Meet Jenny He | Writer, Director & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny He and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenny, what do you attribute your success to?
I think ambition and persistence are the most important factors behind my success. Setting a goal that most people would tell you is impossible to achieve, then work slowly and consistently towards it every day. You have to really love something to pursue it when everyone thinks you are crazy. And be brave enough to keep going when people along the way tell you no. Dream big but stay grounded. That is a philosophy that has been engraved into my daily life.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a freelance writer, director, and producer. I fell in love with filmmaking pretty early in my life and have stuck with it ever since. I knew I wanted to pursue filmmaking as a career. Over the past couple of years, I have worked on projects of various scopes. From an environmental feature documentary to music videos with various artists to narrative short films.
I recently directed a branded documentary for BBC Storyworks called From Sugar Cane to Squalene that just got released. It tells the story of how a biotech company called Amyris developed a way to synthesize Squalene from sugarcane, saving millions of sharks that would otherwise be hunted for this valuable molecule. It’s a fascinating story and you should check it out on BBC’s website.
I am currently working on two environmental documentaries and a couple of music videos are going into production in the coming weeks. I am extremely excited to share these projects soon!
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.
I would get breakfast burritos with them at Lucky Boy. Go to Hollywood and check out the cool shops. Get Dave’s Hot Chicken for lunch/dinner. Spend a sunset at Santa Monica Pier and another sunset at Griffith Observatory.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and family have been the most important resource to me. Growing up, my parents gave me the freedom to explore my interests, supporting me in doing whatever I was passionate about. They didn’t care that my career path is not the most traditional and financially stable choice. They just wanted me to follow my dreams and be who I am.
After moving to the US, I met people who are just as passionate about film as I am. They became some of my closest friends. We help each other with projects. Push each other to become the best version of ourselves. It’s really hard to find people like that and I am extremely grateful to have them in my life.
Website: https://www.jennydakotahe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennydakotahe/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-he-35890114b/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenny.dakota.he