Although the words ‘Hollywood’ and ‘Malaysia’ are not usually synonymous with each other, there is no denying how much of an impact Malaysians have made on the showbiz circuit in recent years, whether it’s Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh or Emmy-winning comedian Ronny Chieng or dashing leading man Henry Golding.
However, we cannot forget about the many anak Malaysia working behind the scenes, like Rachel Tan, a Seremban-born film producer. The trajectory that led her here is as remarkable as the work she currently does, having started in University of Cambridge, where she trained as a lawyer.
From there, she found her way into pageant life when she took part in and became the first Malaysian to win the prestigious Miss Chinese International pageant. Since then, she has leaned into her love for filmmaking and carved out a career as a producer. At the same time, she has stayed true to her law school roots by running an entertainment law firm, all on top of being a wife and mother to two kids.
Read on to discover how Rachel made the switch from law student to beauty queen to producer, how she is giving Malaysian culture a platform in Hollywood and what she does to stay connected to her roots.
Beauty Queen Turned Hollywood Producer
Rachel’s professional journey can be summed up in one word: reinvention. Starting as Miss Malaysia and later becoming the first Malaysian to win the prestigious Miss Chinese International pageant, she initially pursued law to fulfil her family’s aspirations.
However, a summer break pageant competition during her first year of law school sparked her love for the entertainment industry. What began as a stint in front of the camera eventually evolved into a full-fledged career behind the scenes, producing films that challenge stereotypes and showcase talents from Malaysia and Asia at large.
Rachel’s transition from talent to producer was fuelled by her desire to shape the narratives she once performed. “As a former talent, I deeply empathise with talents and creatives. I know what is important to them, and I fight for them,” she explained.
Together with her husband, Dan Mark, she co-founded King Street Pictures in 2016, a production company that focuses on creating multi-layered roles that defy Hollywood stereotypes and showcasing authentic stories about the Asian community. Since its inception, King Street Pictures has produced six movies, four of which Rachel worked on.
One of them, Sight, is based on the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, who founded the amniotic membrane contact lens, a technology that restored sight to millions of people around the world. The film premiered to great success in the U.S., with screenings at over 2,000 cinemas in the country and RM32.8 million in box office earnings.
Also on King Street Pictures’ roster are two movies in the works, one of which may be Rachel’s most personal project yet.
Spotlighting Malaysian Culture in Hollywood and at Home
Worth The Wait, a romantic comedy, was partially filmed in Kuala Lumpur — a choice Rachel made to spotlight the vibrant beauty of her home country on the global stage. “We would love to see more talent and stories from Southeast Asia being featured in Hollywood, [and] that is why we [partially filmed the movie] in KL,” she said.
In 2023, the film generated considerable buzz during production when its lead actress, Lana Condor posted a picture with her onscreen love interest, played by Ross Butler, in front of Batu Caves.
Aside from its familiar setting, the movie is also close to Rachel’s heart due to its inspiration source.
“It was inspired by our own long-distance relationship between the US and Malaysia,” said Rachel.
Beyond the screen, Rachel is dedicated to instilling Malaysian cultural pride in her children, Sophie, 9, and Joshua, 3. While she lives in the U.S., she makes frequent trips back home, ensuring her kids are immersed in their heritage through food, traditions and time with extended family.
Mentorship for Aspiring Filmmakers & Pioneering Change
For all her success, Rachel has not forgotten to pay it forward. Currently, she is mentoring two recent Asian American graduates as they navigate the film industry, offering invaluable insights and support. “It’s great to see the pieces come together for them and to pass knowledge on to the next generation of producers and filmmakers,” she said.
Besides that, Rachel also hopes to introduce more positive aspects of Malaysia’s film industry to Hollywood. While she has been the only female producer in almost all the movies she has made, she observed that things were different back home.
“I met with a few female producers recently, and they told me that there is no problem with lack of representation of women (in Malaysia). If so, Hollywood should learn from Malaysia,” she stated.
When asked about advice for aspiring filmmakers in Malaysia, Rachel had this to say: “One thing that I always try to remember is that when God closes a door, He opens a window. There is so much rejection in our industry.” As such, she advised that one should not be too disheartened when something comes to an end, be it an opportunity, a dream, fame or even a career path. “When it is yours, it will be yours.”
Leveraging MyHeart’s Reach to Amplify Malaysian Stories
On the subject of what she would like to achieve with MyHeart, Rachel shared that it would be interesting to connect with fellow Malaysians in entertainment to collaborate on projects.
Having been back home recently to attend the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFEST) and connected with many homegrown award-winning filmmakers, she said an online platform would be helpful in meeting new collaborators from Malaysia from wherever she is.
If the right project from a fellow Malaysian comes along, Rachel shared that she would be excited to support it with her company’s local and US network to give it an international platform. Ultimately, she and King Street Pictures hope to bridge the East and the West to showcase Malaysian talent in Hollywood. “With more support from our country and its people, we can share our beautiful culture and country with the world,” Rachel said.
Looking to connect with Malaysians abroad like Rachel? Sign up with MyHeart today to get started.
