Today we’d like to introduce you to Barney Cheng.
Hi Barney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a Taiwanese-American filmmaker. I create contents like TV shows and feature films. My story began in Taiwan, where I was born.
Before Taiwan transitioned into a vibrant democratic country, the island nation was under authoritarian rule. At the time, Taiwan was ruled by one party, and there were no free elections. My parents wanted me and my siblings to grow up in a free country, so my family immigrated to the U.S. with two other Taiwanese families.
We lived in a small, overcrowded house in Arcadia. The Taiwanese mothers would take turns visiting their husbands in Taiwan, who stayed behind to work to support the families. As a single parent, my mother had to stay in Taiwan to work.
During my mom’s absence, the other Taiwanese mothers took care of me and my siblings. The first year was really tough, and the kids didn’t get along and fought constantly. Our “family” eventually disintegrated. Suddenly, my siblings and I were left to care for ourselves alone.
Decades later, I learned that there’s a term for someone like me. Parachute kids: young immigrants from Taiwan who were dropped in America by their parents who stayed in Taiwan to work. Many of us grew up with little adult supervision, alienated, burdened to excel academically, while yearning for a safe place to belong.
I knew I was different from most other Taiwanese parachute kids. There was not a safe place for a queer parachute kid like me. I felt invisible, detached and lonely.
These life experiences greatly influenced my work as a filmmaker. As a writer, I tend to tell coming-of-age stories from an alienated voice. At the same time, I yearn for joys in life, so my work gravitates toward stories with uplifting tones and hopeful themes that revolve around family, something that was missing in my childhood. That’s the kind of films and shows that I continue to create.
I directed my feature film, BABY STEPS, about a gay couple from West Hollywood traveling around the world to create their family through international surrogacy. I created a Taiwanese mother character that’s based on my mother and her journey to accept and love her gay son.
After its release, BABY STEPS sparked discussions and dialogue about same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Lawmakers in Taiwan referenced the film during their heated debates on the marriage equality bill in the Legislature. In 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
After years apart, the distance between my mother and me grew. We longed to connect, but it was difficult. I wrote and directed BABY STEPS so I could connect with my mother. Through BABY STEPS, I shared my feelings that I couldn’t articulate in person. We promoted the film together, and it was a commercial success. The BABY STEPS journey enabled us to take baby steps that ultimately brought us closer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m currently creating a TV show and a feature film inspired by the Asian-American icon Mia Yamamoto, who was born in a Japanese internment camp and is the first openly transgender trial lawyer in the world. I’m also on the board of PFLAG San Gabriel Valley API. We provide support, education, and advocacy for our API LGBTQ+ families.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.
chengcinematic.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/barneycheng/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/barneycheng
Popular
-
What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
-
Local Highlighter Series
-
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
-
What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
-
Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
-
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
