By Antonia Chiam
KUCHING, Dec 10: For Sarawakian filmmaker Cheyenne Tan, being inducted into The Television Academy has opened the door to a world of collaboration and mentorship within Hollywood’s television industry.
The Television Academy recently officially welcomed the two-time Oscar-nominated, Kuching-born lass as a National Active Member in its Documentary Programming Peer Group, making her an eligible voting member for the Primetime Emmy Awards.
When Tan received the email confirming her induction earlier this summer, her reaction was one of quiet delight.
“I was pleasantly surprised. It was something I’d put my name in for, but as it usually is with these things, one should always manage their expectations. So it was nice to receive good news,” she told DayakDaily in a brief interview.
For Tan, the opportunity is about more than just prestige, it is a chance to grow. In addition to her voting privileges, she will have access to exclusive industry events, networking opportunities, and private screenings.
“I hope to learn from everyone else’s experiences. Being around working members of the industry, expanding my network. That is crucial for a successful career in this town,” she said, adding wryly that it will also give her the excuse to watch as much TV as her heart desires.
Now based in Los Angeles, Tan’s career has been steadily gaining momentum—most recently with her acclaimed documentary ‘I Am Ready, Warden’, which was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards earlier this year.
The 37-minute film centres on Texas death row prisoner John Henry Ramirez, who seeks redemption from his victim’s son in the final days before his execution.
Tan shared that the project did not begin with this story in mind. Initially, her team set out to make a very different documentary within the US prison system, but the narrative shifted as they encountered Ramirez and discovered the emotional weight of his final request.
“Through our research for that, we found out about John, whose story and its parallels spoke to so many themes that are interesting to us. As you can probably tell from my body of work so far, I gravitate towards stories with complicated relationships between parents and children.
“I think that’s something that a lot of people can relate to, even if the story itself is far from their own realities,” she said.
The film had its world premiere in competition at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and went on to win the Jury Award at the Austin Film Festival. It was her second Oscar nomination. She previously produced ‘St. Louis Superman’, which was nominated at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.
As an Asian, specifically a Southeast Asian, woman navigating through the Hollywood film industry, Tan knows all too well the challenges of representation and visibility. Yet, she says, for her, the most pressing struggle is something more universal.
“I think my biggest challenge in working in the industry so far has been finding people who are genuine. I think, regardless of ethnicity, genuine friendships and generosity are hard to find,” she shared.
Still, she has found solidarity in powerful alliances. In a competitive and sometimes cut-throat environment, it is these grounded and authentic relationships that sustain her.
“Some of my biggest supporters have been Black women in the creative industry who have supported me through my toughest times, but also plenty of allies who are Caucasian as well.
“With feet rooted firmly on the ground and with the right relationships, it makes living and working in Los Angeles a lot more enjoyable,” she said.
Despite the miles between her and her homeland, Tan remains connected to her roots, and deeply passionate about the potential of storytelling in Sarawak.
“I hope for fellow Sarawakians to watch and make more documentaries, especially the ones about us. Documentaries don’t have to be boring or only educational. They can also be fun and entertaining, depending on the subject matter, while still speaking to the world and the issues around us.”
It is a call not just for visibility, but for creativity and imagination, one that encourages filmmakers from Sarawak and beyond to redefine what documentary storytelling can be. – DayakDaily
