Cheyenne Tan Urges Malaysia to Believe in Local Storytellers After Hollywood Success
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian filmmaker Cheyenne Tan believes the country must do more to support its storytellers if it wants to build a thriving creative industry capable of producing world-class talent.
The Los Angeles-based documentary filmmaker has already achieved what many aspiring creators can only dream of. She is a two-time Academy Award nominee and most recently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Research for her work on Turning Point: The Vietnam War.
Despite the accolades, Tan remains deeply connected to Malaysia and hopes her success will encourage greater appreciation for local filmmakers.
According to her, Malaysia possesses an abundance of creative talent, but many filmmakers struggle due to limited funding, fewer opportunities and challenges in getting their work recognised.
She believes Malaysians should show the same enthusiasm for homegrown productions as they do for foreign entertainment.
“We readily support Korean dramas, Indonesian films and productions from around the region.
“There’s no reason we can’t show the same support for Malaysian stories and Malaysian filmmakers,” she said.
Tan stressed that building a successful creative industry requires more than financial investment.
She said filmmakers need an environment where they are allowed to experiment, make mistakes and continue learning.
“Most importantly, we need to create a space where filmmakers can learn, experiment, fail and grow.
“That’s how stronger creative industries are built,” she said.
Tan’s passion for storytelling began early in life.
As the eldest of three siblings and a twin, she spent much of her childhood observing people and questioning social norms.
She was particularly interested in understanding why society often treated men and women differently.
A major turning point came when her family moved to the United Kingdom for about a year while she was still a child.
The experience broadened her worldview and exposed her to different cultures and perspectives.
“I became more vocal and started reading more.
“I also developed an interest in history, philosophy and larger social issues.
“Looking back, those experiences shaped how I tell stories today,” she said.
After returning to Malaysia, Tan grew up in Kuching before later moving to Putrajaya.
During those years, her love for films and television continued to grow.
She realised that visual storytelling possessed the power to change how people viewed themselves and the world around them.
“A film can completely change how people see themselves and their surroundings.
“That’s what made me fall in love with storytelling,” she said.
Although she briefly considered careers in journalism and law, filmmaking remained her true passion.
Eventually, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream.
The transition was not easy.
She arrived without family or friends and had to build her career from scratch.
At the same time, she faced constant pressure to prove her professional achievements in order to maintain her visa status.
“That pressure made me a workaholic.
“In my early years, I worked almost all the time,” she recalled.
Her perseverance eventually paid off.
Tan co-produced St. Louis Superman, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 92nd Academy Awards.
She later received a second Oscar nomination through I Am Ready, Warden before winning an Emmy for Turning Point: The Vietnam War.
For Tan, these achievements are not just personal milestones.
They are proof that Malaysians can compete at the highest levels of the global creative industry.
She hopes more young Malaysians will tell stories about their own communities, cultures and experiences.
“I believe there are still many stories about Malaysia waiting to be told by Malaysians themselves.
“We have unique voices and perspectives.
“With enough opportunities and support, Malaysian storytellers can go much further,” she said.
