Hackley Alumnus Peter Loehr ’85 Visits the Virtual Hilltop

(By Lily Napach ’21) -- On Thursday, April 8th, the Hackley Chinese language community welcomed Hackley alumnus, Mr. Peter Loehr ’85, to speak about his experience in China’s film industry.

Over 64 people participated, including Chinese language students in grades 6-12, Chinese teachers Ms. Hui Wen and Ms. Qiong Jan, retired Chinese teacher Mr. Roy Sheldon, Modern Language Department Chair Ms. Angela Alonso, Hackley alumnus/former Chinese language student Benjy Renton ’17, Hackley Trustee Mr. Sy Sternberg P ’04 (whose generosity with his wife, Laurie, made the Chinese language program possible), and the Advancement Team’s Mr. John Gannon.

Mr. Loehr is one of the most successful producers in the Chinese film industry. After graduating from Hackley, Mr. Loehr went to Georgetown University, where he studied International Politics and Japanese. He eventually found his place in Chinese film, ultimately revolutionizing the industry. He created China’s first independent film company in 1995, produced some of the nation’s most beloved films (including “Shower” - a favorite of Hackley students), and then worked as the CEO of Legendary East, a subsidiary of Legendary Pictures.

Hackley students enjoyed hearing about Mr. Loehr’s experiences learning Chinese and his thoughts on the intersection between Chinese and US films. The Hackley community was inspired by how much Mr. Loehr has been able to accomplish with an understanding of the Chinese language and culture.

It has been wonderful to continue a longstanding relationship with Mr. Loehr. In both 2010 and 2017, Hackley students on language immersion trips visited him in China to learn about his interactions with Chinese culture, media, history, and language. We are so lucky to be able to learn from such an inspiring alumnus.
Back