Asians Doing Everything

Name Erman Baradi

Location Los Angeles, California, USA

What do you do?

I am Asian American and was named Top Networker in Hollywood by The Huffington Post in November 2016. I am a screenwriter mostly known for producing Hollywood panel and mixer events as well as mentorship contests.

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Website: thefilmempire.com

Twitter: @erman_la

Instagram: @erman_la

Contact

[email protected]

Name Kelly Huang

Location Minneapolis, MN, USA

What do you do?

I'm a Lao/Chinese American filmmaker in the Minneapolis area. I'm mostly known for my documentary films. I'm also a full-time Video Producer at a tech startup, a part-time wedding videographer, a part-time production assistant for a community TV station and part-time travel blogger (it’s my new found hobby). My biggest struggle has always been me trying to prove myself as an artist. I feel like I have to go an extra mile and then some to prove my worth because I am a girl but also an Asian girl. I think that’s why I have so many jobs, because subconsciously if I stop the hustle then I’m going to be irrelevant. There's also a stereotype that girls in the film/video industry aren't girly, I'm girly. I'm a great hardworking artist that's girly, but times are changing and I can see this change slowly start to happen in the industry.

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Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user31313126

Website: kellyhuangfilms.com

Travel Blog: wordlytravels.com

Twitter: @kelly__huang Instagram: @huangkellster Facebook (artist page): https://www.facebook.com/Kellyhuangfilms/ Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/kelly.huang.1428

Contact

[email protected]

Name Lucy Sheen

Location London, UK

What do you do?

Abandoned in Kowloon Hong Kong transracially adopted in the late 50s early 60s. A dyslexic who is still trying to fathom out how exactly you use a dictionary! Lucy is an actor/writer/Filmmaker and transracial adoptee advocate. Most recent acting roles BBC’s  “Call The Midwife” and “The Royal Shakespeare Company”.

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IMDb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790686/ Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/LucySheen Filmfreeway https://filmfreeway.com/projects/410409/ Twitter @LucySheen Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/ActorLucySheen/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucysheen/ Amazon Author https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00FTH95Q4 Poets Haven "Ungrateful-A Paper Daughter (Lucy's first book of poetry) http://boutique.poetshaven.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20&product_id=138 Jago & Litefoot https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/jago-litefoot-series-13-1584

Contact

[email protected]

Name Keerthika

Location Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

What do you do?

I blog about financial wisdom drawing upon my experience with building businesses and investing.In the initial days, I had to struggle with being seen as originating from a poor geography full of online scam artists. 7years later I'm considered an authority and thought leader on the subject.My articles are cited in academic papers in leading international universities, featured in books, quoted in newspapers from across the world, rank one on Google for various topics etc. In fact these days, I'm invited along with leading newspapers to major press conferences.

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Website: https://wealthymatters.com/

Twitter: @wealthymatters

Instagram: @wealthymatters

Contact

[email protected]

Name Loretta Chao

Location Queens, NY, USA

What do you do?

I'm a journalist who left my job as a foreign correspondent and business and tech reporter at The Wall Street Journal to start TheSexReporter.com, a website for sex positive journalism. I publish articles and videos with objective news and analysis on all issues pertaining to human sexuality, including business, technology, science and education. The goal is to normalize objective, well-informed conversations about sex in a culture where it is too-often treated as something shameful and dirty.

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Website: https://thesexreporter.com/about/

Twitter: @lorettachao

Instagram: @thesexreporter  

Contact

[email protected]

Name Sarah Harris

Location Los Angeles, CA, USA

What do you do?

I am a writer (with a day job at a university). I always struggle between the practical and creative sides of me - doing what it takes to stay employed to raise my kids and keeping the creative side of me engaged. I am surrounded by people who have learned how to make a living off their creative skills and either yet didn't trust my skills, dedication or the source of my creativity to make a steady living from it. I am shaping my life and writing now to work towards the shift and my goals aren't financial but more on a connective level. Tapping into my experiences with life-being a Korean adoptee and a single mom, etc. - I want to help foster connections and support for others. We are all here together and it's a better world when we support each other!

