Pushing Away from the Periphery in Film with Dan Chen │ 2x39

Film is a scary venture, but Dan Chen embraces the challenge of centering AAPI stories rather than keeping them in the periphery. Filmmakers like him and companies like Jubilee Media are changing the direction of film as AAPI representation has increased on screen and behind the scenes.

Dan Chen developed his love of film as a Chinese American teenager growing up in small town Kansas. He picked up the camera to connect with others, partnering with friends to make elaborate coming of age movies, and documenting the moments they'd later be nostalgic for. He studied fine art film photography in college, and graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts focusing on cinematography and directing.

His work at Jubilee Media has garnered over 100+ million views, and his films have been featured on Vimeo Staff Picks, Short of the Week, Slamdance Film Festival and most recently the 2021 Tribeca Festival, where he premiered his documentary feature debut Accepted to critical acclaim. Accepted follows four high school seniors at the controversial TM Landry school as they grapple with college admissions, national scandal, and the pains of growing up.

Dan has decades of directing experience in narrative and documentary, and he trained his eye as a cinematographer and analog film photographer. He sees filmmaking as a way to create life-changing memories for audiences and collaborators alike, and he tells character-driven stories about outsiders, human flaws, and coming of age.