A graduate in printing from Shih Hsin University, he has worked as an assistant director, lighting technician, art director, cinematographer, and producer, working through the 1980s--Taiwanese cinema's golden age--and the 1990s, when VHS tapes ruled and Hollywood films took the throne. Now, when locally made films account for less than 1 % of the market, Chen has finally decided to make his directorial debut with Island Etude.
畢業於世新印刷科的他，從場記開始，一路歷經助導、燈光、美術、攝影和製片等工作。走過台灣電影工業「最好的時光」的 1980 年代，以及 1990 年代錄影帶盛行和好萊塢影片大舉入侵的低迷，他選擇在國片整體市場占有率低於 1 % 的極劣勢環境中，執導了自己的第一部劇情片《練習曲》。