My name is Hansel Chen, and I’m an international student and independent filmmaker with a deep passion for aerial cinematography.

I started flying drones at the age of 16. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the production of several nationally recognized documentary projects, as well as travel films and visual storytelling works. Aerial filmmaking has been my way of understanding cities, landscapes, and human presence from a different perspective.

Last year, I began working on my first personal independent project, filmed in Chongqing, China. Chongqing is a city unlike any other. Its vertical structure, layered transportation systems, dense architecture, fog, neon lights, and constant movement make it feel inherently futuristic. Many people describe it as “cyberpunk,” but to me, it is also deeply human.

This project is not a conventional drone video.

My goal is to combine real aerial footage with extensive visual effects and design, transforming a real city into a cinematic vision of the future while keeping it grounded in reality. Every frame is built on real footage, enhanced through careful VFX work, world-building, and visual storytelling.

The filming and editing stages are now complete, and the project has entered post-production, where most of the visual effects work takes place. This stage is also the most time-consuming and financially demanding.

I am raising funds to help cover:

Visual effects production and rendering costs

Software and technical resources required for VFX work

Completing the final cinematic version of the film

Once finished, I plan to submit this project to international film festivals and aerial filmmaking competitions, including major drone and creative film competitions.

Your support will directly help bring this project to completion and allow this independent film to reach a wider audience. Every contribution, no matter the size, genuinely makes a difference.

Thank you for supporting independent creators and visual storytelling.

Here is a preview shot of a part of the film which is based on real footage mixed with VFX.

VFX Breakdown: