HEY, I'M PRESTON. 18, nyc / sf
i make films, build brands, and help brands tell stories that feel human.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME:
Sold/traded editing assets on reddit during Covid to buy my first camera.
Graduated middle school and flew straight to Dubai at 13 to work on commercials with Beautiful Destinations.
Worked with global multi million dollar brands before I could drive.
Taught myself cinematography, color, directing, VFX + 3D.
Went from 134 → 167 lbs from Oct ‘24 to May ‘25 through discipline and routine.
Dropped out of a top film school to lead creative direction at a startup racing live sperm in real time.
Edited my first campaign at 13, shot my first industry commercial as DOP at 14, directed my first big commercial at 18.
I like training, long conversations, interior design, and exploring ideas.
I believe in action > overplanning. I once ran a sub-2 half marathon after an all-nighter w/ one week of training.
My typa music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IrsMllOX1IPEQ9ouSdJd4?si=0cbaab6f0cf64204
At 13, flown to Dubai to make commercials.
From 14–16, traveled the world filming and editing campaigns.
Taught myself VFX + 3D to make my ideas real.
Burned out at 16 → rebuilt my body + mindset
Got into a top film school. Dropped out.
Now Creative Director of a startup and making work that makes people feel something.
How I started
I grew up around comparison. Family dinners where every cousin was “ahead” — perfect grades, piano trophies, Ivy League pipelines.And then there was me — just a kid playing Minecraft and watching Jake Paul vlogs, trying to figure out who I was supposed to be.
I thought being a vlogger would make people notice me. So I posted. And posted. And posted.
Single-digit views.
It wasn’t the fame I fell in love with. It was the process.
I wanted my videos to look better, so I taught myself how to edit. Then how to film. Then how to do effects. One curiosity after another pulled me deeper behind the camera.
During Covid, I traded editing assets online to afford my first camera. When I needed more gear, I didn’t ask my parents — I emailed companies and offered to make product commercials in exchange.
Each one was an experiment. Each one got better. Each one taught me something I still hold onto till this day.
I joined creator group chats.
Messaged strangers.
Networked using social media.
Found people who saw the world like I did.
Then I posted a birthday video edit — and the co-founder of Beautiful Destinations saw it.
The following summer, I was in Dubai for an internship at 13. That was the moment everything shifted.
If you want the full story, it’s in the film: “The Rise, Fall, Rebirth of a Dreamer”
Close
My goal
I want to make things that make people feel something —
the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
Not just motivation that disappears in a day,
but perspective.
A shift.
Something that changes how someone sees themselves or the world.
I care about building things that last —
ideas, films, experiences, communities, perspectives.
Work that leaves a mark.
“If it doesn’t move you, it won’t move them.” — Rick Rubin
Close
Where I see myself in 5 years
Living in a loft in NYC that I designed — a space that feels like me.
Running a creative company — or serving as Creative Director inside a brand that treats storytelling with intention.
Building and advising startups.
Investing in ideas worth believing in.
Surrounded by people who inspire me.
Traveling often. Hosting dinners.
Helping young creatives find their footing — the way I once needed someone to help me.
Taking care of my body like it’s part of the work.
Marathons. A triathlon. Discipline as something quiet, not loud.
Publishing films, essays, and work that shifts perspective, not just entertains.
Inspiring not by talking, but by how I live.
Leading with clarity, curiosity, and care.
Close
SOME PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON:
Chief Creative Officer
Sperm Racing
A live event series turning biology into sport. Raised $10M at a $70M valuation.
500M+ views across campaigns
Led visual identity + track look development
Built real-time sperm racing pipeline in Unreal Engine
Directing all films, creative, and brand experiences
Managing a distributed team of 7+ creatives
Founder
Prysm Media
Creative direction + film production studio.
Launch campaigns, commercials, and brand films
Strong focus on VFX / 3D-led storytelling
a creative’s blueprint — ongoing
Inspired by Ratatouille:
If anyone can cook, anyone can create.
I’m building a guide for young filmmakers to turn curiosity into craft, and craft into a career.
short films — ongoing
Documenting the journey cinematically in real time. On YouTube.
I start a lot. I finish what matters.
This list will probably look different next time you check.
TL;DR
Picked up a camera at 11. Learned by making, failing, trying again.
SOME THINGS I LIVE BY:
Go out and travel. See the world from a different perspective. You’ll see how much you have and how little others have.
i believe in making things that make people feel something. the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
“you can’t hope for an opportunity, you have to create it”
“if you can see it in your head, you can grow into it.”
“everything changes when you do.”
let's connect: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram
email: contact@prestonchen.com
wanna chat? let's do it.
