This documentary explores the involvement of Chinese Americans during World War II[2][3] and premiered in 1999 at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The film explores the influence of mortality awareness on human behavior, drawing inspiration from the works of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker.

Shen's second feature-length documentary, The Philosopher Kings, examines the lives and wisdom of janitorial staff at universities such as Cornell, Princeton, and Duke.

Narrated by actor Don Cheadle, it follows Josue Lajeunesse, a janitor at Princeton University, as he returns to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to lead a project providing clean water to his village, La Source.

The film was nominated for the Social Impact Award at Silver Docs and highlighted Lajeunesse's efforts to bring clean water to his community.