In Los Angeles, where it seems everybody is Hollywood connected, Bianca Chen has found her own way to do the film business. Last year, she established the US China Film and TV Industry Expo (UCFTI Expo) and started building the first event specifically designed to connect US and Chinese entertainment companies. UCFTI Expo is taking place Sept 15 and 16 in Los Angeles Convention Center.

Chen comes from a long line of artists. Her father is a famous writer and director of stage and screen; her mother is a well-known actress and voice-over director in Shanghai.

Chen began her career in the early '90s working as director, editor and scriptwriter for Guangdong TV (GDTV) in Guangzhou. Chen also produced and partnered with China Dubbing Company, where she translated programs from English to Cantonese for Hong Kong Cable Television (CATV). She went on to write and direct three films in China.

In 1995, Chen moved to the US and launched her Hollywood career working on the Hollywood Star Congratulations for HK Phoenix TV Movie Channel Grand Opening as director, The Rose Parade Live also as director, and producer of 911 News Live for a Chinese channel in Los Angeles.

In 1997, Chen opened Media 2000 Productions, a full-service production house for television commercials for both the Asian communities and the mainstream media.

"I've had a dream of creating a platform for US and China entertainment ever since then," Chen recalled.

One day she went to rent some lighting at a Hollywood company. "They told me to wait for a moment because one of the cables was missing," Chen said.

"I figured it would take no more than five minutes to dig a cable out of a closet because that's how it was at TV stations in China."

Chen was shocked when she followed the salesperson to a warehouse where thousands of different types of cables and wires were stored on shelves.

"I suddenly knew why Hollywood movies are more successful," she said. "I told myself that this is what is called professionalism. I saw the huge gap between US standards and Chinese standards."

Chen said she immediately understood the meaning of the term "film industry", a concept that was first introduced to her by her college professor Zhou Chuanji in China in 1988, who taught that "film was not just a creation of art but also a business and an industry".

"Zhou advocated developing China's film industry. He was so right about it and such a great inspiration for all Chinese filmmakers," Chen said.

"At the time in China, if you said your job was making films, people thought you were an artist," Chen said. "My experiences in US proved that was not necessarily true. Here in Hollywood, making a film refers to an entire chain of business where everybody can learn and find a job."

Her goal to create a platform where everybody can find a job in the industry, where Chinese professionals can find business partners and US producers can better understand China has been 17 years in the making.

"I don't want to make another film festival. There are so many," she said.

"I want to provide business opportunities to Chinese filmmakers and Hollywood-based companies and let them talk. UCFTI is a professional platform that connects the two biggest markets in the world."

Even with the blockbuster success of some films and talent in the past decade, the Chinese film and television industry is still underrepresented in Hollywood. To Chen, the UCFTI is poised to fill that gap.

At the heart of the Expo will be the production, post-production and distribution companies.

More than 150 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at the UCFTI Expo, ranging from location guilds and lawyers to hardware and software technology and equipment from the US and China, including film and television production equipment, display and projection equipment, transmission systems, management and information systems, mobile media, post-production, audio and radio equipment.

In 2013, China became the second-largest movie market by total box office sales with overall ticket revenues topping $3.3 billion.

The Expo hopes to connect US industry leaders to China to help get their foot in the door, explore new financing avenues and inject money into Hollywood.

"Hosting our two worlds' entertainment dignitaries and key players under one roof will be enlightening to say the least," Chen told China Daily.

"In the midst of the current changes in Hollywood, and China's industry's exponential growth, now is the perfect time and the Expo is the perfect place for the collaboration of great minds."

In contrast to other Hollywood expos, such as NAB and CineGear, Chen's UCFTI Expo is the only one focused on bringing US and Chinese leaders together to educate them on the opportunities and joint partnerships in the two big markets.

Industry players invited to speak at the Expo include: Relativity, the Weinstein Company, Legendary Films, Sony Pictures, NBC Universal, Technicolor and entertainment attorneys from O'Melveny and Myers.

Also in attendance will be more than 800 Chinese dignitaries from a variety of organizations, including the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV; Shanghai Media Group; Hangzhou Film and TV and entertainment representatives from China real estate associations.

Three-time Golden Horse award-winning actress Lisa Lu and writer, director and TV producer Zheng Xiaolong will also be there.

"Our goal is for the Expo to foster deeper relationships and bridge the gap between the US and China, as they are the powers that will shape the future of film and TV," said Chen.

"Thanks to our partners and great support from the government, including the mayor's film czar Ken Ziffren, advisor Sid Ganis and US Congressman Ed Royce, I am confident next week's Expo will be a huge success."

cindyliu@chinadailyusa.com