Middle school wisdom
July 18, 2013
ALLY screening at Dongduk Women’s University
June 1, 2013
L to R: Dad, Mom, Seong Young Sohn (Professor), Dr. Young Rae Kim (President), me.
What an honor it was to be invited to screen A Lot Like You at Dongduk Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. Having this conversation about gender violence and the mixed-race experience in other parts of the world is opening new doors for me, and giving me a better understanding of what it means to be a “global citizen”.
Seeing how these issues are framed and discussed, experiencing this story through a different cultural lens, I’m aware of how universal the experience of gender violence is, and can appreciate how deeply our cultural perspectives inform our understanding of everything from oppression and violence to the multiracial experience.
While language was a barrier, the Q&A that followed showed that the students had absorbed enough of our story to engage fully with the issues explored in the film.
One student commented on how my cultural insider/outsider status granted me access to my family and their stories. But she wondered how she, as a Korean, would be received if she was to travel to Tanzania and try to contribute meaningfully to lives of women and girls there.
I briefly shared my perspective, as an American, then pointed out that Mom and Dad (who were in the audience) could better speak to how Tanzanians would receive such an offer. So amidst a series of gasps and claps, I asked Mom and Dad to join me for the Q&A.
And so now, I’m working on a bigger piece that reflects on:
– the global response to our film and the conversations it evokes, and
– the questions this film is bringing up for my family now.
Folded into this piece will be Mom and Dad’s response to the question above. I promise.
But I just wanted to share how amazing it was to have my parents with me to talk about the film! Mom and I have done a few Q&A’s in Seattle and across Tanzania. But this was the first time I’ve done a Q&A with my Dad. And I must say, I do love him dearly for all the ways he continues to show up for me in support of this film…
ALLY Project – UW
May 20, 2013
“Tender, intellectual and reflective, Kimaro explores her intricate identity as Tanzania-Korean mixed race, first generation American. It lodges a personal lens to post-colonial and immigrant stories, confidently bringing out productive dialogue as well as significant silence.
For me, it’s a very great documentary movie.”
ALLY Project – UW
May 11, 2013 
“The film made me think about my roots and I wanted to start this conversation with my whole family, both older and younger so we could all communicate and learn from one another. It also made me think about our society and the values we have and teach to the youth on comparison to other cultures. It’s so important to try and understand the emotions of other people so that we can better organize and articulate our own feelings.”
Edmonds Community College – Black Box Lecture Series
May 10, 2013
It’s always interesting when I’m invited to talk with a group who have not seen the film.
I have the joy, and the challenge, of taking them on a ride, from 0-60, live and in-person with no movie to fall back on. And because I want them to see A Lot Like You, I do the best I can not to talk over it too much, so they can still have a fresh experience of the film if/when they get the chance to see it.
So when we get to the end of our talk, and I’ve managed to make people laugh and cry…and people come up afterwards with the same desire to connect as they do after seeing the film — I know I’ve found my way through to them.
To get a sense of the ground we cover during these talks, click here to watch the video of this presentation
ALLY Project-Phil (Harrisburg, PA)
May 6, 2013
ALLY intro at DisOrient
May 3, 2013It’s always a treat to hear how people choose to introduce this film at various events. Often times, they pull info straight from our website. Occasionally, someone will abandon this well-worn safety net, and just speak from the heart. These are my favorite, because I learn so much from how they choose to frame our story, and seeing which issues rise to the surface.
The intro to our film at the DisOrient Film Festival was phenomenal — especially given that Leah Dunbar had never seen the film! But her intro summed it up so beautifully, I asked if she’d be willing to share it with me. And she graciously said “Yes.”
. . . . . . . . . .
Good afternoon. My name is Leah Dunbar and it is my honor to welcome you to the DisOrient Film Festival and to introduce A Lot Like You, the Centerpiece film of this amazing weekend of visual storytelling. Many of you are probably well aware of the mission of DisOrient, but in case you’re a newcomer (like me), I’d like to tell you a little bit about the wonderful organization that has sponsored this special event… Continue reading →
Gates Foundation blog
May 1, 2013
As you know, I am passionate about finding ways to infuse our activism with art (and vice versa), which is why I produce videos for non-profits working to address social justice issues in my off hours…
Did you know that domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in the US?
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) has teamed up with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the Domestic Violence Housing First Project–a project which eliminates lack of housing as a reason why survivors might stay in an abusive relationship.
Over a three year period, we will produce a series of 14 videos that show how DV Housing First is being implemented and creating lasting change in the lives of survivors and strengthening communities across Washington state.
And I’m so honored that our first video is featured in the Gates Foundation’s blog! Marie Sauter says in her post, “Watching this video brings tears of awe and gratitude every time.”
One down. Thirteen to go.
Onward!
ALLY Wins Social Justice Award
April 30, 2013
Just back from DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon, and waking up to the news that ALLY won the Jason D Mak Award for Social Justice!!! Hope we continue to live up to this honor moving forward! Thank You to our dear friends in Eugene…
Congratulations to all the Winners of the 2013 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival
- Best Short Narrative: Lil Tokyo Reporter directed by Jeffrey Gee Chin
- Best Short Documentary: A Flicker in Eternity directed by Sharon Yamato & Ann Kaneko
- Best Feature Film: Starting From Scratch by Director James Huang, Actor/Producer Elizabeth Sandy, and Cinematographer Chad Peter
- Jason D Mak Award for Social Justice: A Lot Like You by Eliaichi Kimaro
- Pacific Asian Community Alliance Courage Award: writer Joon Bai for The Other Side Of the Mountain
DisOrient Asian American Film Festival
April 26, 2013
The centerpiece film is “A Lot Like You,” a documentary written and directed by Eliaichi Kimaro. The tagline for the film is “The Truth Has No Borders,” and it centers on Kimaro’s search for herself, growing up as a multiracial first-generation American.
“I think if there’s a film that really speaks to our mission statement, that would be it,” Pamela Quan [Assoc Dir of DisOrient Film Festival] says.
“At first when we saw the submission of the film, it was like, ‘OK, dad’s from Tanzania, mom’s Korean, how is this all going to work?’ We watched it and I think everybody feels like that film was made for them when they see it, because you question who you are.”
Set mostly in Tanzania, the discoveries that Kimaro makes about her past are gripping, touching on everything from achieving the American dream to a cultural tendency to sweep shocking violence under the rug.
“A Lot Like You” is scheduled to show Saturday at 3:30 p.m. A Q&A with Kimaro, her husband, Tom Kenney, and their daughter, Lucy, follows.
~ Excerpt from The Register-Guard (April 26, 2013) by Jackie Varriano