Meet Jeremy Tianyu Chi | Filmmaker & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremy Tianyu Chi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeremy Tianyu, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have lived and studied in several cities across the world from China to New Zealand and now the US. Each move I’ve made has felt like a deep plunge into the unknown. I see these relocations not just as new beginnings but as radical risks, and moving to New York on my own to study filmmaking has probably been the boldest of these moves. The city’s relentless pace, its sheer scale, and the demands of making a life in the arts were intimidating, yet I was drawn to the creative energy and possibility it holds.

As a filmmaker who endeavors to create personal and artistic narratives, my work itself feels like a gamble; it’s a constant push against practical odds and creative uncertainty. Yet it’s precisely this tension—the risk of vulnerability and the unpredictability of success—that keeps me moving forward. I still vividly remember the first time when I exposed some of my innermost thoughts in a project screened in class, it was a nerve-wracking experience. I was lucky to have received supportive responses which gave me a lot more confidence when I embraced vulnerabilities in my future works. Taking these risks has allowed me to grow, both as an artist and as a person, and has expanded my understanding of storytelling.

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.
I see storytelling as an exploration of identity, culture, and belonging, and these are the universal themes shaped by my own cross-cultural background. My work gravitates toward stories about Asian and female characters, whose voices I believe are often underrepresented in the mainstream. I am especially proud of Shadowing, a short film written and directed by Ruiting Liu that I recently produced. It follows a Chinese immigrant working in New York, caught between survival and the search for dignity under the constraints of a wealthy employer. This film was inspired by the director’s first-hand observation of Chinese immigrants in Flushing and delves into the raw struggle of their daily life. I am very proud to help make a story that explores such important matter come to life.

Other films I have produced include You Were Here with Me and Secret Ceremonials, both of which continue this exploration in different ways. You Were Here with Me tells the story of a grieving immigrant mother, while Secret Ceremonials ventures into experimental territory with the story of a young Asian woman performing a self-marriage ritual to break free from societal expectations. I was honored to have won the Akhtar-Bhutta Fund for Secret Ceremonials, which affirms my commitment to telling stories that defy convention and challenge traditional perspectives.

While producing these works, I’ve encountered lots of challenges that demanded creativity, resourcefulness, and perseverance. I took on responsibilities like coordinating with cast and crew, negotiating with location owners and rental houses, managing budgets and schedules, and handling an array of administrative tasks, from filing permits to organizing essential documents. One recurring difficulty has been casting Asian performers with specific language skills, which can be particularly challenging in New York’s indie film scene. Additionally, tight budgets often require finding creative solutions for locations, equipment, and other resources. Nonetheless, I am grateful for these challenges which have helped me both refine my creative vision and grow my communication and organizational capabilities.

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.
As a filmmaker, one of my favorite aspects of living in New York is the vibrant indie arthouse cinema scene. I have had incredible opportunities to not only watch some of the classics that I thought I’d only be able to see online but also meet some filmmakers that I deeply admire. Some of my favorite spots include IFC Center, Metrograph, Quid Cinema, and Film Forum.

I also love how walkable New York is. There’s something magical about wandering the city streets without a set destination, allowing its energy and unexpected moments to guide you. One of my favorite routes starts at Hudson Yards with a visit to the Vessel. From there, a walk along the High Line provides a perfect blend of art, architecture, and city views, leading downtown to Little Island and the Whitney Museum.

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 not have had such a rewarding journey in filmmaking without the people who’ve surrounded me. I am incredibly grateful for the creative community I found within NYU and throughout the NYC area, from professors and alumni who have offered me genuine mentorship and career opportunities to peers who have been collaborating with me and supporting me to find my voice.

When working on my current short film, Ice Cream, Ice Queen, I encountered creative blocks and struggled to refine my vision. Sharing the cut with friends and professors helped me reimagine the story and approach the footage from a fresh perspective. Their feedback led to a more concise yet emotionally resonant edit. I believe it is the understanding and support from fellow filmmakers that has allowed me to more confidently express myself and my view of the world in my storytelling.

Website: https://www.jeremychi.com/