Category: Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam

Dallas Debut of OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM

OB poster 4

THE DALLAS DEBUT OF OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM  

TO BE PRESENTED AT FILMASIAFEST

DALLAS, TX – Locally based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions will present the Dallas debut of Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the inaugural filmAsiafest on Friday, September 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the Dallas Museum of Art. The award-winning documentary described as “Amazing…compelling and hard hitting,” by Bolsavik.com plays from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the producing team.  An added element that evening is a charity reception, Cocktails for a Cause, hosted immediately after the screening at the Dallas Center for Architecture, with guest musical performances by Mina Chang and cast member Jared Rehberg, along with a one-night only exhibit of the work of established and emerging Asian American photographers from around the country. Several pieces will be on auction to benefit orphanages in Vietnam.

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.

“FilmAsiafest is honored to present the Dallas premiere of Operation Babylift by a local filmmaker, Tammy Nguyen Lee,” said Chiho Mori, Director of filmAsia, a new film initiative created by the Crow Collection of Asian Art. “Operation Babylift exemplifies the shared goals of filmAsia and the Crow Collection, which is preserving and promoting the arts and cultures of Asia. We believe that film is an accessible art form that brings people together to experience the artistic diversity of Asia. It is our hope that this program will promote and support the filmmakers of today, as well as those of tomorrow, such as Tammy.”

Dallas-based filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee, an SMU alum and graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program, is proud to share the passion project that took nearly four years to produce. “This has been a long time coming. I’m thrilled to partner with filmAsia to finally bring this project to my hometown.” Cast member Jared Rehberg, also an Associate Producer on the project, added, “It’s an honor to be part of this special event. This film is so close and dear to my heart. I look forward to sharing our stories from Operation Babylift.”

Tickets to the screening will be sold online starting late August. Tickets to Cocktails for a Cause are available at www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.  ATG Against the Grain Productions is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.

Brisbane Transcultural Adoptee Films and Panel

There will be a special screening of the ‘Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam’ trailer at the Brisbane Transcultural Adoptee Films and Panel, ‘An Exploration & Celebration of Adoptee Perspectives’.

The event is aimed at showcasing adoptees’ own perspectives on inter-country adoption, a practice made famous by celebrity adopters such as Madonna and ‘Brangelina’ but with the voices of adoptees usually left in their shadows.

For more information, please visit the festival’s website.

Going Against The Grain: Jared Rehberg

Jared Rehberg, musician, Babylift adoptee and newlywed, took a moment to sit down with us to discuss his past, present and upcoming album.

Jared Rehberg performing in New York City
Jared Rehberg performing in NYC.

Full name:

Jared Evan Vu Tien Anh Rehberg

Birthdate/Hometown:

I was born somewhere around Saigon, Vietnam in 1974 and was brought to An Lac orphanage under the care of Betty Tisdale and Madam Vu Ngai.  I was adopted in 1975 during Operation Babylift and spent my childhood in Northborough, Massachusetts.

Current Residence:

Woodside, Queens with my wife, Ying.

What inspired you to do music?

After attending two Vietnamese adoptee reunions in 2000, (Baltimore and Estes Park, Colorado) I realized I had new questions and emotions building inside.  Even some older questions came into the light.  With a few years of self-taught guitar lessons, I turned my heavy metal cover songs into chord progressions. I mixed in some James Taylor and Indigo Girls records and I was on my way.  After hours of brainstorming and drawings, I wrote a few songs and shared them with my family and friends.  After numerous requests for a recording, I realized that an audience existed and began making my first record, Waking Up American. My first songs were dedications to my birth family and my blurry childhood.  At one time I thought that if my song made it on the radio, I might find my birth family them someday.

I quickly found success within the adoption community, performing at culture/heritage camps for Asian adoptees.  I was invited to adoption conferences to meet on panels about my experiences. During the anniversary of Operation Babylift, I had the honor to perform for the volunteers and travel to Vietnam to play at the palace in HCMC.  After moving to New York in 2004, I found a special community in Chinatown and became a regular at a small open mic that attracted new artists.

What has been some of the biggest challenges you have faced?  How did you overcome these obstacles?

