“Growing up, Hong Kong TV dramas played all day long in the Jane-Finch basement we lived in. Though our family lived modestly, our favourite weekly treat was renting new VHS episodes and HK movie releases and western flicks from Blockbuster. We cried, gasped, and laughed with characters that made us feel seen. As a first generation Canadian, being greatly invested in these stories, while sitting with my dad in his Ikea Poäng armchair, gave me - and all of us - a much needed place of belonging. A proud place of belonging.”

- 周愷欣

About

Vanesa is a Toronto-based cinematographer of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, with a BFA in Film Production from York University. She speaks fluent English and Cantonese. Her experience in the industry is in both long and short format, throughout the television, feature, documentary and commercial worlds. 

As an empath, Vanesa uses her sensitivity as her lens to explore emotion, tone, and rhythm. By creating a genuine and safe environment on set, nuanced beats naturally unravel before her lens. Her intuitive exploration of the medium results in strikingly meaningful visuals that support and enhance the story onwards. 

Vanesa pushes the boundaries of telling underrepresented stories to extend the power of feeling seen and heard to her community. So they too can gather, empathize, and dream. So they too can be proud to belong.