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Website: www.makesmewander.com

FB: www.fb.com/sarahh52 Fb: www.fb.com/makesmewander Twitter: @wanderwithsarah Inst: @wanderwithsarah

Contact

[email protected]

Name Jia Sung

Location Brooklyn, NY, USA

What do you do?

I am an artist and educator, born in Minnesota, raised in Singapore, now based in Brooklyn. Questions of identity and belonging are central in my practice, and my interest in animal symbols and literature drive my work, through projects ranging from paintings, zines and poetry comics, to murals. Since graduating from RISD in 2015, I’ve done editorial illustration for clients including TED Talks, Lenny Letter, Nautilus, and shown work at the RISD Museum, the Whitney Houston Biennial, La Mama Galleria, and Wook + Flavio. Currently, I am art fellow at Guernica Magazine, a selected muralist for the O+ art activism festival this year, and the inaugural Teaching Artist in Residence at the Museum of Chinese in America.

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Website:Jia-sung.com

Twitter: @jiazilla

Instagram: @jiazilla

Contact

[email protected]

Name Chris Lam

Location Los Angeles, CA, USA

What do you do?

I'm a video producer, YouTuber, writer, and host to name a few. I think within my work, the biggest challenges I've had was making pieces with and about other communities other than my own. But every time I have taken them on, I have gotten so much more than I have given.

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Website: chrislam.video

Twitter: @onewingedchris

Instagram: @onewingedchris

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/onewingedwannabe

Contact

Name  Pascal Thai

Location Paris, France

What do you do?

I am a webseries creator, I studied and worked in animation films. I aim to give more representation to Asians in France and worlwide. Asians are diverse, have different lifestyles and hobbies, Asian actors have few opportunities in France so in my latest project, the webseries 'Un Sens à la Vie' (which will be subtitled in English, the trailer is already available) there are several Asian actors.

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Twitter:Un sens à la vie@UnSensALaVieWS

 Instagram: @pascal_thai 

Facebook: Thai Skwan Do

Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5817582/

Contact

[email protected]

Name Yu-Han Chao

Location  Merced, California, USA

What do you do?

Born and raised in Taiwan, I am a writer, educator, martial artist, mother, and nurse. My biggest struggle as well as accomplishment has been juggling and transitioning between multiple identities, both culturally and professionally. I write about everything: Taiwan, Asian-America, martial arts, science, motherhood, and medicine. The Backwaters Press published my poetry collection; Dancing Girls Press, Imaginary Friend Press and Boaat Press published my chapbooks. My short story collection, Sex and Taipei City, is forthcoming with Red Hen Press in 2019.

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Website: www.yuhanchao.com

Contact

[email protected]

Name Sky Bruno

Location  Honolulu, HI

What do you do? I am Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, and Caucasian and was born and rasied on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i.  I plan to major in filmmaking this fall at the University of Hawai'i, Mānoa.  My art [photography & filmmaking] has to do with preserving my culture and providing an accurate representation of it to the public eye. I wouldn't consider myself to be creative. I am constantly reinventing ideas into something bigger and seeking inspiration from my surrounding community. I feel that creativity is more so a combination of hard work and learned skill vs. a natural knack for something. It’s the same picture format with a different story. I am a story-teller and have something to say through my art. 

-sky's creative endeavors also range from ceramics to screen printing-

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Instagram: @sky.bruno

Contact

[email protected]

Name Danielle Yen

Location  Los Angeles, CA

What do you do?

