Author: againstthegrainproductions

A Camping We Will Go…

Catalyst Culture Camp

Aivy Nguyen at Catalyst Culture Camp
Last year’s experience as a camp counselor for Catalyst Culture Camp was such a wonderful one, so I’m returning as a veteran counselor for not just one camp, but both! This weekend, I will be working my first year with the St. Olaf camp in Minnesota. The kids and parents from last year’s east coast camp in New Jersey left such great memories and stories to remember. Three days of meeting families, cultural craft making and bonding made me appreciate what Catalyst does for the adoptees here, and it only motivates and inspires me more with ATG to provide for those in need overseas.  I eagerly wait to meet more inspiring families at St. Olaf!
— Aivy Nguyen, Dir of Marketing/PR

Colorado Vietnamese Heritage Camp

Jared Rehberg at Colorado Vietnamese Heritage Camp
I always look forward to Colorado Vietnamese Heritage Camp during the summer time. This special weekend in Colorado is filled with new music for all the campers, presenting life stories with my adult adoptees friends to the adoptive parents and last and certainly not least, bonding with the young generation of adoptees.
This year I will also be screening the film Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam. DVDs will be available at the screening. I love catching up with the campers I’ve met since my first camp over 6 years ago. We have drinks and share our joys and sorrows from the years past. I’m especially excited to bring new adult adoptees to share their stories at our adult workshops. It’s quite a trip for many, but well worth it in the end.
— Jared Rehberg, Dir of Community Outreach

Going Against The Grain: Jen Kwok

Jen Kwok is a Renaissance Man who happens to be an Asian girl.  Jen’s sparkling talents take form in writing, singing, comedy and ukulele/piano/glockenspiel playing, and she has performed at venues as varied as Highline Ballroom, Gotham Comedy Club and bawdy basement burlesque shows!

A mainstay of the Asian-American performance community, Jen co-hosts the Asian American Writers Workshop’s open mic series and has a much loved/mildly controversial YouTube hit entitled “Date an Asian” (YouTube #1 Comedy Spotlight, MTV Iggy & Buzzfeed Top 3).

In the mainstream media, Jen’s work has been featured by The New York Times, PBS, CNN, MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine. Jen was also a national finalist in NBC’s Stand-Up for Diversity and will make her feature film debut (as a ukulele player!) in the movie EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

Full name:

Jen Kwok

Hometown:

Palmdale, CA

Current city:

Brooklyn, NY

Ethnicity:

Chinese (my family came to the US from Vietnam)

What does it mean to you to or how do you “Go Against The Grain?”

Going against the grain means not being limited by expectations and doing what you feel is right – even if it’s not the easiest path.  I would go with the grain if I could, but as an Asian-American performer, that’s kind of not an option.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the business?

I completely blanked my third or fourth time doing stand-up, and didn’t go onstage for nearly a year.  Then I picked up the ukulele and found my thing with musical comedy.  I figured that comedy was for me if the awesomeness could somehow outweigh the stage fright, anxiety and nausea.  Plus, I don’t like having regrets.  They suck.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?

It’s hard for anyone to be in the entertainment industry, period.  For Asians and other minorities, we have to deal with the fact that most American film and television roles have been limited to racial stereotypes.  But even in the past year or so, the number of non-stereotypical roles and minorities cast in lead roles has increased.  The industry is changing, even if it’s one Asian/Black/Latino judge on Law & Order at a time.  In terms of overcoming the challenges, writing your own material definitely helps because you can create opportunities for yourself without waiting for somebody to cast you in something.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment and why?

My biggest accomplishment was realizing that I wanted to be a writer and performer unconditionally, no matter what.  The industry is tougher than anyone can imagine when they’re first starting out, and for the first few years, I wanted to quit nearly everyday.  It was through sheer tenacity – or madness – that I stuck it out and realized that this life was for me, for better or for worse.  I guess it’s kind of like getting married.  Now I just hope I don’t get divorced.

What do you hope to achieve?

