Chen shares powerful stories through film

With a public relations, marketing, and volunteering background, Chen has always been passionate about storytelling. Now, she’s using her filmmaking skills to share inspiring stories of immigrants in Australia.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in China, Chen taught traditional Chinese poetry classes online, raising funds for children in Sichuan's Daliang Mountains.

Chen visited ancient architectural sites to create immersive videos to enhance the children's understanding of poetry.

This experience sparked a deeper interest in filmmaking, which led to her enrolling in TAFE Queensland's Diploma of Screen and Media (Directing) (CUA51020-DIRECT).

"For a new immigrant, integrating into society through education is an excellent approach," Chen said.

"Before I arrived in Australia, I had heard about TAFE and its professional skills training. I visited TAFE’s website and found a course that felt tailor-made for me."

From her first lesson, Chen knew she had found the right fit.

"Filmmaking has always been something I loved, and TAFE Queensland provided the perfect opportunity to pursue it professionally."

"From the first day of class, my teacher Tom showed me how to use professional cinema cameras and tripods. By the second day, he encouraged me to share my insights about different filming techniques - I loved this interactive approach."

"Every assignment mirrored real-world scenarios, preparing me to enter the workforce with confidence," she said.

Chen credits TAFE Queensland for providing the support, technical skills, and creative environment essential to working in the screen and media industry.

Taught by industry experts, the advanced qualification provided hands-on learning experience in directing, camera operation, lighting, sound recording, video editing, writing, and producing.

This allowed Chen to develop filmmaking skills essential in the film, television, and digital content industries through practical experience in live broadcasts of theatre productions and collaborative projects with acting students.

With English being Chen's second language, some coursework presented challenges. However, the support she received from her teacher, Charles, saw her successfully navigate these obstacles and thrive in TAFE Queensland’s practical learning environment.

"There was one assignment where I struggled to analyse a Charlie Chaplin film for safety aspects. Charles patiently guided me, helping me understand the key points and complete the task – and the experience was incredibly rewarding," she recalled.

Graduating in 2024 and inspired by the resilience of immigrants, Chen launched a documentary series titled 'Chinese Story in Australia'.

"In my first month in Brisbane, I met a Chinese couple who had moved here from Canada, and their story inspired me to create the 'Chinese Story in Australia' WeChat account.”

“I realised that Australia’s strength as a nation of immigrants comes from the bravery and resilience of ordinary people. Each immigrant’s journey is unique, yet they all share an inspiring inner strength.”

“It’s this spirit that moved me, and I felt compelled to use my passion for documentary filmmaking to share their stories with the world," Chen explained.

The series has resonated widely, attracting over 100,000 weekly views on WeChat and earning her recognition from the Chinese embassy.

"I believe every immigrant carries a unique spirit of bravery and strength. I aim to highlight these inspiring stories and promote cultural harmony through my documentaries."

"The positive response has been overwhelming, and I'm so grateful to TAFE Queensland for giving me the skills to tell these important stories professionally,” Chen continued.

With ambitions to expand her storytelling reach, Chen has uploaded her Chinese Story in Australia series onto YouTube.

Chen will use her interviewing, filmmaking, and producing skills to create Pink Mic, a project that shares inspiring stories from all immigrants, not just those from China.

Her new project will highlight stories from immigrants from all backgrounds, showcasing the strength and resilience of people from all walks of life.

"TAFE Queensland's training is practical and effective, and it gave me the confidence and skills to follow my dream career as a filmmaker.”

“Now, I create documentaries that share meaningful stories with the world, and nothing could be better than that,” concluded Chen.