Stop Asian Hate
Really guys? We are STILL having these problems in the world? Why can’t we just all love each other and get along? Sadly, when there are people there will be conflict. People will fear things that do not understand. So it is up to us Asians and any other minority to showcase ourselves in the light that we want the world to see ourselves. Why should give our power to other people and wait for opportunities? We shouldn’t! We should be supporting each other, supporting each other’s work, celebrating it, and creating opportunities for ourselves.
Support your fellow Asian. Find out how.
Transcript
Adam Rani 00:22
Well, I'm ready to go. I'm just waiting on Miss Christine.
Christine Chen 00:27
strategically trying to put myself in a more visually pleasant. I'm at my friend's place. I mean, I'm always I'm basically always in everybody else's place but mine.
Adam Rani 00:38
I hope we can all hear each other. Right? We're coming in clear.
Eric Wuan 00:42
Yeah.
Adam Rani 00:43
All right, guys are clean and loud and clear, too. So, I'm just waiting on. Christine. Christine. You good?
Christine Chen 00:50
Yeah, I am good.
Adam Rani 00:51
Then, without further ado, let's begin. You guys. We've you know, we're here. This is the Get Reelisms, episode. 44. Ladies and gentlemen, I am Adam Rani.
Christine Chen 01:04
I am Christine Chen. There is a big announcement first, right.
Adam Rani 01:10
We do have a big announcement. Christine. Take it away.
Christine Chen 01:14
So instead of whining and complaining about how I don't have funding,
Adam Rani 01:18
That wasn't, God, Christine. I'm begging you now. Stop.
Christine Chen 01:25
I have it, I reeled it. That's all that matters. I raised. $100,000
Elizabeth Trieu 01:37
If anyone works hard, and it's noticed, it is you.
Christine Chen 01:43
It's Miss Christine Chen. That's right. The boss. You know I'm saying oh.
Christine Chen 01:50
Just so excited that we're making it, now have the problems, which is like this is not enough money.
01:57
Oh, well.
Christine Chen 01:59
I'm just excited that I have a budget. Oh, remember when I had no, I've never had a budget first. I've ever had a budget.
Adam Rani 02:06
Yeah. This is your first feature that actually has a finance budget.
Christine Chen 02:14
Yes. An actual
02:17
Not first feature ever though.
Christine Chen 02:19
No, not first feature ever. It was funny to sign. I emailed the group. And it was like Hey, and I almost wanted to write first ad and I was like, not your first AD. I'm actually the director this time like finally.
Adam Rani 02:36
Oh, shit. Oh, cool. DMX plays in the background.
Elizabeth Trieu 02:41
I wish I had like, sparklers or streamers or something?
Adam Rani 02:45
Well, let's, I mean, we got the next best thing, which is our guest. Christine, can you introduce them? Oh my god. This is every week with Christie. This is just like, Yeah, but hold on. I got to do something else. First. I got to send an email before we start the pod.
Christine Chen 03:06
I'm trying to share the podcast right now. But I am. I'm technologically challenged.
Adam Rani 03:12
I mean, yeah, I was waiting for you.
Christine Chen 03:14
44 times. Yeah.
Christine Chen 03:18
And then a few more before that.
Eric Wuan 03:23
You'll get you'll get the hang of it eventually.
Adam Rani 03:25
Yeah, we're gonna figure this out.
Elizabeth Trieu 03:27
You're also doing like a million things at once.
Christine Chen 03:30
This is also what's happening, that's the reality is more that I'm doing other things.
Adam Rani 03:37
Every time I asked Christine about the podcast every single week. She's like, Yeah, that's fine. We could do it Sunday, Saturday, whenever and I'm just like, okay, cool. And then we get there. And I hear Christine typing through the entire podcast. And I come back listening to the podcast and I'm like Christine, the whole entire audios you typing like, are you fucking kidding me? Like you're working the entire time. People are like, who is this person working?
Christine Chen 04:07
So, I had to
04:09
Yeah, that's the other part of it, too. Ladies and gentlemen, if you do if you if you haven't noticed by now, Christine has to be doing more than one thing because her time literally invests in it. Like there's only so much time in a day. And she has so much shit she has to deal with in the span of a few days.
Elizabeth Trieu 04:32
And she does it right now.
Jason Cates 04:34
She doesn't right now because she only listens to me like about 30% of the time anyway. So, it's just me vamping through the entire podcast
Christine Chen 04:43
100% of the time 30$ of the time.
Adam Rani 04:47
Exactly. So, for the last time, Christine, can you introduce our wonderful guests who's been waiting patiently?
Christine Chen 04:56
Yes. Okay, so first Elizabeth Trieu. Oh, my she's been my actress into my short films, the earth Hello, and six words. And now she's one of the leads in my film Erzulie, that we're actually going to shoot, it's gonna be awesome. I'm really, really excited. So, she plays violent in Eruzlie, and then we've got Eric. Eric Wuan, to Eric is one of my oldest friends. I knew him when he was when I was taller than him. Like what else? Basically, I actually did not like him when I first met
Eric Wuan 05:45
Not many people do.
Adam Rani 05:46
Oh, no, come on.
