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Hongjin Chen

Hongjin Chen
B.F.A., Studio Art (Film Production & Photography), School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Theatre, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship

What are 1-2 of your most significant academic/extracurricular/work experiences?

As the Founder of Dope Film Studio since March 2022, with operations in Chicago and Beijing, I have successfully established and managed the company. My responsibilities included strategic planning and operational structuring and ensuring long-term viability and consistent revenue growth. I tailored project plans to meet the diverse needs of clients, overseeing all aspects of film production from scriptwriting to post-production. Since July 2023, I have been serving as an Assistant Director at China Central Television’s Art Variety Channel in Beijing. In this role, I played a key role in program planning, design, and post-production optimization for renowned variety shows like “Focus Talk.” My duties involved guest coordination, content preparation, program flow design, and on-site direction.

What is your ideal job/role in about 10 years? Film Director/Producer

What led you to enroll in the MSLCE program at Northwestern? My enrollment in Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program is influenced by my personal journey, beginning with overcoming the challenge of a congenital cleft palate. Inspired by my mother’s shift to special education and her founding of the Aite Special Education Institute, I realized the power of storytelling in shaping lives. This led me to establish Dope Film Studio, where I explored complex human themes through film. Joining the MSLCE program aligns with my passion for storytelling and my desire to enhance my leadership and management skills in the creative sector, allowing me to lead more impactful projects in film and media.

What award would you most like to win? Academy Award for Best Directing

If you had to describe yourself in three words, they would be… Resilient, Creative, Leader

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Should I one day become wealthy and unencumbered, my heart’s desire would still be to reside in my birthplace, Wuhan. Regardless of where life takes me, it is home that provides an unparalleled sense of security deep within me.