DIRECTORY:
© 2025 PRESTON CHEN
🟦 BY PRESTON®
HEY, I'M PRESTON. 18, nyc / sf
i make films, build brands, and help brands tell stories that feel human.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME:
Sold/traded editing assets on reddit during Covid to buy my first camera.
Graduated middle school and flew straight to Dubai at 13 to work on commercials with Beautiful Destinations.
Worked with global multi million dollar brands before I could drive.
Taught myself cinematography, color, directing, VFX + 3D.
Went from 134 → 167 lbs from Oct ‘24 to May ‘25 through discipline and routine.
Dropped out of a top film school to lead creative direction at a startup racing live sperm in real time.
Edited my first campaign at 13, shot my first industry commercial as DOP at 14, directed my first big commercial at 18.
I like training, long conversations, interior design, and exploring ideas.
I believe in action > overplanning. I once ran a sub-2 half marathon after an all-nighter w/ one week of training.
My typa music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IrsMllOX1IPEQ9ouSdJd4?si=0cbaab6f0cf64204
At 13, flown to Dubai to make commercials.
From 14–16, traveled the world filming and editing campaigns.
Taught myself VFX + 3D to make my ideas real.
Burned out at 16 → rebuilt my body + mindset
Got into a top film school. Dropped out.
Now Creative Director of a startup and making work that makes people feel something.
How I started
I grew up around comparison. Family dinners where every cousin was “ahead” — perfect grades, piano trophies, Ivy League pipelines.And then there was me — just a kid playing Minecraft and watching Jake Paul vlogs, trying to figure out who I was supposed to be.
I thought being a vlogger would make people notice me. So I posted. And posted. And posted.
Single-digit views.
It wasn’t the fame I fell in love with. It was the process.
I wanted my videos to look better, so I taught myself how to edit. Then how to film. Then how to do effects. One curiosity after another pulled me deeper behind the camera.
During Covid, I traded editing assets online to afford my first camera. When I needed more gear, I didn’t ask my parents — I emailed companies and offered to make product commercials in exchange.
Each one was an experiment. Each one got better. Each one taught me something I still hold onto till this day.
I joined creator group chats.
Messaged strangers.
Networked using social media.
Found people who saw the world like I did.
Then I posted a birthday video edit — and the co-founder of Beautiful Destinations saw it.
The following summer, I was in Dubai for an internship at 13. That was the moment everything shifted.
If you want the full story, it’s in the film: “The Rise, Fall, Rebirth of a Dreamer”
Close
My goal
I want to make things that make people feel something —
the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
Not just motivation that disappears in a day,
but perspective.
A shift.
Something that changes how someone sees themselves or the world.
I care about building things that last —
ideas, films, experiences, communities, perspectives.
Work that leaves a mark.
“If it doesn’t move you, it won’t move them.” — Rick Rubin
Close
Where I see myself in 5 years
Living in a loft in NYC that I designed — a space that feels like me.
Running a creative company — or serving as Creative Director inside a brand that treats storytelling with intention.
Building and advising startups.
Investing in ideas worth believing in.
Surrounded by people who inspire me.
Traveling often. Hosting dinners.
Helping young creatives find their footing — the way I once needed someone to help me.
Taking care of my body like it’s part of the work.
Marathons. A triathlon. Discipline as something quiet, not loud.
Publishing films, essays, and work that shifts perspective, not just entertains.
Inspiring not by talking, but by how I live.
Leading with clarity, curiosity, and care.
Close
SOME PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON:
Chief Creative Officer
Sperm Racing
A live event series turning biology into sport. Raised $10M at a $70M valuation.
500M+ views across campaigns
Led visual identity + track look development
Built real-time sperm racing pipeline in Unreal Engine
Directing all films, creative, and brand experiences
Managing a distributed team of 7+ creatives
Founder
Prysm Media
Creative direction + film production studio.
Launch campaigns, commercials, and brand films
Strong focus on VFX / 3D-led storytelling
a creative’s blueprint — ongoing
Inspired by Ratatouille:
If anyone can cook, anyone can create.
I’m building a guide for young filmmakers to turn curiosity into craft, and craft into a career.
short films — ongoing
Documenting the journey cinematically in real time. On YouTube.
I start a lot. I finish what matters.
This list will probably look different next time you check.
TL;DR
Picked up a camera at 11. Learned by making, failing, trying again.
SOME THINGS I LIVE BY:
Go out and travel. See the world from a different perspective. You’ll see how much you have and how little others have.
i believe in making things that make people feel something. the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
“you can’t hope for an opportunity, you have to create it”
“if you can see it in your head, you can grow into it.”
“everything changes when you do.”
let's connect: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram
email: contact@prestonchen.com
wanna chat? let's do it.