Christine Chen 05:49
He is a filmmaker, and he actually wrote the Earth globe with me. So that's that. And today we are doing our stop Asian hate podcast version. So, we got episode topic. So yeah. You know, I'm not extremely vocal person, when it comes to politics, I like to leave it more into the work that he creates little subtle commentaries and stuff like that, you know, yeah, all the all the other jazz. But there are times we're sure that we need to speak up as a community and as representatives of our community. So yeah, as I don't know of, I mean, we have experienced just behind him in front of the lens, how difficult it is for us to get opportunities in our industry. And luckily, we've been lucky to create those opportunities for ourselves. But more so beyond just filmmaking, and the industry itself. It's how we're treated now. In society, that really sucks. But you know, hearing grandma's being punched in the face, like, just before being Asian, and like, that's somebody's mom, you know, like, We're better than that. So, this is a lot of people have been asking, you know, what are certain things they can do to help? And, I mean, the first thing is, if you see that happening, shift to be like, you should be standing up for that person, not closing your doors, you know, this, not saying anything, and not standing up for somebody else is just as bad, as you know. Not you know, not vocalizing not doing something, but not doing is just as bad as doing, I guess, is what I'm trying to say, you know, so you are perpetrating the problem, which is that Asians are not being treated with respect, and equally like everybody else. So, I'm gonna stop talking. Let somebody else chime in.
Adam Rani 08:34
Yeah, anybody?
Elizabeth Trieu 08:36
I think we've just learned that silence is like complacency. And that's not a space that we live in or want to live in. And, you know, even so, I got to work with both Eric and Christine on the earth alone was such an amazing opportunity. Because I looking back, it might have been my first real female lead role in a short film, and I was so stoked, and also and also to be working with other Asian American artists because I grew up in Dallas and a very, you know, well to do predominantly Caucasian community and so, you know, it was my first real experience, kind of like, stepping into the shoes of my own body, but as a character and trying to understand that even though like the project was a sci fi ish piece, but still, there was so much to identify with being a an Asian American woman or just being a female, but especially as an Asian American woman. And then leading up to this podcast, I'd called Eric the day after the Atlanta attacks, and I was just like, uh, yeah, I don't I don't know what I'm supposed to feel. And I feel like you have you're you are a writer and you've got a really good voice and can you tell me how I feel? Um, you're not a woman but like I just, I don't know, I feel uncomfortable in my own body in my own skin. Like, I feel invisible, I feel angry, I feel all of these things. And Eric and I started talking about it. And then I called Christine because like, you know, we're trying to figure out Erzulie stuff, but then also like, Christine, like, what do you How are you feeling? Like, it's weird to have these side conversations, knowing that, like, there's something deep set within us where we're like, I don't, I don't know how I'm supposed to behave. But I would like to figure out how to take action and not be silent and acknowledge what's going on the community but also within myself.
Adam Rani 10:41
Yeah. And how about you, Eric?
Eric Wuan 10:45
I mean, I don't know, I think I feel like I've been talking about this and thinking about it every day for like, the last several months. And it's been it's been really difficult. I mean, it's, it's a time when, like Elizabeth said, it's hard for a lot of people to in the Asian in the API community to really absorb and process everything is happening. That's happening, because I think, you know, and I told her this, it's like, we're experiencing trauma right now. And I think what's unique about our trauma that as the Asian community is really, you know, we've been erased a lot from society. And I think that especially American and Western society, that it's, we've been marginalized to the point where we're not really thought about. And I think when that happens, we enter specifically racialized pain, I think pain in general, it's, you know, whatever. But I think racialized pain, especially. Even in the even in the aftermath of the Atlanta shootings, there's a whole debate about is this a hate crime? Are these even hate crimes? Should we consider all these hate crimes? And its sort of that when the knee jerk reaction to any sort of trauma that's being inflicted upon your community is, is it even real? Throwing out stuff, and it's like it can, it really affects us in a way where we're just, we're just numbing, I think that's racial dissociation. And I think that is really, I think that's what I am hoping for out of all of this is for us as a community to kind of look inwards, because I think there's so much, I think idea of stop Asian hate is a very, it is an important thing. But at the same time, it's so easy, you know, it's an easy, it's an easy hashtag to get behind, because I think the majority of people will look at it. And just like most things that are related to an effect, the Asian community specifically gloss over it, because it's like, you know, the reaction in the past, I'd like to see us really internalize, utilize our voices, be proud to be Asian, I think that's a really big thing. I've been having these conversations were people, even myself, and I think it's just something I've been dealing with, personally, is just that, you know, when you are, when you are part of such a marginalized community, you've internalized so much of the racism and hatred towards yourself so much to the point that you don't even know what is and what isn't affecting you personally anymore. And I think that for us, it's about yes, let's all kind of process this trauma together. But let's come out of it feeling a sense of unity and community and a pride. I think that comes with being Asian. I mean, I think that I think that I see too often, especially as somebody who works in Hollywood, that there is a tendency for creatives to want to avoid being labeled as an Asian creative. It's like I don't want to make Asian stuff. I don't want to be seen as the Asian person and its sort of like, funny to me, because I feel like when I see their VOCs, they are things that are necessarily part of that. But it's like, it's understanding and being, you know, attune to the fact that what you say what you do, what you create is important and should be reflective of who you are as a person and part of who you are as Asian. That's something that's, you know, never gonna go away. And I'm, I don't know, and I'm thinking beyond stop Asian hate, I think it's more of like, you know, it's about Asian love. And I think that's really like what I think we need to kind of bring out of this. So