I want to have fun, entertain people and get as good as I can get at whatever it is I’m doing.

Who inspires you and/or who are your biggest influences?

Most Asian female comics would probably not be here without Margaret Cho – myself included.  It literally blew my mind to see an Asian woman on television doing her own material, talking about sex and not being a size 0.  Style-wise, Victor Borge was a huge influence – he was one of the first people I ever saw combining music and comedy.  I also really love Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle, Tina Fey and Tom Waits.

What is the most important lesson/advice you would give?

Find your own voice and be patient with yourself.  Be more patient than you think you need to be.  Be brutally patient.  And honest.

What’s up next (upcoming projects or plans for the coming months)?

If my ukulele and I don’t end up on the cutting room floor, we will be in the movie EAT, PRAY, LOVE coming out in August!  I’ve also got a new music video hitting the web and (fingers crossed) television very soon.  Other than that, you better believe it’s gonna be a lot of drinking and Facebook.

diaCRITIC: Interview with Tammy Nguyen Lee, director of Operation Babylift

Posted on July 5, 2010 by diaCRITIC

Among the many controversial legacies of the Vietnam War, Operation Babylift dramatically brought the results of U.S. Cold War policy to the front doorsteps of U.S. domestic race politics. Critics have argued that childcare workers and government staff deceptively persuaded Vietnamese parents into allowing their children to go, parents who were desperate to find a safe way out for their children and who believed that they would be reunited eventually.

Tammy Nguyen Lee’s film Operation Babylift revisits the controversial, $2 million mission that airlifted more than 2,500 Vietnamese children out of Saigon during the last days of the war. The first 20 minutes of the film comprise interviews with non-governmental staff who accompanied the children on cargo planes, the first official flight of which blew up in the air due to mechanical failure. The rest of the film presents a series of interviews with 20 of the adoptees, who talk about growing up in the U.S. and realizing they didn’t look like their parents (most of whom were white); their soul-searching for their biological parents (especially their mothers); and their joy in meeting other adoptees who understood their ambivalent feelings about their loss and the privilege of having been separated from war. Their stories remind me of scholar Jodi Kim’s argument about how adoptees experience a “social death” in being cut off from affiliations that provide us with a sense of history, family lineage, and community.

Nguyen Lee was born in Saigon, and fled the country as a boat person when she was three months old. After a year and a half in a refugee camp in Hong Kong, she and her mother were sponsored to the U.S. by a church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Nguyen Lee has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Producers Program at UCLA. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, she is the founder of ATG (Against The Grain Productions), a non profit company that creates social issue based media and raises funds for international orphanages.
We sat down for an interview in Los Angeles when she was in Southern California for a screening of her film at UC Irvine. The interview is in two short parts (8:34 min and 1:57 min) because we were cut off momentarily and, this being on the low-tech side, I haven’t been able to paste the two parts together.

Here is the interview:

–Chuong-Dai Vo

Asian American Designers Showcase Collections at Fashion for a Passion

Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages


DALLAS, TX – Dallas nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions presents the 2nd Annual Fashion For A Passion from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 25 at LandCo/7 Senses located at 1202 N. Riverfront (formerly Industrial) in Dallas, Texas. The event will showcase collections from emerging Asian American designers Khanh Nguyen for Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik, Lyly Thanh Koenig for Lyly Thanh, Prashi Shah for Prashe and Judy Yang. This year’s event will also feature the collection of Chloe Dao, Season 2 winner of Project Runway, with the designer in attendance. In addition to the fashion showcase, there will be musical acts, as well as an exhibition of work by local Asian American artists.  The event also features a live auction of pieces from each fashion designer’s collection, with the proceeds to benefit orphanages in Vietnam and ATG’s community outreach initiatives.

FFAP Presenting Designer Chloe Dao

In 2009, ATG showcased the designs of budding designers Kim Phuong Pham, Lizzi London, Aiden Vo and Khanh Nguyen, all of who have now gone on to start successful careers in the industry.  ATG also raised more than $5,000 to aid needy orphanages in Vietnam.

