Still from What I Wanted Most, illustrated by Christina Chung
For the first time ever, Think!Chinatown is proud to present a selection of Asian American history-focused storytelling projects in our “Once Upon A Time in Chinatown” film series at Chinatown Storytelling Festival! The “Once Upon A Time in Chinatown” film series takes us from the wider Asian American histories that have shaped Chinatown to the personal stories of our neighbors who call Chinatown home from the 1970’s all the way to today. Featuring George Chew and Taiyo Na, the fourth chapter of An Ode to Our Generations will premiere with this program.
Films from the Think!Chinatown Collection: An Ode to Our Generations featuring George Chew & Taiyo Na, What I Wanted Most and Rocking the Boat from the Art of Storytelling series, and She Says
Films from DCTV: Canal Street: First Stop in America
Films from Third World Newsreel: From Spike to Spindles
An Ode to Our Generations featuring George Chew & Taiyo Na
Original music by: Chris Ijima, Nobuko Yamamoto, and Charlie Chin | Performed by: treya lam and Taiyo Na / Editor: Hai-Li Kong | Producer: Yin Kong | Story Production: Rochelle Hoi-Yiu Kwan
In English
In the fourth chapter of Think!Chinatown’s An Ode to the Generations series, we bring together spoken word poets George Chew and Taiyo Na to remember beloved poets Fay Chiang and Frances Chung of Basement Workshop and Yellow Pearl.
This piece is a part of Think!Chinatown’s An Ode to Our Generations series, which pays tribute to the generations of artist-activists in Chinatown of the past and present. In 1972, the collective known as Basement Workshop in Chinatown, NYC published the art book Yellow Pearl. Originally meant to illustrate the music of Chris Iijima, Nobuko Miyamoto, and Charlie Chin, Yellow Pearl grew into a 57 page compilation of writing, art, and music by over 30 Asian American artists.
What I Wanted Most
Audio Production: Rochelle Hoi-Yiu Kwan | Video Production: Hai-Li Kong | Producer: Yin Kong
In Cantonese with English subtitles
Artist Christina Chung brings the story of our Chinatown neighbors, Yan Ping Zhong and Ying Wu, to life. In What I Wanted Most, Yan Ping Zhong remembers her difficult journey as an immigrant from Guangzhou, China to Panama to New York City’s Chinatown. Through their memories of migration and the once booming garment factories of Chinatown, Yan Ping and her daughter, Ying Wu, challenge us to demystify the promises of the American Dream and Gold Mountain that continue to bring immigrants to Chinatown and the U.S. for a better life for their loved ones.
Rocking the Boat
Audio Production: Rochelle Hoi-Yiu Kwan | Story Editor: Hai-Li Kong | Producer & Curator: Yin Kong
In English
Artist Sophia Deng brings the exciting story of Yee Ling Poon to life. Rocking the Boat focuses on the pioneering advocate Yee Ling Poon. This season’s Art of Storytelling focuses on the pioneering advocate Yee Ling Poon, following her time with Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and the Basement Workshop.
These two pieces are a part of Think!Chinatown’s Art of Storytelling series, which brings us into the everyday lives of people who have long called Chinatown home. Bringing together our neighbors and Asian American artists, this series challenges us to reimagine how we collectively remember and honor the histories of our Chinatown community members.
She Says
Director of Photography: Liam Lee | Editor: Cathy You | Curated and Produced by: Yin Kong
In Cantonese with English subtitles
She Says is a dance film featuring the work of dancer and choreographer, Mei-Yin Ng. With excerpts from Sit, Eat, Chew 五味杂陈, Ng will take you on a guided immersive dance through Manhattan’s Chinatown to uncover two personal stories in exterior and interior locations throughout Chinatown. The Chinese proverb – Wǔ Wèi Zá Chén 五味杂陈 – references the five traditional tastes of cooking (sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty) to describe the complex emotions in life’s ups and downs. These stories have become the creative and emotional inspiration for the dance theater performance. The stories of two women in two different time periods of Chinatown come to life through this film.
Canal Street: First Stop in America (excerpt)
Director: Keiko Tsuno and Peter Kwong
In English
Less than a mile long, Canal Street is the dirtiest and noisiest, but also the most vibrant and dynamic street in New York City. Emmy® Award-winning director/producer Keiko Tsuno and Asian-American issues specialist Peter Kwong take us on an insiders-only journey into life on this make-it-or-break-it street. From the bustling underground world of counterfeit goods, street vendors, shanty towns and sweatshops, witness the struggle of hardworking people subject not only to the difficulties of their labor but to a street with a law of its own.
From Spike to Spindles
Director: Christine Choy
In English
This raw, gutsy portrait of New York's Chinatown captures the early days of an emerging consciousness in the community.