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Storytelling has long been a reflection of human culture, preserving traditions and values unique to specific communities. In today’s interconnected world, creators face the challenge of staying true to their cultural roots while making their stories accessible to broader audiences. This balance is key to breaking barriers, as it invites viewers into new perspectives while […]
Storytelling has long been a reflection of human culture, preserving traditions and values unique to specific communities. In today’s interconnected world, creators face the challenge of staying true to their cultural roots while making their stories accessible to broader audiences. This balance is key to breaking barriers, as it invites viewers into new perspectives while uncovering the universal themes that connect us all.
Syuen Chia, a Malaysian Producer and Writer/Director based in Los Angeles, rises to this challenge with remarkable skill. Her work blends cultural depth with global resonance, capturing the complexities of shared human experiences through the lens of everyday people. Syuen’s ability to present culturally specific narratives in ways that resonate universally sets her apart as a storyteller to watch.
Her most recent film, When I Die, is a deeply personal exploration of mortality, tackling the often-taboo nature of death in Asian families. Through subtle, thoughtful storytelling, Syuen crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and universal. The film’s emotional depth has earned it recognition at renowned festivals such as the National Film Festival for Talented Youth 2024, the Boston Asian American Film Festival 2024, and the Oscar-qualifying LA International Shorts Film Festival 2024. It has also gone on to win multiple awards in both artistic and technical categories, including an Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Drama Short at Indie Short Fest and a Gold Award for Best Original Story at Independent Shorts Fest.
Beyond her producing and directorial work, Syuen’s versatility extends into technical roles, including her time as a Camera Intern at LAIKA, where she contributed to the stop-motion feature Wildwood. Whether behind the camera or overseeing a production, Syuen reminds us that the most personal stories hold the greatest potential to connect, inspire, and bridge cultural divides. Through films like When I Die, she transforms her roots into narratives that truly belong to the world.
Growing up in an Asian household in Malaysia deeply shaped Syuen’s storytelling approach, especially when addressing sensitive subjects like mortality. In When I Die, she reflects on the cultural subtleties surrounding death—what is left unspoken, unseen, and unheard—and channels these observations into her narrative style. “I’ve observed that there’s a lot that is being said in the unseen, unheard, and the unspoken,” she explains, highlighting how this quiet communication became a cornerstone of her work. By embracing these subtleties, Syuen explores the quiet complexities of accepting mortality and the uncertainty that surrounds it, creating stories that resonate deeply without overwhelming the audience.
At the same time, Syuen was intentional about ensuring that the film’s themes remained accessible to a global audience. While When I Die reflects her unique cultural perspective on death and grief, she sought to convey it through visual storytelling and dialogue—or, as she points out, “the lack thereof.” This approach allowed her to stay true to her personal experiences while creating room for universal connection. “I made sure to keep emotions and themes surrounding grief and death universal, allowing audiences from different backgrounds to find echoes of resonance within the frames,” she shares. By balancing cultural specificity with universal emotions, Syuen bridges the gap between her personal experiences and the broader human condition, introducing audiences to new cultural contexts while anchoring them in relatable feelings of loss and acceptance.
Ultimately, When I Die is both deeply personal and universally reflective. Syuen’s ability to weave cultural nuances into the film while tapping into shared experiences allows her work to transcend borders, inviting viewers to see the world through her lens while recognizing parts of themselves within the story.
Living in multicultural cities like Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles, Syuen immersed herself in diverse communities, which gave her a deeper understanding of the societal barriers that often separate people. “It has also opened my eyes to the many barriers that drive us apart,” she explains, reflecting on how these experiences shaped her passion for addressing social issues in her work. Her earliest filmmaking roots were grounded in projects she produced with organizations such as Teach For Malaysia and Architects of Diversity Malaysia, where she tackled topics like educational inequity and discrimination through promotional and documentary filmmaking. These early projects not only influenced her principles as a filmmaker but also revealed the potential for film to serve as a vehicle for positive change.
Syuen draws inspiration from the people and places around her, familiar and new, in all her filmmaking work. She emphasizes collaboration as a key part of her producing process, allowing multiple perspectives to enrich the storytelling and filmmaking process. “One of my favorite parts about producing is working with everyone and their diverse skill sets and creative ideas to bring the director’s and our unified vision to life. No matter the project, one part of my job always stays the same – making sure that I’m supporting the team the best I can, whether it’s creative feedback or solving a logistical issue, so that they can make the project their own.” she says, highlighting her passion for the collaborative art form and a commitment to creating stories that resonate universally. By combining her lived experiences, collaborative spirit, and attention to nuance, Syuen uses film to spark dialogue and connect collaborators and audiences across cultural divides.