Returning designer Khanh Nguyen, a graduate from UNT, said, “Participating in Fashion for a Passion in 2009 was definitely a turning point in my career.  The event was also where and when I learned the meaning of receiving and giving back.” After Fashion for a Passion, she became a Woman That Soar Honoree, recipient of the Brilliant You Award and her work was featured in La Mode and D Magazine. Added Nguyen, “Against The Grain Productions not only allowed me to connect with my native country, but it also helped me to realize the importance of charity work. I loved the experience, the effort and the energy that everyone put in to make the show happen. I am very honored and thrilled to be back to showcase my new collection this year!”

FFAP Presenting Designer Khanh Nguyen

ATG President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, said, “I’m so proud to hear and see lives changed like this as a result of our organization’s efforts.  We founded Against The Grain with the mission to provide that essential support to Asian American artists and promote and share our community’s young talents, and we hope that our hard work continues to result in success stories like Khanh Nguyen’s. Compounded with the nationwide praise for our first documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, it has been a tremendous year.”

FFAP event tickets range from $40-$50, and sales for the event start in mid August online at www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com. VIP/Sponsorships are still available. ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

Going Against The Grain: Kent Takano

ATG caught up with a real go-getter, Kent Takano, who has made an impressive career as an executive in the cable television industry. Currently, Kent  is the Executive Producer/VP of Branded Entertainment for the DIY Network.

From 2006-2009, he was the VP of Programming and Branded Entertainment for the Fine Living Network and oversaw the department’s original content development for on-air and online, programming budget, as well as cross-platform strategies with the interactive group for the network’s 55 million digital audience.  He also worked with Ad Sales to maximize product integration opportunities with new one-hour original specials and existing series.

In 2004, Takano was Director of Original Programming for Scripps Networks’ broadband and VOD content initiatives.  From 2001 to 2004, Takano was Director of Programming for HGTV.  His responsibilities included the development and supervision of series and specials for the prime-time lineup. Prior to Scripps Networks, Takano was an independent producer, and he’s produced and written series and specials for, but not limited to, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, CNET, HGTV, ABC ’s The View, ET and Fox Broadcasting. He also served as programming consultant at the NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates in the San Francisco market.

Takano graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

Full name:

Kent Yasuo Takano

Hometown:

Alameda, CA

Current city:

Knoxville, TN

Ethnicity:

Japanese American

What does it mean to you to or how do you “Go Against The Grain?”

Going against the grain, especially when I was in college in the mid-80’s, meant doing what I wanted to do instead of what was expected of me.  My dad — like many parents of Asian descent — wanted me to go into computers or business.  Obviously, both would’ve been great careers — but not for me.  So I guess you can say I went against the grain of what was expected, but not against my own expectations or passions.  My interests were always more right-brained, the more creative side.  All through elementary, junior high and high school, I excelled more in my English courses than anything that had to do with numbers, statistics or org charts.  I liked to write — prose, poetry, screenplays, you name it.  After graduating from Cal with my Bachelor’s degree, I took a year off and worked — and was probably still convinced I was going to apply to law school.  To paraphrase Woody Allen, I didn’t want to go to a law school that would have me as a student.  Ha!  So I applied for a job at a local TV station in SF and never looked back.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the television programming?

Because it was fun — and in the beginning I didn’t care that I was paid $4.50 an hour.  I had another job working as a magazine store clerk, so I was busy 7 days a week.  As I learned what it took to write for television, I realized the only thing better than writing a story on a pad of paper or computer was telling a story with pictures. And I knew I didn’t want to go into news; it felt less creative than what I wanted to do. Writing at various entry level jobs finally led to going into the field, producing small projects, and then producing shows.  And now I’m on the network side.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?