Elizabeth Trieu 15:42
Oh, and for me personally, it's like, with work with auditions or whatever, in my whole life, like, I come from a unique home life where I had two legal guardians that were essentially my parents my entire life, but I was very much in touch with my biological father's side of the family. So, I had, you know, a window into seeing like, what my immigrant family, like, what they experienced what their lifestyles were, like, you know, home life, and yet I grew up, I grew up again, in a very, like a fluent, like, predominantly Caucasian, privileged environment. And so, for me, it's like, I've always kind of tried to blend in and whitewashed myself. And that was something that was really scary to me, because now that I'm experiencing these very traumatic emotional responses to what's going on. I mean, there have been questions of like, and especially with, you know, auditioning as an actor, it's like, what, am I not Asian enough? Am I Am I too Asian? Like, what does that even look like? Because they're all the different diasporas. And then, like, at the end of the day, I just end up feeling lost and not enough and kind of invisible. You know, and then trying to open up the conversation with friends, or feel it's like, an unfortunate, like, I'm mad, and I'm upset. And I don't know how to relate, because a lot of my friends, they just look at me, and they're like, well, we love you. Because we love Elizabeth. But you know, the Asian part isn't, you know, a fact. And I'm like, but it is because it's part of my identity. And I need you to see that, because it's part of the struggle. And Eric, will you share your metaphor of the body part? I love that. I can't do it justice.
Eric Wuan 17:41
I totally forget what the metaphor was. But
Elizabeth Trieu 17:46
Never mind.
Eric Wuan 17:47
I come up with metaphors on the spot. But
Adam Rani 17:50
Yeah, it has, in the moment, it plays many parts. But I've said something. Oh, sorry. No, go ahead. No, I was just saying that, to piggyback on the point that you just made about trying to fit in, and being someone else rather than just accepting for who you are, you know, instead of just, I wanted to ask, like, have there ever been in you can please chime in? Eric or Christine? Have there been times where you guys felt pressured to it? Like not, not necessarily, like push away the fact that you embrace the Asian culture, you know, however, but that was there any time where you had to, like, suppress it down for the sake of like, you know, your friends or people who you worked with or anything like that, because you're worried about X, Y, or Z, you know?
Eric Wuan 18:52
Yeah, I think I did that, admittedly, all the time. I mean, I'm not proud of it. But I know growing up, like and I'm not alone in this, by the way. That there is no but I mean, like, I think that there is this perception and I think we just grow up, like we're meant to feel intense amount of shaming, and, and like, just shame around, like who we are and who our parents are. I mean, there's so much of like, being in society, my parents are a certain way they're immigrants. And they have a certain set of values and they don't always align with Western values. And you know, when it was like, I was like, don't bring my friends over to the house because then they'll meet my parents and they'll think I'm weird. You know, apologize for my parents that they're saying certain things or acting a certain way it became this thing where it's like yeah, it's like definitely a subconscious thing where it's like you almost need to apologize for your you know, your family's existence like we are the way we are because and I'm sorry about that. And that's such a fucked-up way to think by the way, but I know growing up that was it because That is sort of the thing because like, I think that is part of. I mean, that is the that is the summarization of like, of what being Asian American diaspora is, right? It is this, you are between two different worlds, and you don't belong in either of them. And I think that is the thing is that we, like, I know, growing up, there was an immense amount of pressure, because I just wanted to fit in, I went to a school that was 96%, white, you know, and nobody understood anything, or any nuance about my culture, nor cared to really understand. But I wanted girls to like me, I wanted friends to like me, I wanted to have acceptance, I wanted to be cool, I wanted to fit in. And I think that in a way of, I've suppressed that, you know, a lot, and I think, even in my adult life, wanting to, you know, suppress that for the sake of, or downplaying it. But I think that's my whole thing is like, I'm so sick of that, like, I'm not, my parents are the who they are. And everybody's parents are fucked up in their own way. So, it's like, but it's like, you know, and, and, and it's like, but my parents worked so fucking hard to like, make it to where they are, and give me the opportunities I have. And I really like, the thing that that that, you know, breaks my heart is that I spent so much of my life hating my parents, because I believed that they were wrong about, about life and about the way they approach things. And I realized that it was just different, they always wanted what was best for me, right. And they always wanted me to be successful, to be happy. And they just expressed it in a different way. But because I was a part of this kind of very western Eurocentric into, you know, kind of society, very entrenched in this idea of individualism. I wanted to break away from that so badly. And I think there's such a racialized component to it, that I'm just starting to now come around to, but I don't know, Christine, you can, you can speak on that too, and how you feel about it.