Photo Credit: Willa Cutolo
Syuen intentionally incorporates cultural elements, both subtle and significant, to create an authentic atmosphere and add richness to her storytelling. “I strongly believe that they are integral to the atmosphere and authenticity of a story,” she says. These details not only reflect her personal perspective but also set her work apart in a global filmmaking landscape. For Syuen, her Malaysian background offers a lens through which she explores shared human experiences, creating narratives that transcend borders while remaining deeply personal. “Thus, I also love producing projects that highlight communities within our world and/or are personal to my collaborators. What really drew me to filmmaking was its storytelling medium as a strong form of connection, thus I love it when projects are linked to personal experiences, philosophies, and communities, especially if underrepresented.” By balancing cultural specificity with universal themes, she shines lights on stories that connect with people regardless of their background yet stay true to its roots.
In When I Die, Syuen captures a quiet yet powerful moment of connection that resonates across cultures. The scene where Lianne and her parents discuss death reflects a uniquely cultural approach to addressing sensitive topics. Syuen explains, “Their conversation reflects a prominent approach to life and death in my culture yet holds an emotional core that resonates universally.” This careful balance between cultural specificity and universal emotion allows the scene to feel deeply personal while relatable to anyone who has struggled with grief or difficult family conversations.
Syuen found that this moment struck a chord with audiences from all backgrounds, as well as with her team. “Members of the team and audiences alike have shared how it reminded them of their own experiences with loss and the challenge of explaining it to loved ones,” she shares. The universality of the parents’ struggle—protecting their child while grappling with their own grief—makes the scene impactful and authentic. By weaving cultural nuance into moments of shared humanity, Syuen creates narratives that connect deeply with viewers, no matter their origin.
Syuen believes that filmmaking is a powerful medium for fostering understanding and empathy by allowing audiences to step into lives and perspectives different from their own. Through her producing and directing work, she aims to reflect diverse cultural backgrounds while simultaneously highlighting the universal human experiences that connect us all. “By presenting characters and situations that audiences may not be familiar with, audiences are able to see the ways in which we are similar but also appreciate the ways in which we’re not,” she explains. This balance between the familiar and unfamiliar helps bridge cultural divides, encouraging viewers to engage with new ideas and perspectives.
Syuen also emphasizes the importance of nuance in storytelling, as it provides space to explore the diversity within communities and reminds audiences of the complexity and richness of human experiences. “Storytelling allows for nuance as it gives us a chance to explore the diversity within communities to highlight that we are all complex and multifaceted individuals,” she shares. For her, storytelling is not only a way to connect people but also to start meaningful conversations. By creating authentic and thought-provoking narratives, Syuen’s work opens up opportunities for dialogue and greater understanding, fostering a sense of connection across cultural boundaries.
For Syuen, achieving a balance between cultural specificity and universal relatability begins with identifying the emotional core of a story. Whether working on her own films or collaborating with directors, she uses this central message as “a north star” to guide the creative process. “It takes a lot to produce a film as there are many steps that need to happen before a story can be brought to life. ” She reflects. “Sometimes things don’t go as planned no matter how much you prepare, and that’s just part of the process. But I’ve found that it is often much easier and less stressful to quickly problem-solve any production issues that arise, or shift directions if needed without compromising the core vision, when you have this north star in mind.”
In addition, by encouraging her team to contribute their unique perspectives, she builds layers of depth into the narrative, ensuring that the story resonates on multiple levels. “Not only does this enrich the layers of storytelling, it also ensures that the story is resonant not just within the team but with a wider, global audience too,” she explains. For Syuen, a story must first connect deeply with its creators to reach audiences worldwide in an authentic and meaningful way.
However, maintaining authenticity while presenting culturally specific narratives to global audiences is not without challenges. Syuen shares that much of this tension arises during the development process. For instance, it took several attempts to effectively communicate the cultural significance of elements like the red packets in When I Die. “I’ve found that it is important to dig into the core of why it isn’t working, rather than taking the note as is and cutting the detail out entirely,” she says. This careful approach allows her to preserve cultural nuances while clarifying their relevance for a broader audience.
Ultimately, Syuen believes that some choices in storytelling are personal and don’t always need to be explained. “Filmmaking is also a medium of expression after all,” she reflects, recognizing that certain details can be for herself or her collaborators alone. By balancing cultural authenticity with universal emotions and themes, Syuen ensures that stories remain true to their roots while still inviting connection from audiences across the globe.
Syuen is redefining storytelling blending culturally grounded narratives with universal themes that transcend borders. Her film When I Die highlights how deeply personal settings can explore shared human experiences like love and grief, creating stories that resonate globally. “Filmmaking allows us to step into the lives and worlds of others,” she reflects, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and collaboration in preserving cultural nuances while crafting relatable narratives. Through her work, Syuen fosters empathy, sparks dialogue, and demonstrates the transformative power of storytelling to bridge cultural divides in an interconnected world.
