The truth is as a filmmaker and as a person I am naïve. What I value more than almost anything is experiencing new things, new people, and new places. I spent some time travelling throughout Mexico and I fell in love with the country. I met and observed different people from all ends of the social stratosphere: from the poor children on the streets of Mexico City to the honest street vendors of Veracruz to the seedy nightlife of La Zona Rosa. What I saw was at times ugly and at times beautiful, but always true. This is what I will document on my future travels. These people deserve to be heard.
Once you start to see my work you'll notice my main character will almost always be of asian or pacific island descent and it is most definitely on purpose. As a Filipino American it is important to me to help reshape the representation of Asians in the media. We are not your model minority. Our men are not obedient effeminite or asexual and our women are not submissive or hyper-sexual. We each come from a people that have a rich history that is generally an afterthought in American education. This is something I am passionate about: giving a voice to Asian Americans.
Just a few of my favorite things -- drag queens, tough women, dysfunction, quietness, home countries,fashion, vibrant colors, static shots, and unanswered questions. Give me any mix of these, a camera, final cut, and I'm a happy boy.
Are you watching RuPaul's Drag Race? Any thoughts on Manila Luzon's challenge-winning performance last week? Very complicated stuff . . .
ReplyDeleteI took a class on Asian Americans that focused heavily on the Model Minority Myth. It was very eye-opening. It analyzed the stereotypes we have posited on Asian Americans. As you said, Asian American history is generally an afterthought in American education. This allows prejudices to linger. I am interested in expanding my awareness through your films!
ReplyDeleteCassie - Yesss I watch RuPaul's Drag Race. I actually appreciated Manila's performance. She was poking fun at a stereotype thats developed abou Asian Americans and Asians because of the media. In the end it struck an emotional response and she got to say what she wanted to say so yea I loved it. Ya know I was reading an article about Asian women who have interest in becoming journalists and news anchors and it talked about how when a woman is getting made-up to be on the news they are made to look like Connie Chung (famous journalist and news anchor) It's kinda sad how that is the only acceptable look for a person of Asian descent to have.
ReplyDeleteJustine - Yea I'm an Asian American studies minor here and it definitely opened my eyes to some of the issues they are faced with here in America. I recently saw a film called "Chan is Missing" that deals with issues of stereotyping Chinese and Chinese-Americans. If you're at all interested definitely check it out!
I've never understood the value in defining myself by my race, perhaps in reading your blogs i will understand whether or not it has any true bearing on identity.For the moment I am convinced its value is largely psychological.
ReplyDeleteI think it is purely personal and individual for a person to choose what he or she wants to identify with. What I think (Im not an expert) happens for minorities in the US is they grow to identify with their race because they experience common treatment because of their race whether it be positive or negative. Like if a person is a republican and they do not agree with democratic policies that are being enacted they might choose to identify with being a republican to voice their opinions. I think also for some people it reasons for identifying with different things are completely personal and may not make sense to anyone else which is no ones business really. Like for me I feel like I identify with being a Filipino-American because I grew up in a small WASP town in ct where my family was the only Filipino family around and I loved moving to NYC and getting in touch where my family came from and finding a sense of community here. Like I said too I feel strongly about Asian representation in the media and I do eventually want to pursue a career in media or film. Just think about the oscars coming up -- Can you even name how many actors or actresses of Asian descent have won or directors --few if any-- I dunno I find it interesting.
ReplyDeletei can very much relate to this, as i am also of a and feel like a marginilized minority in America. To be honest, as filmmaker, that will be my goal too, to eliminate the Asian sterotypes from mainstream media, and highlight it's rich cultures.
ReplyDeleteP.S. lets work together on this!
right on! this is a sweet artist statment..love the opening line and pretty much everything els about it, we are all niave to something or other in this world and being aware of the things we know little about is such a major catalyst in making you inclined to create art or express yourself in someway.
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