Two kayakers take on a once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island, paddling into relentless waves, unpredictable weather, and the uncharted depths of their fears. The duo finds themselves in a life-altering struggle against the elements. As their journey unfolds, a near-death experience forces them to confront the raw power of the open ocean, pushing the boundaries of their friendship, endurance and luck.
Filmmaking and photography have been Richard Chen’s passions since he was fifteen. He has worked across narrative and documentary films, art photography and photojournalism. His journey began in Vancouver when his grandfather gifted him a film camera as a child, which he still uses to this day. Richard’s love for storytelling led him to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he explored various creative approaches to the powerful medium of film. Through outdoor adventure filmmaking, he has combined his two greatest loves. His experience creating Beyond the Salish profoundly transformed his outlook on life, and now he hopes to share the lessons he learned on the life-changing journey.
William Chong is an adventure filmmaker and photographer from Hong Kong who discovered his passion for nature after moving to Vancouver, Canada. Immersed in British Columbia’s wilderness, he took up backcountry skiing, climbing, sailing, and kayaking. Driven by youthful eagerness and determination, he embarked on a daring 1,000+ km solo kayak journey through the iconic Inside Passage. This transformative experience deepened his appreciation for storytelling and brought him to cross path with NYU Film School graduate, Richard Chen. Together, they created Beyond the Salish, a film capturing the outcome of youthful optimism coming face to face with the raw power of Mother Nature. As a UBC Sauder School of Business graduate, William combines business acumen with creative vision, crafting inspiring stories that showcase resilience, adventure, and the profound connection between humanity and the natural world.
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