One of my biggest challenges has been balancing my day job with my beloved life work. I wish I had more time to follow new ideas and interests. Finding time to promote my work and pay for music studio time was challenging. I’m grateful for everything I have created and the opportunities I’ve been given thus far. One of my highlights was meeting Tammy Nguyen Lee and joining her husband, George, on the Operation Babylift film that was instantly close to my heart.  My employers had been generous enough to allow me to travel for benefit shows and camps.  Sometimes, I had to let opportunities go to try new things. In the beginning, I was known for my life story and less for my music.  My new record welcomed studio artists into my recordings and greater attention to the music in the song. With my original writing style and talented friends, I could only get better. Dreams of fame pushed me along the way in the beginning.  I remember having hopes of being famous.  After seven years of playing around the country part-time, I’m so grateful for not being so famous.  I truly discovered the gift I offer and the enjoyment of singing for my special community and all who are curious about my journey.

What is the most important advice/message you would like to give?

My message would be about being yourself 100% and letting your heart and brain speak in harmony.  In all areas of life, I believe confidence comes from knowing how you feel and what you know.  I feel that being raised with an open mind and outlets for creativity helped me express my emotions and gave me an opening for my passion to learn new things and appreciate how big this universe really is.  I saw a divided world growing up.  I was confused at all the anger and violence over beliefs and how unique we all look.  My eyes saw a division in race, religion and economic status.  I sometimes felt I was watching the world from the sideline.  I didn’t feel white or Asian.  I didn’t feel Christian, Jewish and etc.  My world was like a movie.  I was the main character walking through life waiting for the next opportunity, wondering where I would end up around the corner.  My lack of pride for race, religion or economic status has been a blessing.  I’m somewhere in the middle.

When are you planning on releasing your new CD?

My new CD, tentatively titled Somewhere in the Middle, will be released in August 2009. This album is a scrapbook of my journey over the past seven years. I’ve worked really hard on this record and have so many wonderful memories working with my friends and family to make this project special. I have songs about adoption, a wedding song I wrote for my cousin and a dedication to a good friend who left me too soon in life. I recently sang a song for my parents at my wedding reception, thanking them for all their support throughout the years. All of the tracks represent the world through my eyes. I hope my audience will see how unique I am and just how much we have in common.

Check out Jared at our upcoming Dallas premiere of Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam on Friday, September 25th with filmAsia Festival at the Magnolia Theatre. He will also be a special guest performer at our Cocktails for a Cause charity event, taking place immediately after the screening at the Dallas Center for Architecture.  Tickets to Cocktails for a Cause will be available on our website beginning August 1st.

ViFF 2009 Wraps Up with Awards to Top Films

VIFF 2009 Winners
VIFF 2009 Winners

April 23, 2009

Trống Đồng Awards went to FOOTY LEGENDS (feature), directed by Khoa Đỗ and A Summer Rain (short), directed by Ela Thier.

Audience Choice Awards went to OPERATION BABYLIFT: The Lost Children of Vietnam (feature), directed by Tammy Nguyễn Lee and Delivery Day (short), directed by Jane Manning.

Irvine, CA-The 4th biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) closed on April 12th to a cheering crowd with the Southern California premiere of ALL ABOUT DAD, a feature debut by Mark Tran. The night went on with a jungle-themed gala. All events took place at the University of California in Irvine (UCI).

Carrying the theme of Into View, the 8-day film festival featured over sixty short and feature films by emerging and established filmmakers from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and the United States. The event attracted more than 3,000 cinema enthusiasts from all over the world and was extensively covered by international and local press.

The prestigious Trống Đồng Awards were presented to FOOTY LEGENDS (feature), directed by Khoa Đỗ (Australia) and A Summer Rain (short), directed by Ela Thier (USA). “I am thrilled that FOOTY LEGENDS has been awarded the 2009 Vietnamese International Film Festival’s highest honor, the Grand Jury “Trống Đồng” Award in Irvine,” said director Khoa Đỗ. “For an Australian film to be recognized in this way is very rare and on behalf of all Australians back home, we are delighted to accept this award.”