I think the challenges were internal, rather than external.  I’ve always tried to put my efforts towards things I could control, not what I couldn’t.  Not always easy, but so important.  If there was any institutional prejudice or anything along those lines from an external standpoint, I never felt them.  Was it there?  Perhaps, but I can’t say for sure. I’ve always been taught to always try to be better and to try harder than anyone else in the room — and do it without complaining.  Outside of that, I can’t say whether being Asian American has been a hinderance or a positive thing.  That said, it was once intimated by a new supervisor that I was hired “because you’re Asian.”  Behind closed doors I asked for clarification on that, and said that if there was any type of tokenism involved in my hiring I would have to leave.  I wanted to be hired and subsequently judged by my accomplishments and anything short of that would not be acceptable.  And that was only a month into the job (!) — and I just moved 2,000 miles away from home.  I was assured the comment was about the strength of having a diverse staff, and nothing else.  Maybe I was hypersensitive to the comment, or maybe it was a lapse in judgment on my supervisor’s (at the time) behalf.  Either way, we straightened it out quickly.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

Biggest accomplishment?  Yikes — I don’t know.  I’ve had a few nice accolades along the way for writing/producing…but perhaps one of the biggest was being asked to attend Scripps Networks’ inaugural Diversity Committee meeting 8 years ago.  The “accomplishment” was having the courage to take the CEO (at the time) aside before his opening remarks and, as one of the few minorities in the room, told him that it was important to me, as a minority (and one of the few on the committee, hence the committee!), to make it clear whether Diversity was a business decision or a public affairs initiative.  And that if it were the former, then the company needed to build a business case; and if were the latter, then the company needed to handle it that way and not try to make it business case later.  I was new the company at the time — and very much the junior person on the committee — but I believe he listened. And, short anecdote here — I was once asked to talk with a group of employees at Scripps and address some growing concerns about diversity.  One question came up about whether there were hiring quotas within our company.  I assured them that no hiring quotas — despite the fact I knew there were rumors of this spreading quickly.  As a way of reinforcing this, I told them bluntly that, as a hiring manager, I would never hire anyone based on race because doing so would only going to make my job more difficult.  It was that simple.  This “real world” example was met by the entire group’s approval.

What do you hope to achieve?

I don’t have any specific goals, to be honest.  I want to continue to learn, get better at what I’m currently doing and, along with that, hope I can teach others along the way.

Who inspires you and/or who are your biggest influences?

Biggest influences are friends and family.  I think those who’ve influenced me the most have not been the overachievers, but those who found balance in the work/family lives.  I want that someday — and aspire for that balance.  Work hard, play hard…easier said than done.  But I’ll get there.

What is the most important lesson/advice you would give?

I have a card on my refrigerator that says, “Go out on a limb.  That’s where the fruit is.” Love that.  It reminds me to take chances, to be smart, to have fun on the journey, and to enjoy the rewards — all rolled into one simple thought.

What’s up next (upcoming projects or plans for the coming months)?

Trying to finish writing my first novel.  If I knew it’d be so difficult I wouldn’t have started it 18 months ago!  While I try to write nearly every day — before or after work — some days are simply more productive than others.  I’ve learned that’s all part of the process, too.  It’s been a blast…

Going Against The Grain: NEAATO

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight an organization that pays tribute to and keeps us aware of what’s going on in our Asian American community. Thank you for keeping us engaged and in the know of all the fabulosity! Cheers to NEAATO!

N.E.A.A.T.O

Full name:

NEAATO (Network of Entertaining Asian American Talent Organization)

Hometown:

Southern California

Current city:

The Interweb

Give us a brief bio about yourself:

I was raised on a healthy dose of Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and Chick Hearn. Weekends were for boogie boarding at the beach or eating Vietnamese food in Little Saigon. My parents came from Vietnam, and the first time they went back, my dad had not seen his mother in 18 years. 18 years! That story still blows my mind, and I was there to witness it. I think that’s why I love sharing stories so much. They are very powerful.

What made you decide to develop/start NEAATO?