Christine Chen 22:06
Um, I mean, I totally grew up, like, not, not able to fit in either, for sure. Um, mine, I feel like it was less so. Oh, I don't know, like, whether it was wanting to belong, or it was, it was that it felt like it was it goes both ways. Like, it also felt like my parents didn't care to understand why I wanted certain things from the Western culture, either, you know, and it was both not being wanting to include or mix the cultures that make us kind of just stuck in this middle. So, what I grew up with was like, oh, longing to go to prom without having to get in a fight about it, longing to go to a sleep over without having to get in a fight about it, longing to do extracurricular activities that every any other parent would have loved their kid to do, but somehow it's like, I was doing drugs or something. So that was my problem. My problem was luckily, I you know, I grew up where yes, it was 96 7% White to where I would but I always I was always around people that were very understanding for the most part like to saw me as me and really see beyond anything of that, you know, I've always been I definitely when I went to college was more open to the like, hey, Bri, my friends, you eat certain places that I parent, my we grew up, wanting to go eat out, you know, I don't like housing and stuff. So introducing the culture to like, my friends, I was definitely more like that, when I valued it more as I grew older, but you know, as a kid, my issue was always fighting this want to have my parents accept the fact that we live in the US and we have there are other values besides just traditional Asian values, you know, so that was more my fight. When you I really was drawn to you saying that this is not just a white people against or like non-non-Asian people against Asian people. This is a community thing as well as, like a need for community support. You know, so one of the big things that I have made, I know it's a generalization, but like, you know, the problem of you know, why are there why aren't there more Asian filmmakers out there, you know, and I was like, because Asian families don't support that. So, but a lot of Asian families don't support that. So that's an aura. Like, it's weird if I don't share much of my film, career success or any of that with my family I'm trying to try very hard to, but I feel like I'm speaking in a different language when I do. And I don't think it's taken seriously. Because it's not a Siri traditionally serious job, you know, but I feel like that's, I don't know, maybe that's not just an Asian thing, but just, there's got to be support within our community.
Elizabeth Trieu 25:46
Well, I think the sorry, I mean, but I think what's happening is, like, we're learning how to communicate about deep rooted trauma like that our parents and our family has experienced, like, even trying to live out this American dream, or, you know, trying to assimilate, because, you know, for my parents, my biological father, and my uncle came over as refugees when they were 16 and 18. And my dad wasn't old enough to live alone with my uncle, like in a, you know, being resettled in a home through International Rescue Committee. So, my, the director of IRC in Dallas, took in my dad, and he was essentially like, a sponsored like, foster kid for a couple years, and then had to get thrown into school and like, didn't know the language at 16. And, you know, just tried to get a quick education, and it didn't work out for him. And so like, just in terms of like, being thrown into America, like, now, it's time for you to figure it out and do it, there wasn't much direction. And I think like the struggle to get here, and then try and like, again, like live the American dream, start a family, like, keep your head down, and like, try and provide for your kids. Like, there was so much that wasn't talked about. And I like think about like, both my dad, my uncle, like, We're on a boat, like, they escaped from Vietnam to Thailand, and pirates jumped their boat, you know, and my uncle, like, he paid his prized possessions like under the motor of the boat, and like convinced them that like, you know, we don't have anything, but like, it happened twice, trying to escape and just situations like that, that like, as kids are, like, you know, trying to leave their native land And then come to America and just blend in, I think was really difficult at the same time. Like, they don't want to talk about some of the trauma that they experienced. And so, as kids, we didn't know what to do, and how to, like, understand our parents because they'd be like, no, like, with my cousin's, they went to Chinese school every weekend. Here I am, to your point of like, extracurricular activities, I got to live kind of like the white kid life where I'm like, I'm going to soccer games, drinking caprice sun or whatever and, you know, going to sleepovers and then I'll then I would go to my uncle and aunt's house, and my cousins would be sitting there with their Chinese homework, and I'd be like, what's up, you know, and in a way, I was like, what I want to be doing what they're doing, because I want to mimic them, but at the same time, like, I'm living a really cush life, you know, hanging out with my friends, not knowing who I am or what I am. So, it's like, I think we've all in a way like lived these like, dual personalities or lives, because we have to turn it on for our friends. And then we also have to turn on for parents and try and figure out like, how to make both parties happy.
Christine Chen 28:59
Mm hmm.
Eric Wuan 29:03
Yeah, it's its very code switching. I mean, I think that happens in a lot in all communities. Really? I mean, truthfully. I do think it is. I think it is very you know, yeah, I, I totally resonate with what you guys are sharing because I think so much of that was my struggle to was sort of like, how do you individualize yourself, but pay credence to like where you come from, because so much of Asian culture is rooted in. In community, right. It's rooted in family. It's, it's filial by nature. And that's just something that is diametrically opposite of what is here and here in America. It's like this. We it is individualism it is self. It is so much. And I think that I think that sort of like, I think that for me, like, I think we're the story is kind of turned is that, you know, how my how my how I've sort of shifted in a direction is sort of that, like, I just I think that that individualization at the sake of abandoning a lot of my, a lot of the values that I actually think are, are important, you know, to me, and what I believe, we're also being kind of left behind, for the sake of just wanting to break away from it, you know, and I think that's the damage, right, that's sort of the scary thing is that and the power of like, erasure in Western society, is that when you don't see yourself, when you don't see anyone else, like you, in a way, like you, you begin to abandon all the, all those other parts of you, because you just don't think that those have any social value. You know.
