CHRIS LEE

What this episode covers

Chris Lee opened the door for Univeristy of Hawaii Academy for Creative Media students by taking 4 interns to work on the blockbuster movie Superman Returns. Chris is the current President of Chris Lee Productions and former President of Production for Tristar Pictures and Columbia Pictures. Learn how Chris worked his way to President from a script reading position and led the studio to produce Academy Award-Winning films like Jerry Maguire, Philadelphia and As Good As It Gets. Chris also shares his global vision for the UH Academy for Creative Media and how it benefits Hawaii and the U.S. He talks about the struggles to get the program off the ground along with the entrepreneurial strategies they employ to become successful. Now that the program is running successfully Chris turned down the Presidency of Legendary Pictures to allow more time for the Academy. Some questions asked: What is your average day like running a movie studio? Let’s talk about your story, how did this all begin? What makes a good script? Is it more important who you know or what you know? Was it hard to continue producing movies from Hawaii? What was the first big movie you were involved in? What did you do? You started your career at ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA, then worked with acclaimed director Wayne Wang as the Assistant Director and Assistant Editor for the film DIM SUM. Later you joined TriStar Pictures in Los Angeles as a script analyst moving up the executive ranks to president. How was the road to presidency? Can you tell us the story behind the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii which is their film, video game and visual arts school? What makes the school Different? What is the vision and mission for the UH ACM? How do you envision the UH ACM benefiting the community and Hawaii? You took students to work on the Superman Returns film in Australia. What growth did you seen in that experience for them? Do you think Hawaii has enough talent to have successful Hollywood careers? Any success stories yet from the UH ACM program? Any advice for today’s young business person? What has been the most difficult challenge in your career and how did you overcome it? Was there a breakthrough or tipping point in your career? Do you continuously get inspired to draw based on life experiences and situations in real life? Is it tough to stay abreast of the changing technology in your field? Does technology just help your images come to life a lot easier? What’s the most important things needed to becoming successful in Hollywood? What is the ideal path and preparation to a Hollywood career? How did you develop your business skills and entrepreneurial abilities? What’s the most important things in running a movie studio? What are the most common mistakes you see people make when pursuing a Hollywood career and how can they avoid them? What are the biggest mistakes you see business people make and how can they avoid them? Do you have a mentor and how have they helped you? What are you working on now? Anything we should look forward to seeing? Where do you see yourself in 50 years? BIO: CHRIS LEE is the former President of Production for TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, President of Chris Lee Productions, and the founding Chairman of the University of Hawaii’s new Academy for Creative Media (ACM). During his tenure as an executive in Hollywood, Mr. Lee supervised such Academy Award-winning films as JERRY MAGUIRE, PHILADELPHIA, and AS GOOD AS IT GETS. He also worked on numerous other hits such as, MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, LEGENDS OF THE FALL, THE FISHER KING, THE MASK OF ZORRO, STARSHIP TROOPERS, GODZILLA, STEPMOM, GO and THE PATRIOT. His current project includes the blockbuster SUPERMAN RETURNS.