Film
I purchased my first camera as a junior in college and would take it with me on travel or trips around town. However, eventually I had issues with the battery and set it aside. Over the years as cell phone cameras advanced I didn’t feel the need to buy a new one. The ease of picture taking was solidified and I kept thousands of them on my phone at any given time. That was until I finished my fieldwork in Hong Kong where I conducted focus groups with domestic workers. Although I was familiar with their experiences and have watched other news outlets share their stories, something inside told me I needed to develop a documentary. A few months later I returned to Hong Kong and bought a vlog camera. Without a background in photography or film I didn’t want to go all out with expensive equipment. I’m also a light packer and didn’t want the inconvenience (and worry) of multiple lenses, batteries, and more. Soon after I started taking pictures around the city but I struggled to capture what my eyes saw and questioned if I should be the person to bring this idea to life.
It wasn’t until I moved to Taipei and saw a local post on social media of a guy offering a camera shoot outing. I reached out to him and we met up in a busy neighborhood for some night shots. He quickly saw I had no idea what I was doing and gave me some tips on how to correct my method. In a week’s time I started carrying my camera with me everywhere switching between photos and film to capture the essence of my day. Just like my phone, I have collected hundreds of pictures. Except this time I have a plan for them. My goal is to edit and release three short film projects of my time in Taiwan’s northern port towns.
Anticipated Works:
Gone Fishing: Keelung Fish Market
Badouzi: Exploring the Northern Coast
Miaokou Night Market
八斗子 (Badouzi), July 2025
