TO MY TEXAN FOLLOWERS and followers interested in Asian representation in the media.
So I’m interning with a filmmaker named Benson Lee, who is currently trying to distribute his movie Seoul Searching. It’s an all Asian American cast (which I believe, if it is distributed, would make it the third ever all AA cast) set in 1986 Korea. It uses the ‘80s movie aesthetic and tropes to insert Asian Americans and their stories into a cinematic identity we were previously excluded from.
I can critique the movie and raise points about its politics or editing, but at the end of it all, this movie made me feel something. I had to hold back tears on three separate occasions (and failed once) because I have never seen such a Korean story so beautifully universalized on any screen ever. Ever. In my 20 years of existence.
So, it’s having a screening in Dallas this Thursday July 16. I’d love it if anyone in the area would RSVP to the Facebook event and go check it out with your friends.
We’re following that up with a New York screening July 25 at the AAIFF and a Los Angeles screening tentatively August 7.
Obviously this is important to me because the success of my internship depends on it, but I can’t stress enough how heartbreaking it was for me to realize how underrepresented I am only by finally seeing my story portrayed on screen through this movie. If you like John Hughes movies, you’ll love this. If you like Asian representation, you’ll love this. If you like a fun romcom drama, you’ll love this.
Seoul Searching is launching its Indiegogo campaign tomorrow to fund its distribution tour! At the risk of sounding like an advertisement check out its Facebook page and keep up with this movie. I really don’t want it to disappear into obscurity and fall to the wayside as so many Asian representation projects do.
If you don’t mind reblogging to spread the word, I’d really appreciate it!