DIRECTORY:
© 2025 PRESTON CHEN
🟦 BY PRESTON®
HEY, I'M PRESTON. 18, nyc / sf
i make films, build brands, and help brands tell stories that feel human.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME:
Sold/traded editing assets on reddit during Covid to buy my first camera.
Graduated middle school and flew straight to Dubai at 13 to work on commercials with Beautiful Destinations.
Worked with global multi million dollar brands before I could drive.
Taught myself cinematography, color, directing, VFX + 3D.
Went from 134 → 167 lbs from Oct ‘24 to May ‘25 through discipline and routine.
Dropped out of a top film school to lead creative direction at a startup racing live sperm in real time.
Edited my first campaign at 13, shot my first industry commercial as DOP at 14, directed my first big commercial at 18.
I like training, long conversations, interior design, and exploring ideas.
I believe in action > overplanning. I once ran a sub-2 half marathon after an all-nighter w/ one week of training.
My typa music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IrsMllOX1IPEQ9ouSdJd4?si=0cbaab6f0cf64204
At 13, flown to Dubai to make commercials.
From 14–16, traveled the world filming and editing campaigns.
Taught myself VFX + 3D to make my ideas real.
Burned out at 16 → rebuilt my body + mindset
Got into a top film school. Dropped out.
Now Creative Director of a startup and making work that makes people feel something.
How I started
I grew up around comparison. Family dinners where every cousin was “ahead” — perfect grades, piano trophies, Ivy League pipelines.And then there was me — just a kid playing Minecraft and watching Jake Paul vlogs, trying to figure out who I was supposed to be.
I thought being a vlogger would make people notice me. So I posted. And posted. And posted.
Single-digit views.
It wasn’t the fame I fell in love with. It was the process.
I wanted my videos to look better, so I taught myself how to edit. Then how to film. Then how to do effects. One curiosity after another pulled me deeper behind the camera.
During Covid, I traded editing assets online to afford my first camera. When I needed more gear, I didn’t ask my parents — I emailed companies and offered to make product commercials in exchange.
Each one was an experiment. Each one got better. Each one taught me something I still hold onto till this day.
I joined creator group chats.
Messaged strangers.
Networked using social media.
Found people who saw the world like I did.
Then I posted a birthday video edit — and the co-founder of Beautiful Destinations saw it.
The following summer, I was in Dubai for an internship at 13. That was the moment everything shifted.
If you want the full story, it’s in the film: “The Rise, Fall, Rebirth of a Dreamer”
Close
My goal
I want to make things that make people feel something —
the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
Not just motivation that disappears in a day,
but perspective.
A shift.
Something that changes how someone sees themselves or the world.
I care about building things that last —
ideas, films, experiences, communities, perspectives.
Work that leaves a mark.
“If it doesn’t move you, it won’t move them.” — Rick Rubin
Close
Where I see myself in 5 years
Living in a loft in NYC that I designed — a space that feels like me.
Running a creative company — or serving as Creative Director inside a brand that treats storytelling with intention.
Building and advising startups.
Investing in ideas worth believing in.
Surrounded by people who inspire me.
Traveling often. Hosting dinners.
Helping young creatives find their footing — the way I once needed someone to help me.
Taking care of my body like it’s part of the work.
Marathons. A triathlon. Discipline as something quiet, not loud.
Publishing films, essays, and work that shifts perspective, not just entertains.
Inspiring not by talking, but by how I live.
Leading with clarity, curiosity, and care.
Close
SOME PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON:
Chief Creative Officer
Sperm Racing
A live event series turning biology into sport. Raised $10M at a $70M valuation.
500M+ views across campaigns
Led visual identity + track look development
Built real-time sperm racing pipeline in Unreal Engine
Directing all films, creative, and brand experiences
Managing a distributed team of 7+ creatives
Founder
Prysm Media
Creative direction + film production studio.
Launch campaigns, commercials, and brand films
Strong focus on VFX / 3D-led storytelling
a creative’s blueprint — ongoing
Inspired by Ratatouille:
If anyone can cook, anyone can create.
I’m building a guide for young filmmakers to turn curiosity into craft, and craft into a career.
short films — ongoing
Documenting the journey cinematically in real time. On YouTube.
I start a lot. I finish what matters.
This list will probably look different next time you check.
TL;DR
Picked up a camera at 11. Learned by making, failing, trying again.
SOME THINGS I LIVE BY:
Go out and travel. See the world from a different perspective. You’ll see how much you have and how little others have.
i believe in making things that make people feel something. the kind of work that stays with you after the screen fades to black.
“you can’t hope for an opportunity, you have to create it”
“if you can see it in your head, you can grow into it.”
“everything changes when you do.”
let's connect: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram
email: contact@prestonchen.com
wanna chat? let's do it.
DIRECTORY:
© 2025 PRESTON CHEN
🟦 BY PRESTON®