March 7, 2019

Meet Matthew Cheung

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Cheung.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a family with a STEM-related background. Both of my parents are engineers, so there was a strong push for learning in those fields. However, in ninth grade, I took my first photography class and fell in love with it. From then on, that passion developed, and eventually, I discovered film. Although I was still interested in a multitude of subjects in school, I always tried to relate those back to my passion for film.

For example, I lead a service learning group that created a video for non-profit organizations and on different issues in the community, and I even started a club at my high school that brought together all kinds of artists (dancers, actors, musicians, filmmakers, etc.) to collaborate on projects together. For me, there was something unifying about film; it brought people together from all backgrounds and areas of study.

From that first class in photography, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in digital media in the future, and know I am studying Film Production in LA. From a STEM background I learned about problem-solving and critical thinking, and now I am integrating that into my artistic/creative studies.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Honestly, ever since I discovered film, it has been a pretty smooth journey because film for me, was a solution to one of my biggest struggles in life.

I am a more introverted individual, so it was hard for me to get my voice heard. However, when I discovered film, I also discovered my way to communicate with the rest of the world. So, once I found film, I also found a voice, and that was powerful for me and made life run much smoother.

In high school, I decided to make a film about this called, “Too Quiet” which follows an introvert trying to find their own voice in society. The hope of this film was to debunk the idea that introverts are just the quiet people who sit in the corner. Instead, they just have different ways of communicating with the world.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
My work is split into two different things: freelance work and personal creative endeavors. As a freelance videographer, I have worked with multiple companies in San Diego such as WorkPartners and the RIMS Chapter of San Diego to create marketing videos and campaigns. Instead of fictional storytelling, this is telling the story of a company: what problems they faced and how they are overcoming them to help other people.

For personal projects, I am always working on things. I enjoy creating videos for my YouTube channel, Matthew Cheung Films. These videos range from vlogs to narrative stories, to documentaries. Currently, I am working on creating film mentorship programs at local schools around me as well as a couple of music videos for other artists I know.

These personal creative endeavors are important for me because I not only see film as a hobby but as a tool. Watching films are one of the only times that we look at the world from a perspective other than our own. Film brings us closer together as humans, and I want to utilize that power in the right way. All of my work can be found on my Youtube Channel or Instagram page.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is leaving a positive impact on somebody. Although receiving money is always a plus, I get the greatest sense of fulfillment from people coming up to me and saying that photo or that video really stuck with me; it made me see something that I haven’t seen before. If I continue to create work that has this same impact on people, I will feel successful.

Contact Info:

Website: https://matthewcheung.smugmug.com
Email: mtttc2000@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewtcheung/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matthew-Cheung-Photography-1622338054763571/
Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUwHn5sc0oajRI3nHJsF2w

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