Meet Sean Chow

We were lucky to catch up with Sean Chow recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sean, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

When I was younger, in middle school and high school, I was always known to be ‘the guy’ for videos, whether it be for student council, or the basketball team. My technical knowledge regarding basic principles of filmmaking was ok, certainly the best among my classmates. I had a skill that I thought I was good at and it gave me a sense of pride that people would get me to make their videos. When I decided to continue pursuing filmmaking at NYU, I thought that I would continue being the best among my peers, but boy was I wrong.

Being thrust into a wolf den of other prospective filmmakers vying to be the leader of the pack, I was suddenly, exceedingly average in my craft. I would hear that other students got their film into a prestigious film festival, or that another DP had shot a film with a budget far exceeding mine. The competition was intense, with competitors aplenty. I began to wonder if I had it in me to be the best, or to even consider myself worthy to be a cinematographer. I had barely shot any projects at the time, and the ones I did shoot either never get completed or never see the light of day. It started affecting my confidence, and in turn, my work.

As a young man in a big city, I was ambitious, hungry for work, and impatient. I saw so many other examples of success and wanted to be in their shoes without having any understanding of what it takes to get there. It takes an incredible amount of time to not only hone your skills but also to forge connections with other creatives to make projects that everyone feels passionately about. Slowly, I started seeing projects not as a means to an end, but as films, on which I had a very personal stake, because after the brief, initial learning curve, what was most important became my voice. Naturally, over time, some of the work I did, got finished, and went on to festivals, others have won awards. Watching your own films in their cut and finished form is one of the most gratifying and fulfilling experiences that any filmmaker can get. As long as I am proud of my own artistry, that is the only validation I need,

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a cinematographer. If we’re on a sailing ship, the captain would be the Director, and I would be the first mate. It goes without saying that my job demands artistry, but it also demands plenty of technical knowledge, and a good understanding of basic principles of physics. I don’t neccessarily consider myself an “artist” but a craftsman. Cinematogrpahy is unique in that it bridges the gap between visualization and execution.

I have always been a visual thinker. When I read treatments and screenplays, I see it in my head, cutting with beats. It is an extremely valuable skill to have as pre-visualization is the cornerstone of good visual storytelling. When appraoching coverage for let’s say, a candle lit dinner scene with two actors, I think about cutting points for each beat of their dialogue, as well as an entrance and exit point for the scene. I think about how personal the moment is, and how close to their eye-line I need to be. To me, films for the most part, are about visual storytelling, and the ability to convey emotion through a screen, and by thinking about these things, I can do just that: deliver emotion.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The most important qualities to have are patience, ambition, and communication. There is a lot of downtime in this line of work, as is the nature of freelancers, and those who are not focused, not narrow-minded, and not ruthless in pursuit of this career, will be weeded out. It is important to come to terms with what being a freelance filmmaker means. It will mean plenty of unemployment, not a lot of money, and coming to terms with how badly you want a career in this industry. Communication, with the crew, and with the director is also essential to operate a set smoothly and efficiently. Collaboration is key, and the heads of departments must also work cohesively.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always looking for new folks to collaborate with. I was recently given an opportunity to direct a music video for an indie band: The Backfires. I would love to continue making music videos for artists/bands whether it be directing or shooting. I work on both coasts, NYC and LA. They can send me an email or give me a dm on Instagram!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://seanchowdp.com
• Instagram: seanchow1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNG0oR3QZwc