Director Eugene Yi has always been interested in the term Asian American and Pacific Islander and which ethnicities it includes.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e talking about Asian Americans or Asian people in the U.S., oftentimes it鈥檚 people who might look like you and me, and maybe not people who look like (New York City Mayor) Zohran Mamdani,” Yi told The Associated Press. 鈥淲hy is that when this term is supposed to be so capacious and so inclusive?鈥�
So Yi, who is Korean American, was beyond excited when approached to helm a new HBO documentary dedicated to AAPI identity and community.
Timed for release during , 鈥淭he A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas鈥� drops Wednesday on HBO Max. It’s the latest in 鈥淭he List Series鈥� created by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. The franchise has previously produced documentaries on prominent Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ Americans.
In the documentary, Yi captures no-frills, intimate interviews conducted by journalist Jada Yuan with 15 people of AAPI heritage across industries. They include , Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth and 鈥淏asement Bhangra鈥� creator . Actors Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani and 鈥� who are sometimes more associated with comical roles 鈥� also shared their thoughts about identity and belonging.
鈥淲hen talking to people who are professionally funny, oftentimes they鈥檙e really comfortable not being funny,鈥� in unscripted conversation, Yi said. 鈥淚 appreciated that chance to get a little bit deeper into some of their stories.鈥�
Stars say talking about growing up AAPI on camera was cathartic
Yia Vang, chef and owner of Vinai, a popular Hmong restaurant in Minneapolis, filmed his 鈥淎 List鈥� interview three years ago. Since then he’s been featured in various cooking and lifestyle shows. Vang, who was born in a Thai refugee camp until his family settled in Wisconsin when he was 4, likened the experience of being interviewed on camera to a confessional.
Vang tearfully recounts to viewers how his desire to not be 鈥渢he weird kid鈥� drove him to throw out school lunches of sticky rice and fermented vegetables packed by his mother. He did not expect to get emotional but the memory sparked a core life lesson.
鈥淚 will never, ever try to be 鈥榗ool,鈥欌�� Vang said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I guess I get so intense about like how we do our food here. Not because I鈥檓 chasing perfection or some kind of award, but I just want to make sure I stay true to the integrity that they (my parents) laid before me.鈥�
In what Vang calls 鈥渇ull-circle redemption,鈥� those dishes he used to throw out are now on his restaurant’s menu.
Last month, Vang got a taste of reactions to the documentary back home at a Milwaukee Film Festival screening. He definitely was not seen as the weird guy.
鈥淭he audience really connected because I鈥檓 a Wisconsin boy,鈥� Vang said. A few approached him just to say 鈥淚t’s so awesome to see a Midwest kid in there.鈥�
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders still struggle for visibility
Asian Americans make up one of the fastest growing U.S. populations. Still, adults in the U.S. have a harder time recognizing the influence of AAPI people than people from other racial groups, according to a new survey by The Asian American Foundation.
The annual Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the United States, or STAATUS, Index, done in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, found 4 in 10 U.S. adults cannot think of a single, famous Asian American; Jackie Chan, who is not American, was among the most frequently named. About half were unable to name examples of famous Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an indication of just how for most of America 鈥� and our data shows this as well 鈥� people get most of their information about Asian Americans not so much from direct contacts, but from the media,鈥� said Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation.
Chen recently attended a screening of 鈥淭he A List.鈥� He applauded the breadth of personal stories Yi and his team curated. It’s a film he’s not sure would have gotten made a decade ago. So, it was gratifying to see how moved the audience was by stories recounted by celebrities and everyday people.
鈥淓ven people that we don鈥檛 know have such powerful stories to show you the depth and richness of our community and the struggles that we鈥檝e had to go through in multiple generations,鈥� Chen said.
Working on a film about identity as the political climate changed
When Yi and the crew started working on the documentary, Vice President Kamala Harris was running against Donald Trump for president. Now under a Republican Trump administration that vehemently opposes Yi acknowledges how the documentary might come off as inherently political.
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e certainly seen during the stretch of time 鈥� just speaking for myself 鈥� is just how quickly things can backslide and how quickly people can be erased,鈥� Yi said. 鈥淲e literally have people being disappeared on the streets and we literally have histories being erased.鈥�
He is especially gratified that some of the documentary’s older participants related to such as a story told by activist Kathy Masaoka, whose mother was held in Japanese American incarceration camps. Yi hopes people recognize the struggles AAPI people have endured in the past and present while building community.
鈥淲e can really move forward from this moment in terms of rebuilding and reclaiming and taking up space with confidence and hope again,鈥� Yi said.
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