We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Calvin Chiu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Calvin below.

Calvin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

To give you a little background on myself—I spent six years at the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a master’s in biomedical engineering. At the time, it just felt like the “right” move—safe, respected, and stable. But looking back, no one really encouraged me to stop and ask the deeper questions: What do I actually care about? What kind of life do I want to live?

In my experience, the education system doesn’t really create space for that kind of reflection. It leans heavily on structure over curiosity, grades over growth, and doesn’t cover a lot of real-world essentials—like how to manage your emotions, communicate clearly, or navigate life outside of school. Honestly, a class called “Adulting 101” would’ve helped me way more than some of the technical electives I took.

Two weeks into my first full-time job at Medtronic, I had this moment where it hit me: There’s no way I can do this for the next 40 years. That was the mental shift that changed everything. I ended up moving to Los Angeles, working full-time while building up my content creation skills on the side, and eventually left engineering in 2021 to go all in on filmmaking and creative production.

Since then, I’ve worked on all kinds of projects, met some amazing people, and most recently moved to Las Vegas to reset, grow my network, and focus on retainer and equity-based creative deals.

If I could change one thing about the education system, it would be this: treat it like a launchpad for exploration—not just a straight line to a job. Students need time and tools to figure out who they are and what kind of life they want, not just what major they’re choosing. I’d love to see more exposure to different career paths early on, more freedom to shift directions without guilt, and way more focus on real-world skills like financial literacy, self-awareness, and how to handle failure. That stuff is just as important—if not more—than what’s in the textbook.

If we really want to prepare students for fulfilling careers and lives, we’ve got to stop pushing this one-size-fits-all model. Let them explore. Let them try, fail, pivot. Help them think for themselves, get curious, and build the kind of foundation that’ll actually support them long after graduation.

I’m super grateful I found my own path—but I can’t help but think about how many others might’ve done the same if they were just given the space to dream a little earlier.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a creative director, producer, and cinematographer who’s all about making content that not only looks great but actually works. I partner with brands across fitness and wellness, real estate, e-commerce, food/hospitality, and events—helping them bring their stories to life through content that connects.

I first picked up a camera in 2017 during the final semester of my master’s program. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into something I couldn’t stop thinking about, and I soon found myself constantly traveling between New Jersey and New York City to collaborate with models and artists. After about a year and a half, I made the move to Los Angeles and started building my career in content creation and filmmaking full-time.

Then in 2024, I moved to Las Vegas to reset, expand my network, and take on new creative opportunities—and it’s been one of the best moves I’ve made.

These days, I create everything from brand documentaries and hero videos to product promos, music videos, and viral short-form content. I also shoot product, lifestyle, food, and real estate photography. Whether it’s content for organic social, paid campaigns, or a full-scale brand launch, I approach every project with strategy in mind—not just aesthetics.

What makes my process different is that I handle the full stack—from creative development and pre-production to shooting, editing, and distribution. I’ve built out entire content systems for brands, not just one-off deliverables. My engineering background helps me stay organized, efficient, and intentional about everything I create—while still leaving room for creative flow and experimentation.

Most of the time, clients come to me with a strong brand or product but aren’t quite sure how to translate that into content that actually lands. That’s where I come in. I help them build scroll-stopping content with purpose, backed by visuals that hit and messaging that sticks.

At the end of the day, I’m here to help people and brands show up with intention—through content that doesn’t just look good, but makes an impact.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing that might surprise people is how much overlap there actually is between creative and non-creative careers. They’re not polar opposites like most would assume. A lot of the work I do still involves strategy, organization, and data-informed decisions. It’s the side of the creative process that most people would probably call boring—but it’s the part that turns inspiration into something actionable. Honestly, it’s where a lot of creatives fall short—something I’ve been guilty of myself.

When I first left engineering to pursue a creative career, I thought I had to become someone completely different. I thought being creative meant being spontaneous, artsy, and unstructured. I boxed myself into that mindset for a long time, and looking back, it held me back more than it helped. Things didn’t really start to open up for me until I stopped fighting my analytical side and started blending it with my creative instincts. If you’re thinking about making a similar switch, don’t throw away what makes you different. Use it. It might end up being the thing that sets you apart.

Creative work can be incredibly fulfilling, but it’s definitely not all sunshine and rainbows. A lot of what we do is intangible—ideas, tone, story, energy—and there’s no formula that guarantees it’ll land. You’re constantly trying to make something that feels right and connects—and half the time, you’re just figuring it out as you go. That kind of uncertainty can be exhausting. It brings a lot of pressure to stay inspired, show up creatively on command, and keep up with trends that are always changing.

I think the biggest misconception about being a creative is that it’s easy, or that it’s just about doing what you love when you feel like it. The truth is, being a creative demands structure, mental endurance, and the ability to constantly adapt. It’s not just art. It’s pressure, deadlines, feedback, expectations, and a lot of self-doubt—usually all at once.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I don’t have my entire life mapped out yet, but there’s definitely a mission behind the work I do—and spoiler: it’s way bigger than just creating content. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life so far—mostly downs, to be honest. I’ve made plenty of mistakes that cost me a lot of time, money, and progress. And even now, those setbacks can make it feel like I’m still playing catch-up.

That said, if there’s one thing I’ve gained from my journey so far, it’s perspective. These experiences—creative or otherwise—have shaped how I see the world. And now, one of my biggest goals is to pass those lessons on, especially to younger people who are still figuring things out. I’d love to get into public speaking one day, and maybe even return to my alma mater or speak at other universities as a guest lecturer. Not because I have everything figured out, but because I think it’s important to be honest about the realities of this path—what it actually looks like to build something from the ground up. If my story can help even a few people avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made, that’s more than enough for me.

At the same time, I’m still hungry to grow. I want to keep evolving—as an entrepreneur, a creative strategist, a cinematographer, and a storyteller. I want to refine my craft, expand my reach, and keep pushing the limits of what’s possible with the kind of work I do. For me, the mission is part service, part legacy, and part creative obsession—and I’m learning to lean into all three.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dsrptvmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvinbchiu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-chiu