Vanessa started her film career in China while teaching a graduate course on law and society at People's University (on a grant from the Ford Foundation) and completing her PhD at Columbia University. Fluent in Chinese, she has produced multiple films in China, including Wang Quanan's The Story Of Ermei (Berlin Film Festival), Chantal Akerman's Tombee De Nuit Sur Shanghai (Director's Fortnight Cannes Film Festival), and her own short films-China In Three Words, featuring Chinese author, Yu Hua (Palm Springs, Doc NYC), and China Connection: Jerry, with Jerome Alan Cohen (Palm Springs, Doc NYC). She directed and produced a web series for NYU's U.S.-Asia Law Institute called Law, Life & Asia. Her U.S. producing credits include the Oscar short-listed feature documentary William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe, by Sarah and Emily Kunstler (Sundance Film Festival). Vanessa's feature documentary directorial debut, All Eyes And Ears, premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.