A few years ago, a friend and I were discussing the fundamental struggle of language to communicate fully. It felt like a tragedy, being rendered in rough strokes, and I kept thinking about the asymptotic nature of so many of our pursuits. This raised the question: what would it even be like to communicate perfectly, and would that even be desirable?
Much of my work as a storyteller is an attempt to circumvent the walls that audiences erect, to navigate language, image, sound, and emotion toward more effective exchange. It can feel circuitous and nebulous, but that’s where the art lies — in the striving for subjective authenticity and vulnerability in hopes of deeper connection and shared meaning. I think many of us began this way, wanting to affect others the way we were once affected. It's a flawed, human grasp at the asymptote.
As a self-taught filmmaker, editor, and photographer, I began in pursuit of aesthetics that resonated with me — those of films from East Asia and the diverse cultures here in NYC. Cutting my teeth professionally meant trying to center the human element in the scope of the work. As I continue, I'd like to move beyond aesthetics into stories centered on displacement, identity, and class, and take bigger risks to that end.
Directors: Donavon Bryan, Edwin Chen
Editors: Donavon Bryan, Edwin Chen
Director of Photography: Edwin Chen
Colorist: Edwin Chen
Assistant Camera: 4evr Michael
Concert photos and clips for Raveena.
A full circle moment for me, from discovering her music 7 years ago on a trip out west to reconnecting with Don, what a blessing to have met @raveena_aurora, the team, and family. Cheering for you all <3 Siri play "Nani's Interlude"
Concert photos and clips of @renaomusic
opening for Raveena. My first photo pass and I bring a VHS camera and my Sigma DP3M. Utterly impractical. I figured there would be plenty of coverage so I wanted to bring some experimentation and an audience perspective to my work.
Testing the Panasonic Omnimovie PV-605SD, recorded using ImmersionRC PowerPLAY
Director, Editor: Max Barlow
Director of Photography: Edwin Chen
Models: Isabella Enrico, Tirzah Athena
Videographer and Editor: Edwin Chen
Composer: Fritz Sterling, Felix Cumbe
Director: Benjamin de Menil
Camera: Benjamin de Menil, Eli Ben-Yaacov, Sonia Dolz
Editors: Edwin Chen, Eli Ben Javov
Colorist: Edwin Chen
Director, Screenwriter: Greg Swong
Cast: Ciaran Walsh, Dan Kuan Peeples
Director of Photography: Edwin Chen
Editors: Edwin Chen, Greg Swong
Producer: Jackson Knapp
Official Selection:
Lift-Off Global Network's First-Time Filmmaker Sessions
Director, Screenwriter: Artel Great
Director of Photography: Edwin Chen
Cast: Nia Fairweather, Alys Dickerson, Artel Great
Official Selection:
Black Harvest Film Festival
San Francisco Black Film Festival
Baltimore International Black Film Festival
Pan African Film Festival
Seattle Black Film Festival
Toronto Black Film Festival
Director and Editor: Max Barlow
Director of Photography: Edwin Chen
Talent: Yonas Saunders, Yani Frais
Client: Uber Eats
Talent: Jamiersen Green
Videographer and Editor: Edwin Chen
Client: MTA Away, James Beard Foudation
Featuring: JJ Johnson, Fieldtrip NYC
Producer: Matt Waller
Videographers: Edwin Chen, Lillian Li, Jessie Mislavsky
Editors: Edwin Chen, Lillian Li
Client: MTA Department of Diversity and Civil Rights
Director, Producer, and Editor: Edwin Chen
Videographers: Jessie Mislavsky, Edwin Chen
Videographers: Matt Waller, Edwin Chen
Editor: Edwin Chen
Producer: Spencer Oshman
Editor: Edwin Chen
Videographer: Jeffrey Matos
Editor: Edwin Chen
Mix and Master: Lee Weinberg
Videographer: Andrew Charles Green
Editors: Andrew Charles Green, Edwin Chen
Master: Wizard Lee - Feet 1st Studios
Producer: CamGotHits
Videographers: ShotByCisco, Edwin Chen
Editor: Edwin ChenBefore I slammed into Dunning-Krueger, we were trying things, executing without hard expectations, and most importantly having fun. I got to experience a part of the city I was isolated from and I’m richer for it.