Alumni Blog: Hsi Cheng

Hsi Cheng’s thesis film premieres at DOC NYC next month. Here, Hsi writes an alumni blog detailing the process of making her 2024 thesis film, Find Me.

 

Find Me is my first documentary.

Find Me is a deeply personal documentary that chronicles a woman’s incredible journey to find her birth family in Taiwan after being trafficked as a baby. It was an ambitious and challenging first documentary to make, but I was driven by my belief in the story. With meticulous planning, my amazing crew and I brought this vision to life.

I aimed to tell a meaningful story that also reflects my Taiwanese background.

The project spanned two years, beginning in my junior year at SVA. One night, I stumbled upon Kuo’s story on YouTube. I was shocked to discover that such a significant crime had happened in Taiwan—the place I call home—and that I had never heard of it. 

I reached out to several individuals who were victims of the same trafficking case from the 1980s and were still searching for their birth families. Kuo, a female flight paramedic living in Rochester, responded quickly to my message on Facebook.

There were plenty of challenges.

My small but dedicated crew—Anja Huang, Alex Sarvide, Mina Huang, and I—took a seven-hour train ride to Rochester. We spent the weekend at Kuo’s family home. She showed us her workplace, introduced us to her family, and shared her hopes of returning to Taiwan after four decades.

One of my biggest challenges was the budget, particularly concerning transportation for the crew and our documentary subject. I was unsure how we would be able to send Kuo to Taiwan. I created a promotional video and reached out to news outlets while setting up a GoFundMe for her trip. Our efforts led to features on Spectrum News and Taiwanese news channel The Reporter. This helped us raise funds through crowdfunding, the Taiwanese government, and various NGOs. The financial support allowed us to fly Kuo to Taiwan and provide accommodations for her and her adoptive mother, Mary, for a week.

Starting my thesis preparation early enabled me to present a strong case for grants. I received grants from both The BFA Film thesis committee and SVA alumni. My project was almost fully funded through grants, for which I am immensely grateful.

Last summer, I returned to Taiwan to prepare for Kuo and Mary’s arrival.

Anja Huang, our cinematographer, and Mina Huang, our sound mixer, also joined me. Together we interviewed government officials and scholars specializing in international adoption and human trafficking cases in June.

We had a tightly packed schedule. We arranged for Kuo’s DNA test, held a press conference, conducted multiple interviews, and visited places in Taipei where her parents might have lived. Throughout this journey, we uncovered new information about Kuo’s past and witnessed her deep desire to find herself in this familiar yet foreign land.

There were many moments when the crew and I were moved to tears. Kuo’s adoptive mother was incredibly supportive. She stayed by Kuo’s side as much as possible.

During our last interview with Kuo in Taiwan, I asked her what her favorite moment of the trip was. She shared that it was the evening after wrapping up filming, when she, the crew, my Taiwanese friends, and a reporter gathered for drinks by the river. As we talked and laughed together, she felt a glimpse of what her life could have been if she had never left Taiwan. This trip was not only special for Kuo; it is one of the most memorable moments of my life as well.

Back in NYC, I found myself immersed in the editing lab with 4 TB of footage.

I’d also collected countless newspapers and archival materials. The editing process was both excruciating and enlightening. From the outset, the treatment was constantly evolving. I initially envisioned a true crime documentary, but I learned that the beauty of nonfiction lies in its unpredictability. I delved deeper into Kuo’s story, uncovering layers involving the international adoption system, family dynamics, and the psychological impacts of trauma. After months in the editing lab, I distilled the narrative into a 19-minute short film centered on Kuo’s quest for identity and her search for her birth family. I recognized that the story was not an explosive exposé on an international crime that happened 40 years ago. Instead, it was a story about love and resilience—a story about a woman who has tirelessly sought to find her family and her own.

 

Find Me has been selected for DOC NYC U 2024.

The premiere is scheduled for November 21 at the Village East by Angelika theater. It will also screen at the Big Apple Festival on December 11 at Look Dine-In Cinemas. I attended a DOC NYC pre-festival event, where I met accomplished documentary filmmakers I admire. My crew, Kuo and I eagerly anticipate the festival experience. We are all incredibly grateful that our hard work has been recognized and that we have the opportunity to shed light on underreported stories like Kuo’s.

I have always been a practical person.

What I learned from my thesis film and my final year at SVA is that you shouldn’t be afraid to dream big. If you truly believe in the story you want to tell, go for it. Your greatest resources will be scheduling, hard work, and the people around you. There are fewer opportunities to be surrounded by like-minded and talented individuals after graduation. I’m grateful that I took the leap of faith in myself and had the support of those around me throughout the process.

Festival and ticket info: 

DOC NYC “Find Me” world premiere, Thursday, November 21, 2024 3:30 PM, Village East by Angelika

Get your ticket here: https://www.docnyc.net/film/doc-nyc-u-family-matters-shorts/find-me/

Big Apple Film Festival, Wed, Dec 11th, 6:00 PM, Look Dine-In Cinemas: Theater #4

Get your ticket here: https://bafffall2024.eventive.org/films/66faf6b22ffee90056f743f4