Elizabeth Trieu 31:11
What I found empowering right now, though, is knowing that, especially people our age, like first generation, Asian American, right, like, that's what I am. Knowing that the conversation is not only being had with our friends, and people that don't understand our, you know, our upbringings, and whatever, but also with our families and saying, like, I think it's time for everyone to speak up and talk about it. You know, it's like, I think for so long, I didn't understand the struggle of my parents and family and extended family. And then within the past five years, I'm so I'm so curious, I got to visit Vietnam, like I met, more family, but just like hearing, how they came to be why they ended up in a certain place, like, what refugee camps what countries they ended up before making it to America, how they ended up because I'm, you know, from Texas, like how they ended up in Dallas, or whatever. And not only hearing about how they got there, but like really investigating what their experiences were. Because I think, for so many of us, like, as much as we understand our parents, we don't, because they're just like, we're just trying to do what's best for you, and send you on your way and to be successful. Right. And so, I think it's so important now. And I think it's amazing to see like I went to a vigil and ombre and right after the attack, and just like hearing people, all different ages finally start to share their experiences. Because for so long, like I didn't know anything about what my relatives had had been through. In a very like.
Christine Chen 33:01
yeah. I think Asians in general had, have felt the need to just keep it like inside. And whether it's for their kids’ sake, or for, I think as a culture to I don't think they're just they're just not very vocal about sharing things. There's this concept of like, you don't want to burden somebody, right?
Elizabeth Trieu 33:29
Oh, totally. I and I, I'm a I've made myself a victim of that. Now. And I, when I identify, I'm like, no, I've got to deal with it. And I want to talk about it. And instead of being ashamed or push it down, I think it's really important that we acknowledge what it is. But, you know, I think there's something about the API can be worth, like, there's just so much respect, and I think everyone is for the most part, like we're a very gentle community. And so, in a way, you wonder why we haven't been able to openly talk about it, but I don't know if it's like permission or what but I've never felt like the permission to open it. We are now
Eric Wuan 34:12
Yeah, I mean, that's a very Yeah, I'll go ahead, Christine.
Christine Chen 34:16
It's I guess it's like I'm gonna because I my life is films, and I like to use films. When you're on set there are crew people who just complain, and they get what they want, and there are a people who at all, it's overlooked completely because they're, oh, they're not complaining, there's anything so they're fine. They must be fine. So, I guess if we think of it as we're not complaining, we're just expressing what we need and what we want to feel respected and seen and then the society in our society, then we See it from that perspective, then maybe that will help the community and us as individuals be better about the vocal of what we're experiencing. So, like Adam always helped me stop saying we're complaining of saying or whining and stuff. Like that's not it's being vocal about what we want and need to make us feel like we're part of the community as a whole.
Elizabeth Trieu 35:28
Adam, I've never met you until now. So nice to meet you. But I'm curious just listening to us. Like, what does it make you feel?
Jason Cates 35:37
I mean, here's the thing, like when the thing happened in Atlanta, I, I called my old high school friend who is Korean. And he, he, like, he felt he literally echoed the same exact thing you guys said beat for beat. Like, he just, he felt so out of step in the community that he was just like, I didn't know the shit was going on to he was just like, I was just too busy listening to Metallica eating pizza with you. Like, I didn't know, you know, this amount of hatred was going on. And I would visit his house soon. His parents were eccentric, you know. And you and I, my parents are too, you know, and, and I, we shared that thing, because we both like kind of, you know, we didn't grow up rich, we just kind of grew up playing Xbox together, you know, sharing comic books and stuff getting into he showed me most of the superheroes I love today, like Iron Man, and we're just a couple of nerds. And he didn't really like talk about the Asian community. He had siblings who are for sure, like part of that and stuff. But like, he was never He hung out with us like skateboard nerd kids, you know, and he was just kind of fitting in with all of us. But we were all like a mixed bag of like, you know, we were Latin American, there's Asian American, there was me, you know, there's other even white people too, of course. But all in all, like, we sort of just didn't see that. And that was that was no exception to the to my friend, you know, and, and I sort of felt bad, but he kind of told me he's like, I mean, it's not about like, me trying to put guilt on you. It's just about of all of us coming together. And it's not, it's not really the fact that like, well, you know, this is this is another Tuesday, you know, no, this is a problem. And now we're seeing that this is a problem. And I and he said, this is the first step, I think, you know,
Elizabeth Trieu 37:50
I appreciate you being so weird, because I feel like I had to reach out to some of my friends to be like, Hey, I'm, I'm a little upset. Actually, a lot upset and I, I'm in, you know, there's a lot of fire and heat me right now. And if you haven't thought to reach out to me, or like, you know, just say, how are you doing? And in a way, like, not all of a sudden, I start to feel really selfish. And like, as if I'm being dramatic. But my whole life I've like tried to, to be chill, and like, everyone is like, you're a survivor. You're fine. Yeah, it gets to me where I'm like, sweet. That doesn't make me fine. Like, I just have, like, a toolbox of survival skills, you know, to blend in with any crowd.
