Conversations with Jordan Qin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Qin.

Hi Jordan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in suburban Missouri and never really wanted to be in the film industry. As a kid, I was obsessed with writing and would often get into trouble for creating short stories during class that involved my classmates. When I entered high school, I was determined to be in Architecture and get a more “reasonable” job. I chose Film and Media Arts on a whim when I was applying to college, and ended up getting accepted to Temple University. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2021, becoming the youngest graduate of the year at the age of 19. While in Philly, I worked on my own short films and made a lot of tiny, dumb, fun movies with my friends. I knew I loved telling stories, but I wasn’t sure if my place was completely removed from production (i.e. a screenwriter) or if I wanted to be behind the camera. I took a few jobs as a grip and began to fall in love with the grueling but exhilarating vibe of being on set. When I got my acceptance to Chapman University, I was terrified and excited – I’d be able to live my dream of being in California, but I’d lose all the connections I gained in my undergrad. I took the leap though and can say that I’ve never been happier. Currently, I’m halfway through my MFA in Film Production with a Concentration in Directing at Chapman, I have an optioned pilot with a producer, and I do some freelance G&E work on the side.

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?
My journey has been an insanely hard one, but it’s been worth every minute. The biggest struggles I’ve had to deal with have been trying to find myself in such a crazy, changing life. I got my feet under me in Philly, but the rug was pulled out when I had to move. It’s been hard trying to keep in touch, especially with my best friend Allison, but it’s worth it. She’s an aspiring producer too, so it helps to have someone else who’s in the industry. I moved to Philly at such a young age, 17, and trying to be an adult while also starting a career has been hard. It’s hard to support myself and also make art under that type of financial pressure. Living in California has also been a dream, but it was tough at the beginning. I started in the Screenwriting MFA program and then transferred to Directing. I was determined to prove myself to my peers and put a lot of pressure on myself at the beginning before I began to relax more and believe in myself. Symptoms of growth I suppose. As the youngest person in the program, I definitely sometimes get insecure about my age and was very nervous when I began. As the program went on, I learned to trust myself, trust my instincts, and trust the great network I built around me. My peers are great too, and it’s wonderful to have such a good support system at the school.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a writer-director, who specializes in creating female-led stories that focus on identity, family, and my experiences as a WOC. I feel like I have a unique background, as an Asian American coming from the Midwest, and create work that makes a specific experience feel universal. I’m most proud of my writing samples, I feel like having been a writer most of my life helps give me an edge.

One of the things that set me apart is how well I know story and emotion above anything else, and I use that to create a vulnerable place for my actors to work in. I specialize in working with actors and making sets feel welcoming to all people and all communities. I want to make every set a safe space, for both crew and cast to be themselves and to work to their best ability. I think one of my biggest strengths is my consistent ability to get performances from my actors as well as being a team motivator. The vibe of a set is vital, and no one can give 100% if the environment is unwelcoming or cruel.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been lucky enough to have some wonderful mentors, specifically in the television industry, and being able to learn from these people has genuinely changed my life. Thank you to Michael Grady, Amanda Overton as well as James Dutcher for all of your support. I’m grateful to have such a supportive network around me too, and I feel like I learn new things anytime I talk to my friends. My peers at Chapman University have been a huge help, especially all of the directors, editors, and cinematographers. I want to thank specifically Jacob, Zach, and David for always believing in me (Post House strong) and Jonathan (for giving me this opportunity). I couldn’t have made it this far without my number one supporter, Jake Hertzberg, either. He’s a wonderful producer and an even better friend.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanqin1/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12400230/

Image Credits
Jonathan Chao, Hanyu Bao, Michael Ji, Belle Guo, Ja’kayla Francois