Indie Film | Chan Is Missing (1982)

By Ted Barron, Ph.D | Executive Director, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, February 23, 2023

[About a 1 MIN read]

Two cabbies search for the mysterious Chan in Wayne Wang’s wry, observational portrait of early 80s San Francisco. The film heralded a wave of Asian American film production that continued throughout the decade. 

About the Series
Independent or “indie” film often refers to films produced or distributed outside the Hollywood studio system.  While many films labeled as indie experiment with form and content, many others are often low-budget productions that adhere to the conventions of Hollywood cinema. For this podcast series, we will be discussing a group of films that trace the development of American independent cinema from its early roots in neorealism to more contemporary hybrid forms.  We will consider the role of technology in this (r)evolution from 16mm film to digital video to iPhones.

Series Host: Dr. Ted Barron
Dr. Ted Barron is the Executive Director of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and Judd and Mary Lou Leighton Director of the Performing Arts. He teaches courses on global cinema history, documentary film, and German film.