FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G | Create inspirational stories | Review by Tung Jing Yan
Jing Yan's filmmaking journey started during his overseas studies in Taiwan, where he majored in filmmaking. His interest in documentaries – and in particular, the stories they told – also blossomed during this period, when he took on a freelance job doing translations for a feature-length documentary.
His passion for making documentaries stems from his obsession with inspirational stories, and his desire to share these stories with the world through film. And the one tale that this storyteller has yet to tell – but deeply wishes to one day – is about the beautiful culture of his hometown, Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.
Feature film: Push To Inspire
“Push to Inspire” is Jing Yan's debut short documentary, and the 15-minute film takes audiences through one man's inspirational journey of qualifying for the Paralympics in his racing wheelchair. That man is Daniel Lee, a Malaysian athlete who was born with extremely brittle bones, making walking impossible. This heartwarming documentary showcases how one competitor's efforts are also inspiring many others across the country – both disabled and able-bodied alike – and creating ripples of change across communities.
Filmed during the pandemic-ridden year of 2021, the shoots were plagued with logistical challenges. But Jing Yan's passion for the project, and his desire to share Daniel's story, spurred this film to the finish line – and to a winning spot at the celebrated World of Film 2021.
Read about filmmaker Jing Yan's personal journey to complete this award-winning documentary, and learn about his favourite shooting techniques and equipment here.