Actress/Model/Writer. Self-starting Taiwanese, Mandarin, and English speaking professional who is results driven with over 2.5 years of experience in the fashion and film industry in several different countries. ✓ Runway model for London, New York, and Paris Fashion Week. ✓ Actress in major projects and face of Sony Xperia Z3 and Dyson Supersonic global campaign in 2015-2016. ✓ Director of PR and Marketing at Windows of Formosa Film Festival. ✓ Columnist/Writer at Commonwealth Magazine, Crossing. ✓ Founder of Alist Studio

More  Website http://danielleyen.wixsite.com/official/about-me

Contact Facebook: Danielle.yen #Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleyen/ #Instagram: https://goo.gl/4ZNVDN #Twitter: https://goo.gl/ELUje #YouTube: https://goo.gl/ENeDIO #Website: https://danielleyen.wix.com/official #Column: https://goo.gl/7MeoPm

Name Kim Parker  

Location Houston, TX, USA

What do you do? I published a memoir/self-help book detailing how I was a refugee of the Vietnam War, immigrant to the U.S., sponsored by a Christian church, helped by social workers, and later became a Christian social worker and therapist. I also ended up marrying a white Southerner from my sponsor church, became mom to three boys, and am now addressing interracial marriage and multicultural issues in parenting. I'm also interested in being a bridge for racial reconciliation work.

More  Website 

Contact FB: @kimparkerlcsw (author page) Twitter: @kimparkerlcsw Instagram: kimparkerlcswauthor

Name Jessica Nguyen

Location Boston, MA, USA

What do you do? I am the host of Project Voice, a Podcast series dedicated to increasing visibility on narratives from Asian/Asian American women. The entire project was a huge step for me as an online content creator because it required me to use something I grew up feeling very self-conscious about: my voice. So, having to step outside my comfort zone to articulate the feelings and experiences of a community that I am a part of was worth it because it was also a community that I really care about. There may always be social injustices happening to our community and all over the world during my lifetime. However, I find that the bigger issue that I have in life is about how people react to these injustices caused by the systems rather than the systems themselves. For that reason, I don't think I will ever stop creating.

More  Project Voice

Contact @projectvoiceaaw on Twitter and Instagram

Name David Pham  Location Los Angeles, CA, USA What do you do? I am an aspiring physical therapy student that graduated college in 2013. Now that I am finished with my classes and waiting to apply for my doctorates, I continue to follow my photography which I plan on continuing through the health industry. I fill my time volunteering at skilled-nursing facilities, outpatient clinics and work full-time for a outpatient clinic as well as a home health office. There are so many stories that patients want to share. When I have the platform, I will let the patients share their stories through my photography. More  Portfolio

Contact @davepham.pizza on Instagram 

Roxy Shih is back on our blog as the Festival Director of the Taiwanese American Film Festival. See her interview below - 

In the Field with Roxy Shih (Festival Director, Taiwanese American Film Festival)

Interviewed by Lara Santos, Field Reporter

LS: When’d you start your work doing the work that you do? 

RS: I started making films and digital content in 2011 when I received the AWC grant from Visual Communications to make my film PLAY TIME. I had a brief career in post-production as an editor before I transitioned to producing full time. During that time I would still exercise my creative muscle by writing and directing a short film every year. Eventually, with the help and encouragement of my friends and family, I directed my first feature, THE TRIBE. Since then I've been steadily directing and producing - directing stories I'm empowered to tell, and supporting talented, emerging voices I see potential in.  

 LS: What were the influences in making your work come to life? Are there businesses, people, orgs, celebrities you admire or want to work alongside? 

RS: In terms of making the work come into fruition I would say I learn a lot from people who lead by example. My mentors, directors I have worked for - they have all taught me the process by showing me what works and doesn't work when it comes to making a project come to life. As a writer and creator I'm endlessly imaginative, but in terms of making the work itself come to life it's all from doing the work itself. Constantly failing, constantly learning, constantly growing. As for who I dream of working alongside, I would have to say Tom Hardy (because duh), Meryl Streep (more duh) and Tony Leung (super duh!). I would also love to watch Ang Lee work or if time travel were possible, go back in time to watch Hitchcock direct PSYCHO or Kubrick direct THE SHINING.

LS: Where do you see your relationship to AAPI communities in the years to come? 

