A Creative Journey: The Resilient Rise of Helen Chan to Film and Music

From Humble Beginnings to Artistic Breakthroughs.

Helen Chan’s meteoric rise in film and music is a story of resilience, ingenuity, and the transfiguring power of creativity. From Hong Kong, Helen launched her career as a production designer in Atlanta back in 2019. It was here that she quickly made a name for herself with her inimitable expressionism-surrealism style, which forged visually compelling narratives and set her apart in the competitive film world.

New Horizons in Los Angeles

In March 2023, Helen completed her Master’s in Film Directing and made the career-changing decision to move to Los Angeles because of the urge to explore new horizons. Being a city full of artistic opportunities, Los Angeles put Helen in the vanguard position to work with other creatives and further develop her craft in music videos and commercial directing.

The transition was not without its challenges. It was hard to secure sufficient budgets for her projects because many artists could not afford to pay fees. “The hardest part is finding the artists who can provide a reasonable budget to create a proper music video,” Helen says. Even with tight budgets, Helen’s passion for her job was never drained. She often relied on resourcefulness and called upon friends to help, sometimes financing projects herself.

Innovative Expression Through Constraints

There is an innate sense of humor, curiosity, and surrealism in Helen’s work. She considers herself talented at being able to turn out personal challenges into captivating visual art, crediting this wholly to her ADHD. “Outside-of-the-box thinking helps me make unusual connections and find unique solutions,” she explains. That excitement and refreshing difference have spoken to audiences worldwide, flipping them the charm of this unique approach in her work.

Since 2023, 41 film festival picks have been made with Helen’s films, with her talent recognized by multiple awarding bodies, including several noms and wins, such as Best Director at the 2024 Southeast Student Emmy Awards and five Telly Awards. A slate of awards that is not only indicative of creative vision but also the fuel for what’s next.

Uplifting and Inspiring Videos

The aspirations, therefore, of this video director are unabashedly clear: Helen wants to do work that brings comfort or rejoices to viewers. “I want my music videos to be something which people find solace or happiness in, videos which people return to again and again,” says she. For that, she looks for collaborations with artists who share the same passion for pushing music and visual storytelling further.

Teamwork is at the heart of Helen’s creative process. She thrives on working with like-minded filmmakers and artists who share her adventurous spirit and commitment to their craft. “I look for filmmakers who are passionate and willing to start from scratch with me,” she elaborates. Helen finds in such collaborative environments the collective energy and determination to create masterpieces.

San San Building a Vision

Other than her directing career, Helen is currently working on a production company called San San. This company focuses on changing negative energy into positive art, which is very close to Helen personally. She definitely believes in the potential of the visual arts to influence social and mental welfare, which, through San San, reflects back to her dedication to creating works that indeed affirm life.

The Fulfillment of Artistic Impact

She says the real reward for her work lies in its impact on other people: “The most satisfying part is seeing how my work affects people.” Each of her projects carries a message, and Helen believes that through her art she is giving something important to the world. “Seeing the effect of what I’ve created inspires me to continue creating,” she concludes.

The story of Helen Chan is one of determination, creativity, and strong chasing of dreams. Her story inspires many that, even with a challenge, one can, through creativity, make a difference in this fast-changing film and music world.