Meet Danting Chen of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danting Chen

Hi Danting, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi, my name is Danting. I’m a 28-year-old filmmaker, a Directing Fellow at American Film Institute.

I was born as Bai-minority in Yunnan, China, and started filmmaking at 17 in Shanghai. My video Behavioural Exposure was included in Shanghai Biennale 2014. In 2015 I worked for Disney Research China as an animator.

In 2016 I moved to Berlin, Germany. Since then, I have written, directed and produced narrative shorts in Europe, which were selected in film festivals including Oscar® qualifying Pan African Film Fest in L.A., CSA® qualifying Toronto Black Film Fest, Buenos Aires International Film Fest and so on. My films often share the themes of women, family dynamics, and social dilemmas.

Besides narrative filmmaking, I have also gathered experience with commercials and fashion projects – such as for Emporio Armani, Mercedes-Benz and Huawei. The projects have led me to see other parts of the world such as Colombia, Australia and Jordan.

In August 2024 I moved to Los Angeles for my graduate study and have been calling L.A. home since. Currently I’m writing my first feature film.

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?
When I first started, I wasn’t supported by my family, because filmmaking is seen as a distant dream – too bohemian for the societal context. Besides that, I didn’t have a woman director as reference in real life, so it was a gamble. Limited by the Chinese SAT system, I first majored in architectural engineering for my bachelor study at Tongji University in Shanghai (ranked 13 worldwide. Source QS World University Rankings). However, I nearly spent all my undergraduate time filming outside the school. This, somehow, set me on the right path.

Later in Berlin, Germany, I found myself in a completely new filmmaking ecosystem.
There, I had to build the network from scratch, solve visa complications, and learn a difficult language. Yet from 2016 till 2024, I managed to produce, write and direct 5 narrative short films and collaborated with some fine filmmakers. In hindsight, it was the best film school I’ve built for myself until AFI.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a film director, with a focus in narrative storytelling. I’m known for Family Trip (2020), The Necessity of It (2024).

I’m most proud of my experience living abroad, and working with people from all over the world. It lends me access to different cultures and sheds light on the universal dilemmas that we all are facing. It immensely inspires me as a filmmaker, and enriches me as a human being.

Besides that, it also allows me to view my hometown from a distance, and create unique work on very personal subjects in relation to the world.

What sets me apart from the others is my approaches in examining humanity’s intricacy, and my dedication in bringing such universal access to the audience.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Relentlessness, enthusiasm, creativity, crafts, imagination, risk-taking, leadership, kindness, the pursuit to understand life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dantingchen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonocameron/

Image Credits
Sage School Portraits
Viridiana Monsserrat Rodriguez
María Mondragón
Austin Kwok
Smaragda Koutsoudi
Danting Chen