David Meltzer
In the world of media production, some creators navigate the line between fact and fiction with exceptional skill. Shuojia Chen, a producer, has built her career on this very principle, seamlessly blending the journalistic rigor of her past with the creative freedom of her present through her cultural heritage and personal experiences. Born in China and having lived in various regions and countries, Shuojia’s journey has been one of continuous exploration and growth. Her path has not only influenced her professional life but also deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by the Asian community, which remains a significant concern for her.
Chen’s path to the media industry began with a powerful sense of purpose. Inspired by a Chinese investigative journalist who exposed a criminal ring, she initially gravitated toward journalism, driven by a desire to highlight social issues and inspire change. This passion later evolved, leading her to the U.S. to study film, where she realized she could express her ideas more creatively. For Chen, both nonfiction and narrative filmmaking are complementary; journalism provides the social and emotional foundations, while film allows for deeper exploration of inner lives, creating stories that are both relevant and deeply human.
A cornerstone of Chen’s career was her significant tenure at KTSF TV, a station dedicated to serving the Asian American community. As a producer for the Mandarin News program, her responsibilities were vast—from selecting and assigning news stories to coordinating with reporters and ensuring the live broadcasts ran smoothly. However, her work at KTSF went far beyond the technical aspects of news production. She understood that the station’s role was not just to deliver information but to advocate for its community. By actively questioning government agencies and police departments on behalf of the Asian community, KTSF empowered its audience, demonstrating that their concerns were being heard and addressed.
This experience gave Chen a profound understanding of the media’s role in representation. While she had always felt a personal connection to her cultural heritage, the anti-Asian discrimination she witnessed and experienced during the COVID pandemic solidified her commitment to supporting Asian communities. It became clear to her that even if she didn’t want to be defined by her race, others would, and she felt a powerful motivation to utilize her skills to combat stereotypes and contribute to building a more equitable society.
This unique blend of personal experience and professional insight became the catalyst for her short film, Second Language. The film’s inspiration came directly from her interactions with a Chinese American colleague in the KTSF newsroom. Chen, a native Mandarin speaker, was perfecting her American accent, while her colleague, a native English speaker, was honing his Mandarin skills on a language app. At one point, when Chen’s colleague tried out new words he had just learned in accented Mandarin, and Chen misheard them as similar-sounding English words, it led to a small, humorous moment of linguistic miscommunication that sparked an idea. She and her colleague decided to exaggerate these scenarios into a comedic emergency, creating a story filled with hilarious misunderstandings that nonetheless highlighted the very real frustration and vulnerability that come with language barriers.
Second Language is a testament to Chen’s belief that comedy can be a powerful tool for empathy. The comedic misunderstandings that arise serve to highlight the more profound human need for understanding and connection. It masterfully portrays the unique challenges faced by both new immigrants and first-generation Asian Americans, who often grapple with navigating two different languages and cultures. In June 2025, Second Language received an Award of Recognition: Asian Theme at the Accolade Global Film Competition and the Best Comedy Film award at the San Francisco International Film Awards. These accolades reinforce Shuojia’s commitment to telling stories that resonate deeply with the Asian community and beyond, validating its message about the complexities of language barriers and the emotional journey of immigrants. This recognition reinforced Shuojia’s commitment to telling stories that resonate with the Asian community.
It validated her belief that the story resonated, not just as a comedy, but as a meaningful reflection on the emotional complexities of cultural and linguistic identity in the U.S.
Chen sees a direct and meaningful connection between her work in the news industry and her independent film career. Her journalism background has equipped her with a keen understanding of social dynamics and where tensions lie, providing a solid foundation for her creative projects. Conversely, her experience in film has taught her to look more deeply into characters’ inner lives, enriching her nonfiction storytelling with a more human-centered approach. This crossover gives her a unique perspective, enabling her to create work that resonates on both factual and emotional levels.
Moving forward, Chen is committed to telling more stories that reflect Asian experiences, which she notes are still underrepresented in mainstream American media. She has founded her own company, Iron Rabbits Production, and is currently developing a feature film about animal protection—a story inspired by a real-life interview she conducted. The project has already garnered several awards for its script, and she is dedicated to creating more projects that foster cross-cultural understanding.
For producers, Chen offers simple but powerful advice: listen carefully. She urges creators to listen to the communities they want to represent and the feedback from their audience. She believes an open and objective approach makes a story more accessible and engaging. Ultimately, Shuojia Chen’s career is a compelling narrative about a producer who uses her voice to amplify others, weaving together different worlds one powerful story at a time.
You can follow Shuojia Chen at IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm13220796 and her IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandy.chen_filmmaker
