Exploring Life & Business with Jin Chohan of Takeflight Film

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jin Chohan.

Hi Jin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started off as an aspiring dancer as a child. Inspired by hip-hop and jazz dance, my goal being to work as an artist. Growing up in the U.K. – born and raised – with Punjabi parents who immigrated to the UK in the 60’s – their aspirations for me were always in education. This being a struggle for my parents and family at large to understand my path and wishes to be ‘a creative’. I had gone to university as a young adult studying Forensic Science – through the coercion of the culture I came from, I decided I would take a stand and follow my own path. Finishing university and following my own path, which was a struggle due to there being no understanding of my decision. I got myself a job at a pharmacy as a dispensing technician – to keep my parents happy and to fund my creative career and training. After four years I cut my hours, and subsequently quit the job and pursued my creative life full-time. I had always had an interest in the visual arts and filmmaking was an interest that fell hand in hand with dance for me – very visual. I decided to study filmmaking in Los Angeles at UCLA, and I fell in love with documentary filmmaking. I worked at a production company after graduating in North Hollywood, working on a series of documentaries for CNN, and producing advertisements for companies in the US and the UK, I decided to set up my own production company in England called ‘Takeflight Film Ltd’. Now producing and directing a full feature documentary about the media through the prism of Michael Jackson’s life. The journey so far has been incredibly rewarding, being able to travel and speak with people all over the States, and in the U.K.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It most definitely wasn’t a smooth road to where I am right now in life. The biggest struggle being not just unsupportive people along the way – which I can now understand, as no one owes understanding, but being negative and belittling has been the biggest issue. And in turn, actually this has helped fuel the drive to succeed in life, which I imagine all creatives use as fuel. That being said I am grateful for all which had happened in my younger life, because I always simply believed in myself – which is all that mattered.

As you know, we’re big fans of Takeflight Film Ltd. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
‘Takeflight Film Ltd’ is a filmmaking company specializing in editorial storytelling. Topics that are difficult to wrestle with, topics that make people think, injustice, and understanding are at the forefront of the idea behind this company’s vision in regard to documentary projects it undertakes. As well as storytelling projects, visuals for brands, artists, and companies are also provided.

This is a young company closely connected to the roots of the creative world, understanding artists and brands is a must and we pride ourselves in doing so. Thinking out of the box and solving the challenges of our clients in creative ways is what drives Takeflight Film.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan on completing the documentary film I’m currently working on; ‘Trial by Media: The Michael Jackson Story’. Future plans are to wrap up interviewing people needed to complete the project. With the end goal of having the completed docu-series on a streaming service internationally. Subsequently after the completion of this project, diving into a documentary film about a northern culture in India – Punjab – is on the agenda after the completion of this current film.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.takeflight.film
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jin_chohan
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jin_chohan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnm0JnhpDxJYKeOyp-Sp2EA
• Other: www.trialbymediamj.com

Image Credits
Kenisha Gill
Angel Hass