"Coming out of the breakfast shop, the sky was just turning light. A few of us sat on a bench by the lake, holding our laptops to record the final sound clip—early morning birdsong—for our audio assignment. During the required two minutes of silence, time seemed to stretch endlessly. We stared at each other in suspense, until someone's stomach suddenly growled and ruined the recording. We had to start all over again."
Chen Yu
Class of 2025, Department of Film, Television and New Media
Offer: MA in Film and Media Studies Program, Columbia University
For Chen Yu, Class of 2025, a student from the School of Culture and Creativity (SCC) at BNBU, such moments are the memories she cherishes most.
Driven by her passion for film and television studies, Chen spent four intense years filming, researching, and writing. Lately, she has been exploring the integration of AI and cinema. Her advisor, Dr Li Qi, notes: "In an age where a 'go easy' ethos prevails and other students often drop courses that challenge them, Coraline Yu Chen exemplifies a 'go hard or go home' mentality. It is precisely this rigorous approach to learning that allows her original thought about film to flourish—an intellectual standard truly befitting a top-tier university student." That spirit helped her earn an offer from Columbia University to pursue a master's degree in Film and Media Studies.
Chen in student filming crews
Chen sees her biggest growth not in the films she made but in who she became. "I've learned to express myself more openly and listen more patiently," she says. Once a "stubborn rookie director," she resisted conventional techniques. But during her third film, she included some "textbook" shots taken by her cinematographer. "I realised films need room to breathe, and rhythm matters just as much as meaning."
Over time, Chen came to value both innovation and industry wisdom, blending them in her creative process. Directing also brought her confidence: "When no one knows how a project will turn out, the director must believe in himself/herself first." That belief was nurtured by her BNBU community with supportive teachers and encouraging friends who helped her embrace imperfection and grow.
Looking ahead, Chen is keeping her options open: she may continue directing, dive deeper into film theory, or further explore how AI can optimise filmmaking. "At BNBU, I took courses in philosophy, sociology, and AI. They helped me see film in broader, more human-centred ways."
As her journey at BNBU ends, Chen Yu steps into a wider world of light and shadow, ready to keep exploring, frame by frame.
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu, Koga Song
Photos provided by the interviewee