It started with a Bruce Lee quote: “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

In California, everyone is an actor/actress, writer, model, director, you name it. All my friends were working on their own projects, yet I never heard of them in the news. I started subscribing to different Asian American film fests and would get postings for casting calls. Since I wasn’t an actor, I needed somewhere to post them for my friends who were. I started posting more castings, more projects and created my blog to put it somewhere. It moved to MySpace where that used to be relevant and now Facebook. To be honest, I don’t even blog that much anymore. It’s pretty neat that now we can get Asian American news delivered right TO us, when before we had to LOOK for AA news. Basically I just share things on Facebook now. Sharing is caring.

What do you hope to achieve?

To promote my friends.  My favorite movies and bands never get press. I don’t know if America has bad taste or what, but it’ll always be like that, from Arrested Development getting canceled to Persepolis not winning the Oscar. My favorite groups, De la Soul, The Roots…Most Def will never sell as much as Black Eyed Peas.  People will always overlook the little guy making this great content. I’m just trying to give some press to the little guy, not because they are the little guy, but because I really think it’s better content.

Who inspires you and/or who are your biggest influences?

Dustin Nguyen’s hair. Ysa Le, director of VIFF, Leslie Ito of VC Film Fest, Leann Kim of the San Diego Asian Film Fest, Kym Pham of Kollaboration and Vascon, comedian PK, Stephane Gauger of  Owl and the Sparrow, Tim Bui of Green Dragon, Tammy Nguyen Lee of Operation Babylift, Jared Rehberg, Kieu Chinh for just being classy, David Nguyen of Queen of Virginia, Tuan of Anh Oi, the Susan Trans, the Danny Dos, Isabelle Dus, Gina Trans,  Nadine Truongs, Brittany Trans, Jenni Trang Les , the Viktors, Tiffany Duongs, Caroline Vus, Charlene Phans, Heather Nguyens out there. I’m missing a million people, but all these people inspire me on the daily with words/images/blogs/work ethic/etc. Lac Su, author of “I Love Yous Are For White People,” Steve Nguyen of Channel APA and Flip HD Interviews, Johnny Nguyen, artist Vudoo Soul, cousin Jennipho, the Kate Agathons and May-lees out there. Then there are the nonprofit workers, the Project Vietnams, Pencils of Promise, the VietActs, the Boat People SOS, Against The Grain. There are so many that don’t get the recognition they deserve.

What is the most important lesson/advice you would give?

Don’t complain. Just do. And back to Bruce Lee’s quote above:  “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” People always complain about racism, but Bruce Lee did it. How? He created his own opportunities. Don’t complain, just do.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment and why?

This interview. LOL. I like when people randomly message me and tell me thank you for sharing other people’s stories. Very small, very simple, but those are the best things in life. The little things. Kym Pham approached me to help her out with the ‘Hay Qua’ event in NYC, where I met ever more talented filmmakers and artists. That, so far, is probably the highlight of my life.

What’s up next (upcoming projects or plans for the coming months)?

I have some documentaries to finish. As for NEAATO, I’m not sure either. Maybe I’ll do my own film fest. Maybe I should start blogging more and interview more people. Maybe podcasting? Just continue to promote my friends really and figure out what’s the most efficient way to do that.

If you have any ideas, let me know. I would love to have this huge database of all my friends’ work in easy to find categories. I started it with http://www.neaat.wordpress.com and need to post more artists on the newer NEAATO Blog. I also need to start updating my Ao Dai News Blog for a documentary I was working on and VietQ News Blog. I have a lot of work to do.

Fashion for a Passion Designers: The Concept/Inspiration

Fashion For A Passion is just around the corner and the designers are getting ready. In the coming months leading up to the event, we’ve asked each designer to give us a sneak peak into their collection, and to highlight the behind-the-scenes creation of one of the signature looks that will be auctioned off that night. Here are some concepts and inspirations from a few of our designers:

Lyly Koenig of Lyly Thanh

“I am inspired by my recent trip to Vietnam — Vietnam as a whole, especially the children, and the colors found in Vietnam. I’ve included some random images that I took while in Vietnam. These photos are the most inspiring to me. They reflect the happiness that the people of Vietnam have about their lives. Vietnam is prospering, growing at a rapid rate. I hope to capture the prosperity, happiness and colorfulness of Vietnam in this collection.”


