lighting
& other works
a portfolio by hwei chen
Hwei Chen is a film lighting technician and novelist—and telling stories by night while working on set by day is their first love.
From the start, Hwei fell madly in love with the crazy locations, the teamwork, and the craft of filmmaking. Some of their fondest memories—torture in the moment, unforgettable in retrospect—include hauling generators across snowy mountains, wrapping massive lights and cable for hours on end in the rain, and toiling across the toxic desert wasteland known as Salton Sea in the crack of dawn.
IA member Local 728, Hwei has a wide range of experience in features, music videos, commercials, live events, and television shows. Some recent projects they have worked on include A24’s The Drama (2026), NBC Universal’s St. Denis Medical (2024–), and a Team Deakins Live episode, featuring Sir Roger Deakins and James Deakins. Hwei studied under legendary rigging gaffer Charlie McIntyre (Inception, Iron Man, Obi-Wan Kenobi) at union training program Hollywood CPR in conjunction with IATSE locals.
Currently, Hwei is out freelancing while putting up a good fight to balance their debut novel before and after long hours on set. Hwei is based in Downtown Los Angeles with their partner and four (chaotic) kittens.
Member: IATSE Local 728
Literary Rep: Belcastro Agency
Certifications
MEWP Operator and Supervisor 1A &1B and 3A & 3B –
Scissor Lifts & Boom Lifts
Warehouse Forklift (P.I.T. class 1, 4, & 5)
IATSE Local 728 IER Compliant
