It’s Bigger Than Me: Seeing Asian Australians Make Their Mark on the World’s Biggest Screens

Being featured alongside some of Australia’s biggest Asian talents reminded me that none of us got here alone.

The first thing I thought when I saw The Seed Network’s feature wasn’t, “Wow, I’m on the list.”

It was…

“Wow… look how many of us there are now.”

For a long time, it felt like Asian Australian success stories in Hollywood were isolated. You’d hear about one actor landing a big role or another filmmaker breaking through, but rarely did you see everyone together in one place. Seeing this collection of artists reminded me that we’re no longer exceptions. We’re part of a growing generation of creatives contributing to some of the biggest films and television shows in the world.

To be included alongside people like James Wan, Chris Pang, Remy Hii, Shiori Kutsuna, Dichen Lachman, Desmond Chiam, Geraldine Viswanathan, Yerin Ha, Leonardo Nam, Mel Jarnson, Ana Thu Nguyen, Jordan Rodrigues, Martha Millan, Natali Mendoza and Pallavi Sharda was incredibly humbling. Every one of them has taken a different path, yet together we’re helping reshape what audiences around the world see on screen.

And somehow, amongst those incredible names, was me.

Not because I starred in a billion-dollar franchise.

Not because I suddenly “made it.”

But because I’ve spent the last twenty years refusing to stop creating.

My journey has never really followed the traditional roadmap. I didn’t wait for Hollywood to discover me. I didn’t have an agent opening doors or studios lining up projects. Instead, I kept making films, teaching workshops, running community events, building relationships and finding people who believed in creating something bigger than themselves.

Teaching at the Actor’s Academy in Las Vegas

Looking back, I realise that’s become my real career.

Yes, I’ve acted. I’ve directed. I’ve produced. I’ve written. But the thing I’m probably proudest of isn’t a credit on IMDb — it’s the communities that have formed because people came together to make films.

When we made *Echo 8* for just US$6,500, people thought we were a little crazy. Friends volunteered their weekends. Cast and crew wore multiple hats. We borrowed equipment, shared meals and somehow pulled together a feature film. What none of us expected was that one film would grow into an entire trilogy and introduce hundreds of people to filmmaking through workshops, community screenings and collaborative productions.

That’s where my passion for what I now call community-powered filmmaking really began.

The idea isn’t about replacing the film industry. It’s about reminding people that stories don’t only come from studios. They come from neighbourhoods. From families. From community halls. From people who’ve never imagined they could step onto a film set until someone invites them.

That’s why this recognition means so much to me.

It’s not simply celebrating an individual achievement. It acknowledges that there are many ways to build a career. James Wan built one of the most successful filmmaking careers in modern Hollywood. Actors like Shiori Kutsuna, Remy Hii, Geraldine Viswanathan, Yerin Ha and Desmond Chiam have become familiar faces in global productions. Others have quietly built remarkable careers across television, streaming and independent cinema. Every path is different, but every one of them adds another chapter to the story of Asian Australians on the world stage.

I don’t compare my journey to theirs.

Instead, I find it inspiring that there isn’t one definition of success anymore.

For me, success is seeing someone attend their first filmmaking workshop and later direct their own film.

It’s watching volunteers become producers.

It’s seeing actors discover confidence they never knew they had.

It’s connecting people who eventually become lifelong collaborators.

It’s proving that communities can create extraordinary work together.

That’s why I’ll keep talking about community-powered filmmaking wherever I go — whether that’s Western Sydney, Las Vegas, Sundance Collab or anywhere else that believes stories have the power to bring people together.

So thank you to The Seed Network for including me amongst such inspiring company.

Congratulations to everyone featured. You’ve helped show the next generation of Asian Australian creatives that there isn’t just one seat at the table anymore — we’re helping build the table ourselves.

And tomorrow?

It’s back to work.

Back to writing.

Back to teaching.

Back to making films.

Back to building communities.

Because I still believe the future of independent filmmaking won’t be powered by gatekeepers.

It’ll be powered by people.

One story, one collaboration and one community at a time.

About the Author Maria Tran is a Vietnamese-Australian filmmaker, actor, and founder of Phoenix Eye Films, working between Sydney and Las Vegas. With over 15 years of experience as an independent filmmaker and educator, she creates bold, action-packed films like the Echo 8 Trilogy while championing culturally diverse, community-led storytelling. Her work blends psychology, grit, representation, and DIY hustle to inspire the next wave of filmmakers.