Meet Sean Chow | Director of Photography

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

Hi Sean, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It was a Saturday night – Saturdays were movie nights – my dad and I had just finished watching Titanic and I ventured into the DVD extras. I was about 13 and had already watched the film a half dozen times before, but this was my first time seeing a green screen drape in front of Kate Winslet as she stood beyond the railing at the stern of the ship as James Cameron gives Leonardo DiCaprio screen direction. I was in utter amazement about how a studio in Baja California could be transformed into the RMS Titanic – not just visually, but viscerally as a reflection of reality. Back then, I had already figured that escapism was why I loved watching movies, but the behind-the-scenes footage showed me the magic behind the curtains. I knew then that I wanted to be a part of the world-building process in cinema. I chose a creative career as a Director of Photography because control over the visual elements of filmmaking is my way of shaping the world of the story.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I come from a fine arts background with oil painitng and sketching. Having done that at an early age, my approach to lighting is all set within the context of contrast and shadows. I would treat each frame like a blank canvas then think about where to paint light and how dark my shadows will be. My strongest work has always been indoors or in studios where I have complete control over every aspect of the image.

It takes a particular, at times delusional, individual to choose to go into a creative industry, as it is always inconsistent and unpredictable in terms of work. The film industry is no different. Between the pandemic and strikes, job security for many crew members, union or not, has been precarious. Ironically, it is easy to get burnt out by not having anything to do at all. Dealing with uncertainty is the hardest part of this job for me. Being a freelancer, the line between unemployment and employment is very thin. I felt, and do still feel a lot of anxiety surrounding downtime, but it is important to keep advancing your knowledge of your craft. Whether that means reading a technical manual or doing a lens test, having agency is perhaps one of the biggest defining factors of success in the film industry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Lincoln Center to watch an opera. For $40 It provides the perfect opportunity to see the inside of the theatre, with the red carpet, chandelier, and gilded ceiling, not to mention, an excuse to dress up and listen to a live orchestra. Museum options are plentiful in New York, but I would take them to the Met, for the Egyptology section and Greco-Roman artifacts. and the Met Cloisters for the garden. Food options are also plentiful in New York, but I would take them to Fish Cheeks to get the steamed fish. It is by far, the best fish dish available in the city. Central Park around the spring/summer time offers rowboat rentals on The Lake which I feel is a better way to explore the park as compared to a bike.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the few individuals who have crewed for me set after set since my early years at NYU, and who I can rely on for their counsel. Without their support, I would not have become the DP I am today. Benjy Berkowitz, Jonathan Zhao, Frank Yu, Kevin Herrera, Noah Mezzacappa. Thank you.

Website: seanchowdp.com

Instagram: seanchow1