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Echoes of Silk and Tides: An Ethnic Introspection

This summer, as a 16-year-old, I ventured to Quanzhou, my mother's seaside hometown in southern China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What began as a casual family visit evolved into a profound exploration of a place brimming with cultural riches. Here, I discovered a rare religious harmony, a captivating blend of modernity and deep-rooted traditions, and an appreciation for finding beauty in the most unexpected of places. This ancient maritime emporium awakened my senses and unveiled the extraordinary within the ordinary, igniting a journey of self-discovery intertwined with my roots.

  • Cynthia Cai
    Director
  • Cynthia Cai
    Writer
  • Yunjie Chen
    Producer
  • Cynthia Cai
    Narrative
  • Cynthia Cai
    Photography
  • Yunjie Chen
    Photography
  • Hala El Solh
    Research Project Advisor
  • MingQuan Wei
    Editor
  • MingQuan Wei
    Director Advisor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 25, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    4,999 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    English, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The Kinkaid School
Director Biography - Cynthia Cai

Cynthia Cai is a junior in high school at The Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. She is in the Creative Writing Honors program, and has participated every year in Scholastic Art and Writing since the 8th grade. Throughout the years, she has received multiple Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions. She is published in "TRAPPED" and "HUNTED," two micro-fiction contests. However, this is her first time experimenting with writing a script for a documentary. She is also in Technical Theatre Honors and has worked many jobs since joining in 7th grade: Stage Manager, Assistant Director, Light-Board Operator, Sound-Board Operator, and Backstage Crew. She is finally venturing into filmmaking after many years of silent appreciation and a deeper knowledge of the inner workings of film through theatre. She looks forward to creating more projects like “Echoes of Silk and Tides: An Ethnic Introspection” in the future.

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Director Statement

I directed “Echoes of Silk and Tides: An Ethnic Introspection” to explore and confront the disconnect I felt from my own culture. My maternal grandparents and paternal grandfather were all born and raised in Quanzhou, making me three-quarters Quanzhou by heritage. Yet, despite visiting the city multiple times, I had never sought to understand its culture beyond the surface. When my mom announced we would visit Quanzhou again this summer, I decided it was time to change that. Determined to go beyond enjoying the food or reconnecting with extended family, I began researching the city. Through the UNESCO website and images online, I quickly realized how much I had overlooked, not just the historical significance of Quanzhou to the world, but also its deep importance to my own identity. Creating this film has been a journey of rediscovery, allowing me to reconnect with a heritage I had lost to time and distance.