Meet Kaiwen Li: The Visionary Director Behind ChatCut’s Revolution in Video Editing

In the world of documentary filmmaking and commercial production, few names carry the weight of Kaiwen Li 李凯文. An award-winning director who has shaped Asia’s visual storytelling landscape, Kaiwen has now turned his years of industry expertise toward solving one of post-production’s most persistent challenges: the disconnect between current editing software and the real needs of today’s video creators.

From Shanghai Studios to Global Recognition

Kaiwen Li’s journey to the forefront of video production began in northeastern China, but his vision quickly expanded far beyond geographical boundaries. After studying at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film/Animation/Video, Kaiwen returned to Asia with a mission to redefine how stories are told through moving images.

Building an Empire: Homework Productions

In 2019, Kaiwen co-founded Homework Productions in Shanghai, which rapidly became the city’s leading production house and a trusted APAC vendor for some of the world’s most prestigious brands and television networks. Under his creative direction, the company has produced over 300 commercials for international clients including:

• Chanel

• Gucci

• Airbnb

• P&G

• Beats by Dr. Dre

• Burberry

• SK-II

• Intel

• Pantene

• Burger King

• Huawei

But Homework Productions wasn’t just about commercial success—it became a creative laboratory where Kaiwen pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. The company’s work earned recognition across multiple categories, including the Chinese Advertising Golden Lion Award, establishing Kaiwen as one of Asia’s most innovative commercial directors.

Award-Winning Documentary Work

While commercial work provided creative freedom and financial stability, Kaiwen’s true passion lay in documentary storytelling. His documentary work for Discovery Channel and VICE Media showcased his ability to find compelling human stories within complex subjects.

These projects weren’t just creative achievements—they were learning laboratories where Kaiwen experienced firsthand the inefficiencies and frustrations of traditional video editing workflows. Hours spent sifting through footage, struggling with clunky software interfaces, and managing complex collaboration between directors, editors, and clients planted the seeds for what would eventually become ChatCut.

The Birth of ChatCut

The transition from filmmaker to tech entrepreneur wasn’t planned—it was inevitable. After years of working within the constraints of traditional editing software, Kaiwen realized that the industry needed more than incremental improvements. It needed a fundamental reimagining of how humans interact with video content.

ChatCut represents the convergence of Kaiwen’s artistic vision, technical innovation, and deep understanding of real-world production challenges. It’s not just another editing tool—it’s a reflection of how someone who has lived the pain points of video creation believes the future should work.

Conclusion

Kaiwen Li’s journey from documentary director to tech entrepreneur represents more than just a career change—it’s the natural evolution of someone who has spent his professional life at the intersection of storytelling and technology.