Audience Choice Awards went to OPERATION BABYLIFT: The Lost Children of Vietnam (feature), directed by Tammy Nguyễn Lee and Delivery Day (short), directed by Jane Manning. “Being invited to join the growing Vietnamese American artist community and have our world premiere at VIFF was a huge honor. With the adoptees and Babylift volunteers in attendance, it was truly a special and unique evening. “We are so grateful for the warm reception we received at VIFF and even more thrilled to receive the Audience Choice Award,” producer/director Tammy Nguyễn Lee said.

ViFF also presented the Spotlight Award to actor Dustin Nguyễn to celebrate the great achievements that mark his acting career. The award was handed to Dustin Nguyễn by the renowned actress Kiều Chinh.

ViFF was spread throughout Southern California with screenings at UC Irvine’s Film and Video Center and Edwards University Cinema 6, both in Irvine, UCLA in Los Angeles, CA, and Bowers Museum, Santa Ana.

ViFF is presented by the two non-profit organizations Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and UCLA’s Vietnamese Language and Culture (VNLC). ViFF was established in October 2003 to showcase Vietnamese and Vietnamese Diasporic filmmakers. ViFF’s mission is to support, celebrate, and project a diversity of visions and voices from filmmakers of Vietnamese descent and films by, for, and about the Vietnamese people and culture.

ViFF is made possible by sponsorships/support of: Ford Foundation; UC Irvine (School of Humanities, Department of Film and Media Studies, Film and Video Center, Community & Government Relations, UCI Advancement,Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA), Department of Asian American Studies, International Center for Writing and Translation (ICWT), Cross Cultural Center, Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC), Vietnamese Student Association(VSA), Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA), UCLA’s Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board, Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board, Undergraduate Student Association (USAC); Bowers Museum, Wells Fargo, Union Bank, State Farm, Dr. & Mrs. Jan Vilcek, Jayvee Hiep Mai, Elite Insurance, Nguyet Cam Music, Wave Releasing, Chakra Restaurant, DTN-Tech, Karuna Healthcare, White Knight International, Inc., St. Anselm’s Cross Cultural Community Center…

Media sponsors: VAN-TV, VHN-TV, LA18 (KSCI), VNCR, QMS Media Group, Little Saigon Radio, Hon Viet TV, Viet Tide, Saigon TV, VBS TV, OC Life Magazine….

Co-presenters: American Red Cross – Orange County Chapter, API Equality-LA, Asian Pacific American Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Asian Pacific Legal Center Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA) at UC Irvine, Club O’ Noodles, Hawaii International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian, Pacific Film Festival, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), Project MotiVATe (MotivatingVietnamese American Teens), San Diego Asian Film Festival, St. Anselm’s Cross-Cultural Community Center, The Cambodian Family, UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF), Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC) at UC Irvine, Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA) at UC Irvine, Vietnamese American Law Student Association at Chapman University School of Law (VALSA), Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO), Vietnamse Student Association (VSA) at UC Irvine.

"OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM" WINS VIFF AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD!

Adoptees and Babylift volunteers with Tammy Nguyen Lee (Producer/Director) and George Lee (Executive Producer) at the world premiere of "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam."
Adoptees and Babylift volunteers with Tammy Nguyen Lee (Producer Director) and George Lee (Executive Producer) at the world premiere of "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam."

OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL DEBUT AT THE 2009 VIETNAMESE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Documentary Wins the Coveted VIFF Audience Choice Award

DALLAS, TX, April 15, 2009 – On Friday, April 3, 2009 ATG Against the Grain Productions premiered Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) in Santa Ana, California to a packed theatre at the Bowers Museum.  The feature documentary, described as “amazing…compelling and hard hitting” by Bolsavik.com, details the 1975 United States airlift of over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans during the tumultuous time leading up to the Fall of Saigon. The film was recently given the coveted Audience Choice Award over other highly regarded films.

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee says:  “Being invited to join the growing Vietnamese American artist community and have our world premiere at VIFF was a huge honor.  With the adoptees and Babylift volunteers in attendance, it was truly a special and unique evening. We are so grateful for the warm reception we received at VIFF and even more thrilled to receive the Audience Choice Award. It means a lot to all of us, especially screening among a group of so many wonderful films, and knowing that this was the film that touched peoples’ hearts.”

