AAPI Heritage Month is more than a chance to learn; it’s an outcry for change
Only a few days into Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, the national coalition Stop AAPI Hate released a report stating that incidents against Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States are continuing to skyrocket during the COVID-19 pandemic. How many of our fellow Americans will read that report (or a similar one from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University)? How many will take action as a result? Audiovisual engagement – particularly through documentary filmmaking – provides an opportunity for those outside an issue to gaze into the eye of the storm.
In February, 2021, director Natasha Lee and producer Lucia Tran assembled an all-volunteer, all Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)-identifying crew to sit with AAPI documentary subjects, to learn about their experiences in America – and to capture their reactions to the disturbing – if too familiar – climate in which we find ourselves. On March 16, the mass shooting of six AAPI victims in Atlanta, GA, added to the emotional weight of the material and influenced the experience of making the film. The result is IN THE VISIBLE, a short documentary the filmmakers intend as a tool in the ongoing fight against white supremacy and its systematic, destructive manipulation of the AAPI community against other BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) communities as a ‘model minority.’
Lee, who is Chinese, was born in Penang, Malaysia. Her family moved to the Bay Area when she was 9 and she has traveled frequently between two worlds ever since. She headed to LA to attend Otis College of Art & Design and began her career in commercial production. Lee worked as a Designer/Art Director in broadcast design and entertainment at Troika Design Group, New Wave Entertainment and Midnight Oil, before pursuing photography. She transitioned into digital publishing as a Visual Director at Whalerock Industries, where she had the opportunity to direct branded content pieces for Acuvue and T-Mobile. Lee’s photography credits include Quibi, WarnerMedia, Condé Nast Traveler, The Wall Street Journal, Hemispheres Magazine and Food Network, complemented by directing assignments for RCI Vacations and Tahiti Tourism, on which she served as Director/DP.
“Although the presence of Asian Americans in advertising and film is steadily increasing, my experience thus far is being the minority on a lot of sets/projects,” said Lee. “Besides wanting to bring authentically diverse representation to the stories I tell, I also want to help uplift Asian crew members who may not have as many referrals because they haven’t had as many opportunities. I’m grateful for the support I have received in my journey so far and hope that we as an industry and society continue to move in a direction of embracing diverse storytellers as a way to keep shining light on underrepresented voices. Hopefully brands will be open to looking deeper into the many different Asian cultures and their nuances, so that Asians can see their actual lifestyles and cultures reflected accurately onscreen.”
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).
Marveling at the candid interviews in her film, Lee concluded, “I’m grateful to all the interviewees for putting their vulnerability on camera, as they processed and unpacked untold stories and deep-seated trauma from past and present events – and for believing that storytelling is the first step to addressing injustices.”
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