Jason Cates 38:45
It doesn't make you less valid. Yeah.
Elizabeth Trieu 38:47
no. And I get like, you know, the response were, like, you know, well, we just learned, we love you for who you are not. And the Asian thing isn't really something we think about. And that's where it's like, I think it's our responsibility to acknowledge that that is so of our being, it doesn't define us like our essence. And you know, we are who we are. But again, I think the challenge and the calling is like how we facilitate a voice to kind of our experiences and what we want people to understand. I was leaving a store on Friday, like after the attacks, and it was like, honest, to story, it was a two-story building, and the sky followed me down to the parking lot and I was like, Oh, great. Is this happening and I live in a really pretty woke safe neighborhood but yeah, like I've outwardly was on social media saying like, I actually am living in fear right now and maybe you guys aren't seeing it or I don't know if you care, but it's the truce. And I want people to understand that like, this is a thing that's very present at the moment.
Jason Cates 40:10
And you shouldn't go about the world looking behind your back at all times. You know, that's not the same way to live.
Elizabeth Trieu 40:17
But thanks Trump for.
Eric Wuan 40:19
Yeah, yeah. I think I mean, I mean, to be fair, it's been here, you know, it is embedded so much in American culture. And I think, I think that obviously, you know, having someone like Trump in office exacerbates a lot of things, but that's the thing. It's, it's, I mean, it's, it's something that's always beneath the surface of things. And I just think it's like, I think my reaction to the whole Atlanta shooting was like, my white friends suddenly coming out going, like, are you okay? And I'm like, dude, 2020 to 2021 There have been a numerous number of Asian attacks, you know, and, and people being hate crimes on repeated basis that the media does not talk about does not cover, you know, men, women, old, young, everybody. And it's like, I'm glad, and I appreciate I'm so grateful that you reached out at this time to like, listen to me, or to check in on me, but it's like, it's like, holy shit, dude. Like, this has been happening for so long. You know?
Elizabeth Trieu 41:25
Like, it fits, sorry, it feeds, please continue, but feeds into the whole model minority thing.
Eric Wuan 41:31
I think yeah, it does. Because I mean, to be fair, the model minority in in Americas is the one that doesn't make any trouble, right? It's the people who have no political power. It's people who don't, who aren't politically activated, don't say anything, and ostensibly buy into what America has to sell, which is white supremacy, and, you know, and Western values, and it's like, Asian people, we were the best at so many things, we are definitely the best at that, you know, like, in a way, like, I think our community has been very good at that, you know, and I think that's why when actual things happen, they're like, you're fine. You know, this, this isn't real. Is it real? Like, really, you know, and it's like, you have to be like, no, it is you just don't read about it. And you don't think about it all the all the time. But I think about it, you know, I know a lot of other people think about it, and you know, it's yeah, it's just, it sucks. It sucks to like, have to be in a position where you're like, and I don't know, I think that's a hard thing for me is like, feeling so grateful that finally I can have an open discussion about this, but also just so like, enraged that it's only now like, I'm feeling any ounce of validation. And I think at the same time, more enraged that it's just like, it's just like, people are just now Oh, like, this was the thing, you know, like, you go on any forum or any Facebook post, you know, and it's like, in, in the sub in the in the comments are like, I didn't even know, Asian hate crimes were a thing. Like, I didn't even know this was happening, you know, like, how is this? Why are we creating hashtags? Why are we doing this? And it's like, and I'm like, it's because we've always prioritized other groups of people ahead of ourselves, you know, and I think that's, I think it now is the time, like, it's been the time, it's been the time for a long time, but now is like, we need to, we need to stand up because it'll, it all it takes is another random thing to happen for it to, you know, for us to not for this to kind of go away. You know, if something happens, like, you know, that's else happens like this kind of escapes the public consciousness. That's what scares me the most honestly, is just that people will forget about this in a few weeks, you know,
Elizabeth Trieu 44:04
I think as artists, now this is our duty. It's our job. It's our calling to make sure that they don't. Right.
Eric Wuan 44:18
Yeah, I agree. I totally agree.
Christine Chen 44:20
Yeah, it's to continue to be vocal and to is instead of what Eric was saying, instead of saying, I don't want to make Asians, maybe we're not required to have to What does defines Asians like, we are thought of Asians things as we are, we are not. Okay, it's okay. We don't make Asian historical remakes. You know, but there's more to Asian things that there's, um, you know, putting the modern context into Everyday Stories is sure is important, you know? In my film, Elizabeth or is just a hey, how about we? Is there a way we can incorporate? Because one of the characters violets, obviously Asian? So can we incorporate some of the things that are happening in some way and like, yes, I want to, you know, so that's not I think it's understanding like, sure I don't want to be Asian filmmaker defined with making only certain kinds of Asian ish content doesn't mean I'm straying away from who I am is an Asian creator who is connected to, in a sense and loves who I am as an Asian. You know, yeah.