Several cast members were delighted with the success of the premiere. Bert Ballard, an adoptee who flew in from Waterloo, Ontario, says, “I am very excited that Ms. Lee’s film was selected for the VIFF Audience Choice Award.  This selection represents the importance of Operation Babylift and the experiences of adopted Vietnamese persons to the Vietnamese American community. I look forward to future opportunities where this film can open up dialogue and share with others the experiences of adopted persons of Operation Babylift.”

Lieutenant Commander and adoptee Mark Slavik attended the screening from Seattle, Washington and said, “Watching this documentary brought back emotions and memories of a time that I almost forgot.  Growing up I just didn’t have a good understanding or maturity to acknowledge my past.  Again, this documentary… really helped me to reconnect with my past.  This is a truly positive experience for me and it is a great honor to be a part of this history.”

Los Angeles based adoptee and cast member DC Wolfe adds, “It is wonderful to know that there is still an interest in real stories that present all aspects of life–struggles, joy, heartache and support. Since being involved with the film, I have discovered a kinship in fellow adoptees. I commend VIFF for believing in the film and respect Tammy for her hard work and believing in our journey.”

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant yet untold story of the $2 million dollar US initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country to protect them 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 movie takes a contemporary look at Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.  The feature documentary was a passionate team effort that took over 4 years to produce and is currently making its way through the film festival circuit. For more information, please visit www.TheBabylift.com

Dallas based non profit ATG Against the Grain Productions was formed to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information, please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com

Up Close and Personal with OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM

Kristine Sa of the “Kristine Sa Show” got up close and personal with our very own film-maker Tammy Nguyen Lee, alongside Bert & Sarah Ballard, Tiffany Goodson, and DC Wolfe of award-winning documentary film Operation Babylift : The Lost Children Of Vietnam and Against the Grain Productions. Check out this first-time, intimate interview with Tammy and the cast of Operation Babylift!

Pt 1 of 4

Pt 2 of 4

Pt 3 of 4

Pt 4 of 4

Thank you, Kristine Sa and VHN-TV, for sitting down with us!

"Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam" World Premiere at VIFF

After four long years, we are so happy to announce that “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam” is finished and will world premiere at the Vietnamese International Film Festival at 7:30pm Friday, April 3rd at the beautiful Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA. There will be a Q&A and reception afterwards.  We hope that you can make it if you’re in the neighborhood. Tickets are available for $8 at the VIFF website!

Below is an article from The Orange County Register promoting the festival:

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Vietnamese film festival returns to O.C.

More than 60 movies from seven countries on tap April 2-5 and 9-12.