RS: I want my relationship with the AAPI community to continue to flourish since it's where I got my start! It will always feel like home to me. So I hope that as I continue to grow in my craft and network that I continue to give back. I still remember that feeling when I had dreams to make films but felt that all the odds were against me. The AAPI film community was essential in helping me carve my path and provide opportunities for me to explore my voice. I hope to do the same with TAFF and hope to empower more storytellers and young filmmakers of the future. We can only move forward if we continue to support each other!

LS: What do you hope the impact of your work to be?

RS: It's an exciting time in Hollywood right now with so much discussion on the topic of diversity and inclusion. I've come to realize that impact doesn't have to be so "big picture," but impact can happen when you make the smallest of decisions as well. Personally, I look to hire diversity both in front and behind the camera, as well as fight for gender balanced sets. Even though it's small, the more it happens the more we normalize the idea of a female director, gaffer, or POC as the lead in an American story. Practice mindfulness and be conscious of your decisions, and then in the future our sons and daughters will have better opportunities to pursue their dreams. As for impact of content, I hope to tell stories that allow the world to realize how connected we are. That despite coming from different backgrounds and experiences, that our stories are quite universal. We are responsible for the stories we tell and I hope that with the work I leave on this earth I can open up more minds to discussion, open more hearts to one another without judgement.

LS: Anything you want to add? 

RS: Come to our film festival! :) And don't be afraid to follow your dreams.

The Taiwanese American Film Festival is this Saturday, July 8th at the Downtown Independent. Buy your tickets today: http://bit.ly/2tiYiy3

In the Field with Anthony Ma (Executive Director, Taiwanese American Film Festival) 

Interviewed by Lara Santos, Field Reporter

Lara Santos (LS): When’d you start your work doing the work that you do?

Anthony Ma (AM): I was in advanced drama in high school and during my junior year, my teacher cancelled a play and we were left without anything to do for 2 months. We were 20 actors just sitting there so I was like you know what, I'm gunna write a script, so maybe we can do a movie instead of a play and we did it. And from then on, I got hooked and continued writing and making films.

LS: What were the influences in making your work come to life? Are there businesses, people, orgs, celebrities you admire or want to work alongside?

AM: I wanted to be an actor ever since I saw Jim Carrey when I was 5 years old. That's when I was like I'm gunna be an actor for sure and started entertaining my friends around me. Once I saw Brokeback Mountain by Ang Lee, I was like woahhh you can really use films to inspire and not just entertain. It was Ang Lee that really showed me how important film can be and how to cultivate my voice in telling a story through film.

LS: Where do you see your relationship to AAPI communities in the years to come?

AM: I hope that I can be an influence for actors and even filmmakers. I really enjoyed cultural film festivals when I was a new filmmaker; it instilled confidence in me to tell my stories and created a platform where a community could inspire together. Especially now I feel like a door has opened where diversity is such a hot topic and its the perfect time where this community can really take advantage. Everyone's been trying to get a bite of the cake, so it's really important now to share our own stories. So hopefully I can be one of these voices that continues to help open more doors.

LS: What do you hope the impact of your work to be?

AM: For a kid later on to see someone like me onscreen and be like hey I can do that too because when I was growing up in Arcadia, I would always say I wanna be an actor, I wanna be an actor and my aunts and uncles would always be like oh okay and take it with a grain of salt, and it'd always sorta hurt, but that's because they've never seen an Asian person onscreen show that it could be possible. I hope that I can help change that perspective in the future.

LS: Anything you want to add?

AM: This Taiwanese American Film Festival is really special to me because as I was growing up as a young Asian American kid, everyone would ask me what are you and I'd say oh I'm Chinese, but as a child I would go back to Taiwan often and that was the culture that stuck with me. After creating this film festival watching all these Taiwanese films, it reminded me that there is a very diverse Taiwanese culture that deserves its own spotlight as well and it only adds to the amazing Asian American art form that we have and it just shows that there are so many of us with stories that have yet to be told and familiarized.

The Taiwanese American Film Festival is this Saturday, July 8th at the Downtown Independent. Buy your tickets today: http://bit.ly/2tiYiy3