Life & Work with Dan Chen

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

Hi Dan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first ever film project was a middle school assignment asking to define what a hero is – I borrowed time at my dad’s workplace computer, downloaded a shareware version of Ulead video editing software, and made an anime music video marrying clips of Neon Genesis Evangelion to the song “Hero” by Nickelback. It’s difficult to peak early in life, but everything I’ve done since then is an attempt to reach the heights of that project.

My first foray into making movies in real life was soon after. I read Robert Rodriguez’s book “Rebel Without A Crew” where he describes making his first film “El Mariachi”. He really cuts away the pretension and obstacles involved in making a film, boiling the process down to using whatever you have immediately on hand, borrowing whatever you don’t have, and using your lack of resources as an advantage. Perfectionism is the enemy of action and I don’t think I would’ve found the inspiration to make movies in small-town Kansas without the pearls of wisdom I found in that book. Soon after that, I met my best friend and fellow moviemaker Nick Adams and we started running around town with a camcorder, roping friends into densely-plotted, weirdly violent short films.

The plan was to do that forever, really. Keep that fun DIY energy, keep working with friends, keep running around Kansas with its mythical weather, endless horizons, and easygoing vibes. It was my dad who ended up encouraging/pressuring me into applying to out-of-state colleges, and I agreed so long as I only applied to film schools. I happened to get into the USC film program and immediately felt like Ender getting the call to go to Battle School. I wanted to go and prove I could make films as good or better than the well-connected rich kids. But everything I did out of spite or competition was flat and lame, and the best things that came out of that time were lifelong friendships, memories, and a deeper and more nuanced appreciation for the art of it.

I moved into a house with four other friends and we did the freelance thing. I worked as an editor, a cinematographer, camera assistant, PA, and took some acting classes. I directed web series that my friends wrote and starred in. I kept working with my BFF Nick Adams, making short films that got on Short of the Week and more importantly felt creatively satisfying. I spent two years cutting and shooting fitness videos for Beachbody and worked out and got fit for a bit. I got hired to direct my friend’s pilot about being a struggling Korean American actor and it was literally my first time telling an Asian American story, and I’m extremely thankful for it. I followed hardcore Trump supporters, illegal immigrants, and lifelong Democrats in a documentary about the lead-up to the 2016 election. I went back to Kansas to camera operate my friend’s feature film and got inspired to revisit my coming-of-age story – resulting in “Ella,” a film that brought some of my closest friends and collaborators in LA to the town I grew up in, and it was also the project where I met my wonderful and talented wife.

I recently worked as a director at Jubilee Media, creating and directing unscripted series that go viral and inspire conversations about culture, identity, and politics. It was there I also helmed my first feature documentary, “Accepted,” a film that scarred and challenged me and one that I’m very proud to be a part of. Now I’m co-directing a documentary series while I develop my next projects.

It’s been hard and lean at times but overall I’d say it’s been a charmed life. I’m still doing what I set out to do – tell stories with friends. That’s what it’s been. That’s what it always will be.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every couple of years, I have a reckoning about how much money I have in my bank account. Then I find my next job or project. I realize I’ve sacrificed stability and predictability for a life of following curiosity, learning craft, and intuiting your next move. I don’t think it’s healthy to overly romanticize this tradeoff. It is what it is and it leads to some very novel experiences. It can also drive you crazy if you don’t develop a strong tolerance for uncertainty.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I make films and I aim to bring a personal touch to everything I make. For those who remember the late 90s / 2000s internet, before it got carved up into aggregators and social media platforms – remember personal websites where people would share their work, whether it be webcomics, photography, games, fandom, or illustrations? It was before monetization and before algorithms and people just shared the things they genuinely wanted to share to others for free. And if you found that thing, you felt like you stumbled upon a secret they wanted to share with you. Everything I make, I want to embody that spirit. You can find some of my stuff at danchen.co.

Contact Info:

• Website: danchen.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedchen/

Image Credits
Arielle Zakowski Alexander Gao