This past summer, I studied abroad in Taipei, Taiwan at National Taiwan University through CET Academic Programs. As a rising senior studying Chinese Language and Culture at New College of Florida, this was a great opportunity for me to continue developing my fluency and explore a new city.
Along with my Mandarin class, I took an elective on Sinophone Cinema where we watched foundational Taiwanese films and analyzed their impact on the film industry. When we were presented with the “Make Your Own Movie” project that comes with seemingly every film class ever, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. With my background in journalism, I thought creating a documentary-style film would be the most fun for me as I’d get to interview people but also play with the audio–visual elements of filmmaking that are absent from written accounts.
It was a no-brainer that I would highlight the Black experience. On my previous trip to Beijing, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the experience I was having as a Black woman was distinct from that of my non-Black classmates. With this documentary, I wanted to capture that distinctness and give people a chance to share their thoughts on some key questions:
When did you decide to spend your summer 8,000 miles away from home?
Who were you before this trip and who do you want to be after?
How do you view your Blackness in relation to your identity?
But also to hear what they have to say about other things:
How is your Mandarin coming along?
Where is your favorite place to frequent in Taipei?
What is your go-to 7/11 order?
And thus, “Black Taipei Stories” was born.
