Rising Stars: Meet Charles Schemm of Orange

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Schemm.

Hi Charles, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Who am I, and why do I get to live one more day? This question gets me into storytelling, as a human being built up with multiple entities. My story starts somewhere between two cultures. I was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Taiwan, and that cross-cultural upbringing shaped how I see the world. In my whole life, I’ve been struggling with identity. At first, I followed a more traditional path. I studied mechanical engineering in college because that’s what was expected of me. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t built for machines or from; I was built for stories and by the greatest love story of all time.

That realization wasn’t easy. It took a “revolution” of sorts, but I eventually earned my Master’s in Film and Television Production from Chapman University. That was where I learned to balance creative vision with production logistics, not just to dream up stories but actually bring them to life. And happily, I was on the front line with the right side in some battles that needed to be won.

I started small, with music videos for rappers in Taiwan, DIYed some live shows as an independent musician, and short films that blended my passion for storytelling with my sense of humor and formalist aesthetics. Over time, those projects grew into something larger: I’ve now produced over ten vertical streaming drama series in Los Angeles, working with platforms like DramaBox, Vigloo, and SnackShort. I also had the chance to be part of Golden City, a primetime drama that pulled a 14% audience share at its peak. Each step taught me how to motivate a team, juggle logistics, and still keep the heart of a story intact.

Beyond film and series, I’ve always stayed close to live events and cultural promotion, whether it was planning marketing activations as a Red Bull Student Brand Manager, organizing over 20 music performances (the biggest with 2,000 attendees), or lately, exploring how entertainment can bridge international audiences.

Looking back, I realize my journey has been about finding the connection, almost like a detective like Tintin. Whether through a film, a live show, or a small exhibition, I want people to feel seen, loved, and perhaps inspired. That keeps me moving forward, the idea that storytelling, in all its forms, can bring people together and maybe even change how they see the world.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Storytelling is sometimes bumpy, repetitive, and dizzying, like a roller coaster ride. This is especially true of all forms of editing, whether in screenwriting, postproduction, or musical composition.

Along the way, I’ve had to learn the art of letting go. Sometimes that means sacrificing an artistic choice because the budget won’t allow it, unless we can find a creative workaround; Often it means walking away from a location that can’t carry the story through its heartbreak. And occasionally, it means watching an entire project slip away because my schedule is already booked.

Those moments sting, but they’ve built resilience. They’ve taught me that every “let go” creates room for something new: a sharper vision, stronger team chemistry, or simply the grit to keep telling stories, even when the path feels rough and dark.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I do, at its core, is storytelling. I specialize in producing film, digital series, and live events that take a creative spark and shape it into something audiences can actually feel. Some people know me for my work in drama series. I’ve produced more than ten vertical series for streaming platforms like DramaBox, Vigloo, and SnackShort. I also supported Golden City, a primetime drama that reached a 14% audience share during peak viewership. A different group might recognize me from the underground hip-hop scene in Taiwan, where I performed in ticketed shows, directed music videos, and staged live events, the largest drawing more than 2,000 people.

What ties all of this together is the same skillset: I’m a bridge-builder. I connect ideas to execution, and I connect teams to one another so they can perform at their best. Whether that means wrangling budgets, scouting the right location, or motivating a crew through a long night shoot, I bring both the logistics and the heart to keep projects moving forward.

I’m most proud of the moments when a story I’ve worked on resonates with an audience. When someone comments and says, “Thank you for telling my kind of story,” or “I never thought about it that way before.” Those moments remind me that all the spreadsheets, calls, and sleepless nights are worth it.

What sets me apart, I think, is a mix of cross-cultural perspective and moral compass. Growing up between Taiwan and the U.S. gave me a unique lens on stories that feel universal but are told with local texture. And I try to approach every project guided by the values of justice, honesty, and integrity. Storytelling isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about building empathy, sparking curiosity, and maybe even helping someone feel less alone.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Does success always need to be correlated with fame? Thanks to my parents’ teaching and the lessons life has given me, I’ve learned that the answer is no. Titles, money, or achievements don’t measure success. It’s about how well you take care of people, whether it is your family, your colleagues, or even yourself.

If you can move through this world with gratitude, treat others with respect, and still show kindness to yourself, then you’re already more than successful; you’re worthy, valued, and deeply loved. And when people like that come together, their work will always shine, cutting through even the dullest and grayest parts of the world.

And if, along the way, I’ve become just a little better than the old me — that, to me, is the kind of success truly worth striving for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.macgolfin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golfin_as_usual/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles12221/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MacGolfin

Image Credits
Personal Photo by: Chen Xi
Additional Photos Photo by: Zen Pe