Eric Wuan 45:48
It's, it's, it's broadening our representation. And I think that's real. Yeah, and I think that's, that's the most important thing. And honestly, like, I don't know about you guys, but I mean, we're all millennial, Asian American people. And I feel like, I wish we had a more Gen Z person on here, but I feel like, I'm heartened because I feel like Gen Z now is like, much more attuned to this kind of stuff. I feel Gen Z, Asians feel much more connected. They live in social media, Tiktok, YouTube, those sorts of things. And I feel like being Asian is fucking cool now, man. Like it really is. It wasn't cool when I was growing up, but it's like, yeah, it's like,
Christine Chen 46:39
It is the first Asian actor right to be nominated for
Eric Wuan 46:44
Best for Best Actor.
Christine Chen 46:45
For best actor, I mean, dang. And then yes, some other.
Jason Cates 46:51
Bong Joon-Ho won best director.
Christine Chen 46:53
Yeah.
Eric Wuan 46:54
Yeah. I mean, it's. Yeah. And I, and I think, I think, yeah, and I think that's heartening. Because I think that is, that is a step. I mean, I think that is the thing. And we just have to remember that at the end of the day, it's like, I feel like humanizing people is like that is really, that's what's going to, quote, stop Asian hate or whatever is like, you know, and that's what stops hate in general is like, we need to humanize everyone, and humanize all of our experiences. And I think that's the art that we need to create is something that's honest, something that is that is a reverent of our community and who we are as people, you know. So.
Christine Chen 47:38
To go back in to the question for some of my non Asian friends, how can we help is we help support people who are trying to vocalize these and humanize and make content, or wants to celebrate being Asian American, or people who hire and make sure that there are people behind and behind in front of the camera that are Asian American, and making sure that content actually accurately represents Asians You know, it's like people saying, Hey, we're more than just, obviously, I just use more, because it's one I can think of right now. We're more than just these are like, African black saying, hey, we're more than just the slave trade what you know, history. You know, there's, there's lots of content out there. That's that we need to broaden and show that we are more than just what people put us in. In terms of buckets.
Elizabeth Trieu 48:48
Don't put me in a box.
Christine Chen 48:50
Yeah, we're more than just that. Agents are more than just I don't know. I just feel like when people think Hey, Asian films interesting, like, you know, and right now, great. We have Crazy Rich Asians now, you know, but there's one, there's more than that. I want to see us everywhere, because that's a better representation, you know, of the communities seeing us humanize in, in lead roles and in stories that represent us properly in it, but the thing is, it starts from the top to, like, people need to give funding to artists that tell the stories. That's a great way to tell, you know, people need support our community, that's the part that I always constantly, you know, don't know how to ask. We're not a culture that likes to ask for help. Anyway, it's a pride thing, right? We're not supposed to ask for money. We're not supposed to ask for help.
Elizabeth Trieu 49:55
And it’s so scary to ask
Christine Chen 50:00
Yes.
Elizabeth Trieu 50:02
When I called Christian, I'm like, Well, an air quote. I'm like, Okay, guys, can we do this together? Because I don't know how to do it alone. Honestly, I was like, Christine, how do we get the money for the film? How do we do it? Let's do it together. Like, let's, let's, you know, hit all these different groups to say, like, we're making this and we think that we have something of value and a beauty to share. But like, it's also from this Asian perspective, and I want, you know, see us, but Christina is like, I don't, I'm not really tapped in. I'm like, neither am I. But like, I think it's time.
Christine Chen 50:34
It's just so weird, because I think about it. Like, I can't even ask my own parents for help. So, if I can't feel comfortable to ask my own family, for help, how do I ask a bunch of strangers who don't know me? I think that's the problem that I'm running into. Just don't yeah, you know.
Eric Wuan 50:56
think it's, I think it's also like, not to turn this into a big therapy session. But it's also like, kind of recognizing, too, because I think that's the that was my problem, too, was like, I saw my parents as defining for all the entire Asian community. I looked at them, I looked at them, and I was like, oh, my mom and dad, they're kind of, they're kind of dicks. And there, you don't see me and like, and I felt like that was everybody. So, I was like, I'm going to completely throw push this off the table. And I'm going to embrace this non, this non-Asian side of me, because that feels like safe that feels like, I can do something there. But I think it's about sort of, and this is my acclimation is sort of like reactivating myself to like. And I think honestly, the biggest thing for me was moving to Los Angeles, like, you know, not to hype it up. But it's like, when I'm around other just Asian people in general, who have a lot of my experiences and my thoughts and, and feelings, it's like, you suddenly feel the sense of validation and, and the sense of like, you're not alone. And that's really the first step in resolving any sort of, like, issue you have not to make this all about that. But it's, you know, I think that's the thing is, like, we should be able to ask for help. And maybe if we can't ask our parents, we can ask our friends as parents are asked our friends, you know, and like, if they know people, because I think that's the thing is, our community is so diverse. And we need to like, you know, we need to embrace we need to, like be willing to be vulnerable enough and, and willing enough, because I feel like, in my experience with the people who I've reached out to her, who I've been able to be fortunate enough to connect with is like, do people are Asian people are so fucking cool. And they're so good at some we're so good at shit. And we're so smart. And we have, we have so much money too, I mean, that's it’s funny. It's like, I have so many friends, like I'm the poorest of all of my Asian friends, I'm pretty sure. But it's like, you know, it's, it's like
Elizabeth Trieu 53:06
It isn't a competition, but I might be poorer than you.
