Meet Kate Chen | Actress, Producer, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I started pursuing a creative career for the love of films. It started budding when I was a kid. I love going to the movie theaters with friends and family, and see how the story unfolds on the big screen. I love the immersive experience: how the picture, actors, cinematography, music, and special effects all come together. I also love reading novels and books in my down time. They are my constant companions as I bring them with me wherever I go . I think that’s one of the main reasons why I love storytelling and films.

Stories can change lives. Films and books are the portals to tell stories and they have changed and inspired me. I want to be that instrument to bring the character alive, as well as making films that are provocative and entertaining.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think my art is constantly evolving. It never stays the same. I have quite a nomadic life. I grew up in Taiwan and in the U.S., and that exposed me to different cultures with drastic different values. It was like that then, anyway. I felt that with the technology now, cultures can become a little more globalized and people have easier access to see what life is like in another country. When I was growing up, that wasn’t the case. And, I constantly experienced the culture shocks and felt the culture conflicts within me. It was hard as a shy kid, too; not being able to express in a foreign language, or to defend myself. When studying in school, I felt the sense of longing to my life in Asia while adjusting to the new life in America. Then, I visited different states and countries —to wherever work led me. I would have 3 to 10 weeks on the road, and encountered many different kinds of people, places, events along the way. However, I always feel more comfortable in a diverse and international setting, so I like to learn about the life of people from different backgrounds and countries. I think more and more people are experiencing the challenges and excitement of moving to another state or to another country as well.

I am especially interested in portraying the difficulties, challenges, and joy that Asian-Americans experience. Other than the need for success and excelling school grades, Asian-Americans and the Asian community, like everyone else, are human beings. I hope that Hollywood and independent films will portray and explore more facets of Asian-America lives in the near future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Must go to Santa Monica beach and visit small-business cafes in DTLA!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m thankful of all the people I’ve met, really. The important ones are my parents, teachers, counselors, and friends who supported me through highs and lows. At the same time, I’m grateful of the good and bad people as well. They’ve taught me something along the way.
I’m especially grateful of friends, professionals, and leaders who have helped me when I was at a low point in my personal life and career. The helps from them made an impact to my life and I can’t thank them enough for that.

Also, I just want to give a shoutout to a lot of up-and coming talented filmmakers who are striving to create. I am lucky to have worked with them, and I’m excited to be working on new projects with them soon. By feeling their enthusiasm and energies, they inspired my creativity and the passion for filmmaking.

Last but not the least, the films of dir. Ang Lee, dir. Christopher Nolan, and dir. David Fincher have inspired me since the first time I saw their movies in middle-high school. I hope that one day, I may work with them.

Website: https://imdb.me/katechen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katecynaof03

Image Credits
Scott Angelheart, Danielle Ben-Shimon, and myself