Meet Jeffrey Chu | Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeffrey Chu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeffrey, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Born and raised in Taiwan, learned and trained in the US and practiced in China, I am now based in LA working professionally as a cinematographer. Growing up in Taiwan, I had the opportunity to follow my bliss studying photography, a classic and systematic education at FOTOSOFT Institute of Photography, Taipei. At a very young, I know that’s something I would like to pursue. Photography opened up a new perspective to the appreciation to all art forms. Also my family values good work ethic and being humble to learn from others. In 1993, I landed at Santa Monica College, learning English. Working at the media center as a darkroom lab technician and photography assistant gave me a good training and respect in professionalism. Then film school at SF state offered me opportunity to work on my own 16mm film. Looking back that was an valuable experience to load film, cut film with splicer and view your work with a projector. I respect to the discipline. My first narrative feature, Happily, even after, led me to live and work in New York. NYC is such a cinematic city. I had to visit the bench underneath Queensboro Bridge on the poster of Manhattan. I love the 4 seasons. I love the squeaking noice at union square. The city toughens one up, and I think if I can do it here I can do it in other places. Then I daughter was born in Shanghai. I also grew a lot in my skills learning from Taiwanese gaffers shooting commercials. I also worked on all kind of scales of projects, brands with agencies, passionate and personal mini documentaries, or theatrical features. I learned that different culture may deliver messages in different sentiment but the language is universal.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a freelancer, I think work ethic is super important. And you have to deliver it, with quality and passion. Being able to relate to the filmmaker and recognizing the limitations then offering solution to the filmmaker is something I am good at. I believe all scales of productions have their constrains. I believe my experience and skill offered me to be adaptable, to embrace the conditions of a production and to maximize the result set me apart. I believe in the fact that your works will lead you to the next endeavor. Since I have moved around a lot, I always have to reestablish myself in a new cities and new communities. With a humble attitude to collaborate with new people and word of mouth will always lead to something promising. I have learned to be professional. I have to learn to know my value and what I can offer to a project. I want to be known as a visual story teller. I would explore the story with the filmmaker to land on a cohesive approach.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since it is one week long, I may suggest to ride along the coast. I will visit Big Sur, enjoying the ride along the beautiful coast line. I will offer my own San Francisco city tour, egg tar in China town to start off the breakfast. twin peaks, Castro, height and Asbury are the must visit. I will not miss the muir wood national park and mill valley. If I can access to Yosemite for a quick camping trip. Then we can visit the muscle beach and venice channel. Of course we can not miss the food in Korean town. I hope it sounds like a fun trip.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to gave a shoutout to my mentor and teacher Mr. Wu Jia Bao and the FOTOSOFT Institute of Photography, funded by Mr. Wu. Wu is tall and a Christian. I developed the interests in observing lights and its behaviors from his teaching. To execute an idea, it takes precision and skills from his lectures and analysis of master pieces. I entertained the thought process behind it. It offered me such a wonderful foundation in photography education.

Website: www.jeffreychu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreychuchu/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffreychu0123

Image Credits
Jeffrey Chu