Meet Caiqin (Jennifer) Zhan | Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caiqin (Jennifer) Zhan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caiqin (Jennifer), is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I’m thrilled to open up about my journey as a producer with SHOUTOUT LA, and excited to share that I will be the Jury Delegate for the 9th Edition of the Asian World Film Festival where I will work with a group of top-notched Hollywood filmmakers and internationally-acclaimed filmmakers. The film industry is always a challenging place for female filmmakers, and it gets more formidable for producers who need to balance creative merits and commercial pragmatism. While it’s often said that Hollywood is all about connection, my experiences taught me that the key to success is effective communication. It’s not about being a people-pleaser who constantly chasing after financiers, agents, talents, and directors. Rather, it’s about identifying shared interests that benefit all stakeholders, including producers themselves. Good communication in this fast-paced industry has to be straight to the point, and I’ve found that very important to show modesty and confidence when intersecting with others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being chosen as a Jury Delegate for the 9th Edition of the Asian World Film Festival is definitely a milestone and honor for me. It all started with an overture in making student projects during my college years, which later gave me more opportunities to make shorts that had more substantial budgets. Over the past two years, I’ve been involved in feature films that have gained recognition and awards from various film festivals. These accomplishments cannot be achieved without a supportive community. As a female filmmaker rooted in an Asian background, I’m passionate about advocating for Asian and Asian American content and culture. I’ve always been fortunate to work with fellow female filmmakers who share my passion. Recently, I started producing a podcast series on YouTube about the inner stories of women’s emotions and personal growth. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue my journey of filmmaking and explore different formats to tell stories about women that can better understand ourselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it’s possible I’d like to start up my second career as a margarita pizza hunter, and it’s very challenging to be one on the west coast! However, I did find a spot that has the best margarita pizza in town, and I always had a very good time every time I went there with my friends and family. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele has the most authentic Neapolitan pizza that is made using the same centuries-old recipe, techniques, and Italian imported ingredients at its original restaurant in Naples, since 1870. Traveling to Italy has always been my dream and I would definitely visit L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele’s original shop in Naples one day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out to my friend and mentor, Georges Chamchoum. An award-winning director and Executive and Program Director of the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF), Georges has been an invaluable guide throughout my career in film. I’ve worked with Georges for AWFF, and he offered me a window to real-world Hollywood, different yet realistic. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the AWFF team and the Stars Collective team, where I was able to learn from and get enlightened by both veteran filmmakers and fellow peers.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-zhan-caiqin/