way that’s both fun and informative. That same year, we launched the Get Reelisms Podcast—originally a marketing tie-in for my first feature film, Funemployment. Co-hosted by my former mentee, art director Adam Rani, the podcast evolved into its own platform, where we now share candid, real-world conversations with working professionals in film.

In 2024, we expanded our brand with The ABCs of Filmmaking, a board book designed to introduce filmmaking concepts to kids—continuing our mission of making film education fun, accessible, and inclusive.

To date, we’ve sold nearly 2,000 books, gained 9,500+ Instagram followers, and built an audience of over 10,000 podcast listeners across 150+ episodes. One of our biggest inspirations is LearnFilmmaking, and like them, we aim to make behind-the-scenes knowledge more visible, welcoming, and shareable.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—starting a company rarely is. We’ve bootstrapped everything from day one, which has meant wearing multiple hats, learning on the fly, making mistakes, and constantly finding creative ways to make an impact with limited resources. One of the biggest challenges has been cutting through the noise in a saturated industry, especially without a large marketing budget. But what keeps us going is our deep belief in our mission: to make the film industry more accessible, inclusive, and supportive. That passion fuels our persistence.

We’ve been impressed with Get Reelisms, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2019, I co-founded Get Reelisms alongside two friends – Kellie Penna and Jason Cates (a working professional production designer and a sound mixer, respectively), with a mission to demystify the film and television industry and make it accessible to people of all backgrounds and walks of life.

We’re a small brand that believes that film education and storytelling is a human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford film school tuition or who know the right gate keepers. We want to make an impact in the industry and build community by being mentors that value knowledge-sharing and transparency. While we may appear to be a large team, much of our success has been bootstrapped, built through limited resources and volunteer-driven “sweat equity”. We are now focused on growing the company sustainably beyond just ourselves.

Between freelance gigs over a period of almost 2.5 years, we began developing what would become our flagship title: the illustrated and cheeky Get Reelisms guidebook. Designed to be both informative and fun, it teaches aspiring filmmakers the essential lingo, walkie-talkie etiquette, and real-world set tips that aren’t always covered in traditional film programs. We then expanded our brand to include a baby board book titled ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as posters and funny industry themed t-shirts and posters.

Currently, we are developing online virtual classes on getreelismsacademy.com and fostering in-person workshops such as Scene Lab. Scene Lab is a hands-on workshop where directors block and rehearse their work-in-progress scenes in real-time, simulating on-set conditions, while actors gain valuable experience collaborating with directors in a fast-paced, professional environment. It’s a unique opportunity for both directors and actors to sharpen their craft, build connections, and grow in a supportive creative space.

What sets us apart is our commitment to building a supportive, inclusive filmmaking community. We’re proud of how our brand brings a sense of belonging and accessibility to an industry that can often feel closed off. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: filmmaking should be for everyone. Even when the industry gets tough, we hope filmmakers hold on to the feeling of creating with friends.

How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is telling stories and growing alongside my friends in the industry. Filmmaking is the medium where I feel most free to express myself—it’s where my voice feels the most honest. Over time, I’ve come to realize that true happiness also comes from meaningful relationships. As I get older, I find the greatest joy in shared experiences with the people I care about—friends, family, and the creative community that feels like home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://getreelisms.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/getreelisms. or instagram.com/cchenmtf
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/getreelisms
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/getreelisms

Image Credits
Photos by: Miachel Pruett
Personal Photo (in red): Candice Ghai