Artist. storyteller. daughter.

Screenwriter, Actress, Producer

How does being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American and/or community ally play a role in your life?

I was born and raised in Queens, NY, and my parents are from Taiwan and Hong Kong. My mom embedded a lot of Taiwanese culture in me, from the food to the language and more. All of my writing projects blend Taiwanese culture with the urban New York vibes into my characters and their storylines. I consider both part of my roots.

watch our interview with cindy!

If you could teach future generations 1 thing about being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American or Taiwan, what would it be?

I’d teach them how to speak Taiwanese, and tell them to pass it on to future generations. I heard the language is fading out and considered “grandma’s” language, meaning something only the older generations know. I have a three year old niece, and my mom and I have been speaking to her in Taiwanese since birth so now she blends English with Mandarin and Taiwanese. I expect her to teach her future kids!

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

I think the community will expand, and it’ll be easier for us to connect with each other even if we’re not located in the same areas because of social media and now with events going virtual. There’s also groups like Taiwanese American Professionals where I met some really close friends through. If there’s organizations like that in the local area, I highly recommend Taiwanese Americans joining. Speaking for the entertainment industry, there’s film festivals specifically for Asian Americans where I’ve gotten to connect with other Taiwanese American filmmakers. Generations now are more open minded to going into the artistic fields, and I’m really excited to see our community grow.

Favorite memory of Taiwan/Taiwanese America?

When I was in high school, I went through the “rite of passage” and went on a trip to explore Taiwan. It was like Love Boat, but not with that company. It was so awesome exploring the country with kids my age. It’s where I met one of my long time friends, Kelly Lan, of Hello Prosper. I got to know the culture more and learned about the indigenous folks there. I hope all future young Taiwanese Americans get the opportunity to take trips like that.

Favorite Taiwanese food?

Lu rou fan – I’m basic!