Episode 29 - Ann Kaneko & Jin Yoo-Kim - “We Are the Children”
Photo Credit: Todd Gray
[Image Description: Ann is pictured from the chest up. She wears a black, long-sleeved top and a gold necklace. Her black hair is cut into a short bob and her head is titled slightly to the side. She looks to the camera as she stands against a beige and white blurred background.]
Photo Credit: Jin Yoo-Kim
[Image Description: Jin is pictured from the chest up. She wears bright red lipstick and has shoulder lengthed black hair. She wears a graphic print shirt that has a black background with swirly, multi-colored shapes. She stands against a white background in front of some foliage.]
In this episode, I speak with director, producer, and writer Ann Kaneko and producer Jin Yoo-Kim about their latest project, Manzanar: Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust. We chat about Ann’s very impressive matchmaking skills, their work on K-Town ‘92 and their reflections of the 1992 Rebellion, and how they successfully weaved the stories of environmentalism, the Indigenous, and Japanese-Americans into a beautiful tapestry. This episode’s song is classic, “We are the Children” by Chris Iijima, Nobuko Miyamoto, and "Charlie" Chin. The song was one of the first bits of artistry that defined the Asian-American identity. And the chorus is a call for all of us to unapologetically embrace every aspect of our beings. It reads, Sing a song for ourselves, What have we got to lose, Sing a song for ourselves We’ve got the right to choose.”
Episode 20 - Victoria Thomas - “Survivor”
[Image Description: Victoria is pictured from the torso up and sits in front of a starry, black background that is just out of focus. Her hair is slightly longer than shoulder length. She wears a red and black blouse and red lipstick. She smiles at the camera.]
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and educator Victoria Thomas. In our conversation, we chat about her latest project, Born in New York, Raised in Paris, her teaching at the London Film School, the production company she founded, the Polkadot Factory, and the challenges of navigating a documentary and narrative film industry rooted in a white supremacist work culture that is resistant to change. Because just like many Black women, Victoria finds being in these spaces can be taxing and exhausting, to say the least, this episode’s song is Destiny Chid’s “Survivor.”
Episode 16 - Elegance Bratton & Chester Argenal Gordon - “Solid”
Photo Credit:
[Image Description: Chester and Elegance stand next either in front of a reddish, brick wall. A window reflects the image of brick wall across from them. Chester wears a long black coat his had is turned slightly to look at Elegance. Elegance wears a knit cap, sun glasses, and a long, tan coat. He looks into the camera. They both have their hands in their pockets.]
In this episode, I speak with writer and director Elegance Bratton and producer and costume designer Chester Argenal Gordon. In our conversation, we chat about how they met, their latest documentary project Pier Kids. and the joys and strength needed to stay true to themselves and their protagonists’ stories and voices. Because they are my favorite power couple, this episode’s song is Ashford & Simpson’s classic, “Solid as a Rock.”
Episode 13 - Denise Hamilton - “We Shall Not Be Moved”
[Image Description: Denise Hamilton is pictured from the torso up. She was an aqua colored button down shirt, tortoise-shell glasses, and a black folded scarf around her head that has white lettering and pink, blue, and yellow graphics. She smiles slightly as her chin rest on her hand.]
In this episode, I speak with educator, filmmaker and former co-chairperson of BADWest: Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers - West, Denise Hamilton, In our conversation we talk about BADWest, her latest doc/interactive project Race Relay, and what it’s like to be educating the next generation of international documentary filmmakers at the New York Film Academy. Because Denise and her family has deep ties to the Black liberation movement that go all the way to Mary McLeod Bethune, the song for this episode is Mavis Staples rendition of the gospel classic, “We Shall Not Be Moved.”