Judy Yang for JudYang

“The painting title is called “Hot Pursuit.” The bright color really speaks to me – feminine, yet very strong and defined lines. I think the direction I am going with this collection will be playful, with swirls and circles. ”

Khanh Nguyen for Nha Khanh

Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik (Congrats on your recent nuptials, Nikki!)

For the “special edition bag,” my inspiration is from my wedding colors and flowers.


For more information on this event and how you can sponsor or volunter, please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.

ATG Brings Spring Donation to Orphanages in Hue and Da Nang

In March and April, members of our ATG family took a trip to Vietnam and made donations to several orphanages in Hue and Da Nang. With the support from our friends, family  and local supporters, we were able to deliver  food, baby formula, books, toys, clothes, soap, and lotion to three different orphanages with the funds raised by your generous donations.

The ATG team had their first stop at an orphanage in Hue. The very first time we made a visit and donated to this orphanage, there were only 22 children. Today, there are 39 children who range from 7 months to 17 years-old — all of whom share a love for Choco-pie!

Sister PT informed us that currently there are many children with special needs, but with the lack of resources and facilities, she could not take them in. But the children who still remain seem to grow more quickly (and to our delight, stronger and healthier) with each year’s visit. During our first trip to Vietnam, we met an 8 month-old boy who had been abandoned and left at the orphanage doorstep. Now, he stands tall with a mischievous, playful spirit at 30 months.

On the second orphanage trip, our ATG volunteers paid a visit to an all-girls orphanage run by nuns. The children, which include 63 girls and 2 boys with Down Syndrome, were in need of summer clothes and milk. Our team went to the local stores and bought clothes and supplies for the children. That following Sunday, when the kids were off from school, we paid a visit to pass out the newly purchased clothes, milk and food.

ATG thanks all of you for your continuous support and donations. Without you, trips like these could not be possible.

To support our cause, please visit https://againstthegrainproductions.com/donate.php and scroll to the bottom of the page for easy donation options.

OPERATION BABYLIFT to Screen at University Of California-Irvine

Dallas, TX – To commemorate the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and Operation Babylift, Dallas based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions is honored to screen Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the University of California – Irvine. The award-winning documentary screening takes place on Friday, May 14th from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm  at UC Irvine Schneiderman Lecture Hall, Room 100A.

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant, yet untold story of the $2 million U.S. initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country from the impending threat of the Communist regime. These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis. Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents and organizations directly involved, the documentary takes a contemporary look at Operation Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.

Lee Ngo, UC Irvine PhD student in the department of anthropology and organizer of the event, reflected upon the theme of cultural identity found in Tammy Nguyen Lee’s feature documentary. “With respect to the heated debates over interpreting the aftermath of the Vietnam War, it’s hard to choose a subject of analysis that manages to supersede many of the cultural politics of representation and identity. Tammy does exactly this through her diligent and powerful documentary,” said Ngo. “I think anyone that’s interested in formations of ethnic identity, an alternative to the hegemonic American perspective in contemporary Vietnamese history, and the complexity of international altruism should see this film. It is certainly one of the highlights of the 2009 Vietnamese International Film Festival,” said Ngo.

There will also be a Q&A following the screening with the film’ producer and director, Tammy Nguyen Lee.   “We had our world premiere at ViFF and are thrilled to return to Southern California to share this inspiring story during what is a most significant month for our community’s history,” said Lee, a MFA graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program.

The free community screening is sponsored by the UCI Department of Anthropology, UCI Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC), UCI Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA) and the Union of Vietnamese Students Association of Southern California (UVSA). Tammy Nguyen Lee is a first generation Vietnamese American and founded ATG Against the Grain Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages. This is her feature documentary directorial debut. For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com. Additional information for the UCI community screening is available at www.TheBabylift.com or www.vietfilmfest.com.