We recently connected with Jingxin “Karina” Chen and have shared our conversation below.

Jingxin “Karina”, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

The Most Important Lesson: Solving Core Challenges in Filmmaking Through Fundamental Logical Thinking

During my journey of learning filmmaking, there was an experience where my team and I were shooting a short film. I was the producer on that production. We believed our plan was thorough, but when it came to the actual shoot, problems emerged one after another — adjustments in equipment requirements during filming, unexpected scheduling conflicts with actors, and the sudden change of mind of the location owner. These issues led to severe delays and threw the team into chaos.

At that moment, the team’s first reaction was to find a way to “quickly fix the problems.” Some suggested cutting certain scenes, while others proposed replacing actors at the last minute. However, these approaches failed to address the root of the problem and only temporarily dealt with the immediate difficulties.

Returning to the Essence of the Problem

I took a step back and calmly reexamined the situation from a fundamental logical perspective:

1. What is the core requirement of the shoot? — It is not about completing every planned element but rather about telling the story well and ensuring quality.

2. What is the root cause of the biggest issues? — It is not merely the lack of equipment or absence of actors, but rather inadequate pre-production planning and a lack of backup plans.

3. What is the most effective solution? — Instead of frantically firefighting, it is better to go back and optimize shooting plan to maximize the use of available resources.

Adjusting Strategies and Turning Challenges into Advantages

I decided to reorganize the entire plan. We narrowed the scope of the shoot, changed some scenes to more controllable settings, and adjusted the visual language to make the most of the resources we had while maintaining story integrity. Additionally, we rearranged the shooting schedule to maximize the efficient use of locations and actors.

As a result, not only did we successfully complete the shoot with limited resources, but we also discovered that the streamlined storyline had a better rhythm, enhancing the expressive power of the short film.

Finding Solutions Through Fundamental Logic is the Key to Truly Solving Problems

This experience taught me that when encountering difficulties, rather than rushing to patch up superficial issues, it is far more effective to take a step back and analyze the essence of the problem from a fundamental logical perspective. Only then can truly effective solutions be found, rather than merely responding passively to each unexpected situation. Undoubtedly, this has been the most valuable lesson for my future journey in filmmaking.

Jingxin “Karina”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

1. I didn’t always know I wanted to pursue filmmaking; it was a passion I discovered by chance.

As a child, my dream was to become a designer, but I later realized that spending all day drawing wasn’t for me. In contrast, I enjoyed organizing school performances, working tirelessly from early morning until late at night, yet feeling genuinely fulfilled.

During high school, I had the opportunity to connect with a local media center where I learned the basics of filmmaking. This experience made me realize that filmmaking could combine my artistic talents with my organizational skills. I fell in love with this art form because it’s not just visual creation—it’s a powerful medium for storytelling, conveying emotions, and resonating with audiences.

Therefore, during my undergraduate years, I chose to study Film and Television at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and now, I am continuing my graduate studies at the American Film Institute Conservatory as a Producing Fellow.

2. I focus on filmmaking, particularly as a producer, ensuring that every stage of a film’s journey from conception to completion runs smoothly.

I pay attention not only to the story itself, technical execution but also excel at teamwork and resource management, allowing directors and actors to concentrate on their creative work without being disrupted by external issues.

What sets me apart is that I always start from the essence of the story and excel at finding the best solutions within limited resources. Whether it’s low-budget production, location management, or dealing with unexpected challenges, I analyze problems from their core logic to ensure the final work maintains a high standard of expression.

3. What I am most proud of is my ability to remain calm and find the best way to bring a story to life, no matter how great the challenge is.

I hope my work can move people, allowing audiences to not just watch a film but to immerse themselves in it, feeling the emotions and worldview of the characters.

I want audiences, collaborators, and future investors to see me as a producer who is detail-oriented, skilled at problem-solving, and unwavering in my passion for filmmaking. To me, every project is an adventure and an opportunity to communicate with audiences. Through my creations, I hope to continuously explore new possibilities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, as a filmmaker, the most valuable aspect lies in the ability to convey insights related to contemporary society or life through my work. I don’t wish to impose a particular perspective in a preachy way. Instead, I hope to invite the audience to reflect and perhaps gain some inspiration through storytelling, visuals, and emotions — maybe even arrive at a new understanding of themselves or the world.

The power of cinema goes beyond entertainment; it is also a way of having a conversation with the audience. I hope my work can touch people’s hearts, leaving them with lingering thoughts after watching, and perhaps, at some unexpected moment, they recall a particular scene or line from the film, leading to new insights about their own lives.

This kind of impact may be subtle, but if it can spark even a little bit of reflection, then, for me, that is the most precious value of creation.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first entered film school as an undergraduate, I didn’t truly understand the importance of collaboration. Back then, I believed that if my team members weren’t proactive enough, I could handle the entire film production by myself. So, during the pre-production phase, I took on almost all the planning alone, convinced that if I worked hard enough, the film would proceed smoothly as planned.

However, once we were on set, problems emerged one after another. I realized that everyone had different understandings, expectations, and even varying levels of commitment to the project. This led to communication breakdowns and execution errors, which severely affected the shooting schedule. It wasn’t until the post-production phase that I understood the root of these issues was actually an “information gap.” Everyone’s understanding of the film wasn’t on the same level, and I hadn’t realized the importance of actively aligning everyone’s vision.

That experience taught me a valuable lesson: the key to filmmaking is not just individual effort but rather how to keep the entire team on the same page, ensuring everyone shares a common understanding. I believe that bridging information gaps and establishing a clear consensus is the foundation of a successful film. Since then, I have paid much more attention to communication during pre-production, making sure every team member clearly understands the direction of the film while valuing their ideas and contributions.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creammmmc?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jingxin-chen-25a69b356

Image Credits

1&2: Sage School Portraits

3: Wing Yin Rachel So

4: Chui Yan Chung

5: Yoona Yiqian Wang

6: Hugo Leung