Eric Wuan 53:11
I mean, yeah. I mean, it isn't a competition. But, you know, I, but I'm just saying in a way that like, I feel like, you know, it's, it's really Yeah, it's like, it's sort of how do we? It goes back to what I said initially, it's like, how do we ourselves transform how we think about our community? You know, like, I think that's, that's crazy. Like, it's just sort of, that is what I've been feeling the most of is like, it's like, I can't, I can't control what other communities think of us. Like, that's, that's the thing I and this is controversial, but I really believe holding up a sign that says, Stop Asian hate or like, our Asian elders are people, it doesn't actually help anything. Because those people have already moved beyond that point, right? Like, it's sort of, and to me, what is actually going to fundamentally change things is if we unify ourselves, and we sort of empower ourselves to protect ourselves as a community, because, right, that's, that's what's that's what makes us a target is we're seen as these very vulnerable, very, like, and it's like, fuck that, you know, like, we're, we're strong, we're capable, we can be just as, you know, powerful as anybody else. Right, exactly. You know, we got to do it ourselves. Sorry, let's go ahead.
Elizabeth Trieu 54:30
Oh, my gosh, no, I keep like, I'm sorry. Like, I used to say, like, I'm such a good listener, but I want to ask them to say I really want to say it and, but I do think it's like it really took me talking to both Eric and Christine. For me to be honestly comfortable enough to like, let's show up here together. Let's start actually becoming, you know, pillars in the community. Like I As much as I know about different groups, the reason why we also know about all these Asian hate crimes is because we started following Asian, you know, social media groups or like following different accounts. And all of a sudden, my entire Instagram feed is hating crimes for months. You know, like, since last year, it's been a year full of like, this person got robbed, this person got kicked in the face, you know, like, and spit in the face. And I'm like, what? And of course, because I'm finally integrating, and choosing to, like, pay attention, am I able to, like, build confidence and to finally say, you know, what, I need to be a part of this movement, I need to be a voice, I need to take a stand. So, and I still can't, I still feel like it's hard to do alone. So, I'm grateful that like, I get to create, you know, be a part of originally with Christine, I, you know, Eric saw that I went to the vigil, and he was like, hey, I'd love to go to the next thing with you. You're like, yes, please. Because it's kind of scary. It's like going to a new school and being like, well, they like me, because I don't know how to be a part of this community. But I want so desperately to be.
Christine Chen 56:19
I am going to say we have a five-minute warning only because we have yet another. We have our welcome meeting for originally.
Eric Wuan 56:33
So that's gonna be awesome. All right.
Christine Chen 56:37
Really excited about it. It's a perfect
Jason Cates 56:39
Time to take this bad boy for landing. I mean, do you guys.
Christine Chen 56:44
Great this is I, I'm really understanding like, hey, it's cool to hear that. You guys also feel these things. And it and I think, I think I really connected with what Eric was saying, like, hey, we take we make the entire Asian community representative of just our parents and therefore not being able to connect their parents is up, causing us to maybe subconsciously or consciously not want to, you know, deal with entire community. That's not right, either. And so, you know, just simply getting over that, and being vocal and saying what you want, is not complaining. And it's not. It's Yes, it's not. And it's that we are just voicing what we feel that we need to feel loved and respected in the world,
Elizabeth Trieu 57:48
And that we're the shit. I mean, that's essentially what Eric was saying.
Christine Chen 57:51
We're cool.
Eric Wuan 57:53
We're really, really, we're really fucking
Christine Chen 57:58
In conclusion
Jason Cates 58:05
I couldn't agree more. Y'all are dope. And this was a great conversation, you guys, thank you so much for joining in and going through the dumb technical difficulties. I was about to throw my computer out the window. But, you know, I I'm so glad I didn't because I would have missed out on this amazing conversation and thank you guys so much. I hope I hope you guys can come back again. Later in the in our podcast journey that Christina is gonna you know, and I are doing you know, we're gonna take this fucking global, guys
Christine Chen 58:38
For people wanting to support Asian filmmakers, Asian creators, people behind in front of the camera, please consider donating to our crowdfunding campaign at Erzuliefilm.com and I am asking the Asian community for your help and support and for everybody else. So, so all my non-Asian friends, this, you guys can help and support content that helps you humanize and put our voices out into the world. And please reach out to your fellow Asian friends just because they don't say anything, doesn't necessarily mean that they are fine.
Elizabeth Trieu 59:30
And you get to see Christina and I work together for the third time and it's so fun.
Eric Wuan 59:38
Very excited.
Adam Rani 59:38
It is going to be a super diverse super dope ass movie. Christine. That's gonna be exciting. You guys, Erzulie Film, what was the link again?
Christine Chen 59:52
Erzuliefilm.com
Jason Cates 59:54
That's right, ladies and gentlemen. Get in it. Put in that money. Be part of history, you guys It's all broken down for you. Come on. Sorry. Go ahead Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Trieu 1:00:06
I'm like I was once told by an elder No money. No honey