Much has changed from the 1990s to now in the film industry for the AANHPI community. Chris Chan Lee is a key proponent that has inspired many Asian Americans to pursue filmmaking since his groundbreaking feature, "Yellow." On this episode, Chris and Rasha talk about his journey, how the film landscape has changed, and how it can still be improved.
Chris is a Korean-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, C He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and has spent his career of over 25 years developing and producing Asian-American content. His debut feature film as writer/director was "Yellow" (1997), a coming of age movie about a group of teens in Los Angeles. The film features the first performances of John Cho and Jason Tobin, and re-envisioned the American teen comedy with an ensemble of Asian-Americans in the lead roles. "Yellow" world premiered at the 1997 CAAMFest Film Festival (then called NAATA) with three sold-out screenings, and was selected for more than a dozen film festivals including Raindance U.K., Slamdance, Singapore International, Hawaii International, and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The film won the Gold Carp 1st Place Audience Award for Best Feature Film and the Golden Reel Award for Best Independent Feature Film. "Yellow" had a successful limited national theatrical release including a 5-week run in Southern California across 9 screens. He served twice as a judge for the Filmmakers Media Fund Initiative at CAAMFest, and was an independent filmmaker panelist at events hosted by KASCON (Korean American Students Conference), WGA (Writers Guild of America), LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, and a number of other professional and community organizations. The film is considered a milestone in Asian American filmmaking.
Spreading Smiles and Joy: Kathleen Kim’s Sesame Street Magic | 3x28
Flavors Unleashed: Cheetie Kumar’s Culinary Adventure | 3x27
Shaping the World of Autobiographical Comics and Amplifying Underrepresented Voices | 3x26
Capturing the Essence of Celebrities in Timeless Portraits through the Lens of Peter Yang | 3x25
Breaking Barriers, Shaping Champions: A Trailblazer on the Softball Field | 3x24
Embrace the Power of Persuasion with Mx. SHI: Redefining Drag, Inspiring Change | 3x23
Uncovering roots, shaping legacies: A journey of identity and healing | 3x22
Breaking Barriers, Challenging Norms with Laughter | 3x21
Unleashing Potential, Igniting Change, Embracing the Difference | 3x20
Empowering Communities, Embracing Diversity: A Leader for Equity and Inclusion | 3x19
Touching hearts with uncomfortable truths through storytelling
Finding Her Voice Through Animation | 3x17
Paving the Road for Younger Gymnasts | 3x16
First Step Into the Film Industry | 3x15
Cultivating Culture Through Storytelling | 3x14
Preservation and Amplification of Legacies | 3x13
Inspiring Aspiring Filmakers | 3x12
Mother and Son’s Journey of a Thousand Miles | 3x11
The Beauty of Dance | 3x10
Making Changes for the Better | 3x9
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL