Director Natasha Lee and Producer Lucia Tran Examine the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Experience in America
Short documentary film IN THE VISIBLE is now available on YouTube. Director Natasha Lee and Producer Lucia Tran assembled an all-volunteer, all Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) identifying crew in the days following the March 16, 2021, mass shooting of six AAPI victims in Atlanta, GA. Through the AAPI documentary subjects telling of their unique experiences of life in America, Lee and Tran look to dispel the 'model minority' myth and perception that those of AAPI descent belong to a monolithic culture. Furthermore, Lee and Tran see IN THE VISIBLE as a tool in the ongoing fight against white supremacy and the erasure of BIPOC American experiences from the American experience.
"Time and again we've seen the misportrayal of Asian Americans and other BIPOC on screen, and time and again we accepted it for what it was," said Lee. "But Vicha Ratanapakdee's death [by fatal assault in San Francisco on Jan. 28, 2021] made me see that it was time to reclaim our voice and tell our own stories. IN THE VISIBLE is about taking space and refusing to be invisible. Our many shades and cultures make us beautiful and vital to this life."
IN THE VISIBLE's subjects are Nithya Raman (South Asian American, LA City Councilwoman), Jake Choi (Korean American, Actor), Joy Cho (Thai American, Designer), Mas Yamashita (Japanese American, Retired), Tisha Alyn (Filipino American, Golfer), Sherry Cola (Chinese American, Comedian/Actress), Larry Sir (Cambodian American, Mechanic), Lindsay Watson (Hawaiian, Actress), Lien Ta (Vietnamese-Chinese American, Restaurateur), Benjamin Holtrop (Taiwanese American, Stylist), June Berk (Japanese American, JANM Volunteer), and Albert Tsai (Taiwanese American, Actor).
"We've pledged allegiance to this country, and being indivisible applies to ALL of us," said Tran. "Storytelling is step one in the process of addressing injustices, not just for our community. We join with other BIPOC creators to challenge the marginalizing and diminishing of our cultures, and the systematic, destructive manipulation by white supremacy of the AAPI community against other BIPOC communities as a 'model minority.'"
Watch IN THE VISIBLE on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tCkpkvuQTwg
For more information and ways to take action, please visit https://www.inthevisible.co.
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More