By RICHARD CHANG
The Orange County Register
The fourth Vietnamese International Film Festival gets under way Thursday with a movie about a war-torn family that finds redemption through rugby.
“Footy Legends,” a Vietnamese Australian movie directed by Khoa Do and starring Anh Do, will screen at Edwards University 6 in Irvine and kick off the biennial film festival, which runs April 2-5 and 9-12 in Irvine and Los Angeles.
More than 60 films are scheduled for the growing fest, called “ViFF” by organizers and participants. This year’s theme is “Into View,” and the emerging and established filmmakers in the program hail from seven different countries.
“It’s a very broad theme, actually,” said Ysa Le, co-director of the film fest, which started in October 2003. “We were hoping we’d get films to engage the audience. Indeed, the films will bring out a lot of issues. A lot of the films are documentaries this year.”
After opening night, most screenings will take place at UC Irvine and UCLA. For the first time, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana will serve as a ViFF venue, hosting a free high school day on April 3 and a free senior citizens day on April 10.
Other highlights include: the world premiere April 3 of “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam” at the Bowers, with some adoptees present; the world premiere April 4 of “Sad Fish,” directed by Le-Van Kiet (“Dust of Life”) and starring Orange County resident Kieu Chinh (“The Joy Luck Club,” “Journey From the Fall”) and Long Nguyen (also from “Journey From the Fall”).
On April 11, ViFF will present a Spotlight Award to actor and former Orange County resident Dustin Nguyen, best known for playing Officer Harry Ioki in the TV series “21 Jump Street.” Recently, Nguyen played a villain in “The Rebel,” the opening film of the 2007 Vietnamese International Film Festival. Following the award ceremony, ViFF will screen 2005’s “Little Fish,” starring Nguyen, Cate Blanchett, Sam Neil and Hugo Weaving.
“All About Dad,” written and directed by Mark Tran, will close the festival on April 12.
This year, there will be four free panel discussions: “Crossing Boundaries: Female Filmmakers and Questions of Genre and Gender” on April 5; “Combating Human Trafficking: How Can You Help?” on April 5; “Rebuilding the Community Post-Katrina” on April 11; and “Reel to Real: International Networks” on April 12.
ViFF is presented by two nonprofit organizations – the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association and UCLA’s Vietnamese Language and Culture. The festival has become one of the nation’s largest gatherings for Vietnamese cinema, a launching pad for aspiring filmmakers, as well as a popular social event for local Vietnamese Americans.
Film is “a way to share the stories with a lot of people,” Le said. “Nowadays, technology is very effective. One of the best ways to tell our story is through this art.”
About 4,000 people attended the festival in 2007, and organizers are hoping to match or exceed that number this year. Tickets are $8 general, $6 for seniors and students. Special events cost more.
For more information, call 714-893-6145 or visit www.VietFilmFest.com.

Interview of Operation Babylift Adoptee–Robert Ballard

One of our very own adoptees, Robert Ballard, was interviewed for Canadian press The Record.com!

Robert Ballard
Robert Ballard

Read the original posting here:

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Lost children of Vietnam TheRecord.com – CanadaWorld – Lost children of Vietnam

Thirty-four years ago, 3,300 orphans were evacuated from a war-torn Saigon in a massive humanitarian effort called Operation Babylift. UW’s Robert Ballard was one of those children

Published 04.02.2009

WATERLOO

He was much too young to make sense of the chaos.

At just three weeks old, the child who would later be named Robert Ballard could not have understood why he and hundreds of other Vietnamese orphans were being corralled onto a military airplane.

A tiny wristband on his arm bore the name Vu Tien Do II — his only link to an identity and a family history that would intrigue him for the rest of his life.

Growing up in Colorado, he would often ask his adoptive parents about Operation Babylift — the 1975 evacuation of orphans from wartorn Vietnam — and they told him as much as they knew.

But Ballard was haunted by questions of heritage and belonging, and wondered what became of the other children from Saigon’s orphanages.

Some of his questions may be answered tomorrow night, when Ballard — now an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo — attends the world premiere in California of the documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam.

“I’m glad people will get to hear our stories and voices as Vietnamese adoptees,” Ballard said yesterday in his UW office.

Ballard is featured prominently in the documentary, not only as a Vietnamese adoptee himself, but also because he and his wife are now in the process of adopting a baby boy from Vietnam.

Much of Ballard’s academic work focuses on issues surrounding international adoption practices, and he is working on a soon-to-be-published book aimed at providing guidance for adopted teens.

Ballard and his wife will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow morning to attend the premiere of the film among fellow adoptees and director Tammy Nguyen Lee, as part of the Vietnamese International Film Festival.

The film documents the frenzied efforts that ensued when then-U.S. president Gerald Ford approved Operation Babylift, which ultimately saw the evacuation of roughly 3,300 children from Vietnam to the United States, Canada, France and other nations.

How, exactly, Ballard ended up on one of the flights is a mystery. There is no record of him at a Saigon orphanage. It’s possible he was one of many babies brought to the airport at the last minute by desperate parents hoping the airlift would carry the children toward safer, happier lives.

Such uncertainties have troubled Ballard in the past, but through his own research and involvement in the documentary, he has gained perspective on the events that shaped his life 34 years ago.

“I don’t harbour any resentment toward the people who made those difficult decisions,” he says.

“This is the life I have been given and I have made the best of what I’ve been given.”

chunter@therecord.com

Watch a trailer of Operation Babylift at www.thebabylift.com