DGA Monthly

J U N E 2 0 2 5 I 2 9 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup The Asian American Committee (AAC) honored decades of achievement on May 3, as members gathered in the Guild's Los Angeles theater for their annual event. Under the title, Breaking Boundaries: 25 Years of AAPI Voices in Film and TV, the program featured a two-part celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have made an impact in film and television. Following a welcome by DGA Associate National Executive Director/ Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine, the current AAC Co-Chairs Maureen Bharoocha, Alan Chu and Michael Goi and Alternate Co-Chair Debbie Formoso welcomed past Co-Chairs Kai Kim, Lily Mariye, Kevin Berlandi, Steven Kung, Lisa Chu, Ron Dempsey, Babu Subramanian, Chris Tashima, Ken Wada, Henry Chan, Victor Ho and Geeta Malik to the stage in order of most recent to earliest tenures, for a commemoration of their service to the Committee and the audience was treated to a screening of a highlight reel of past events. In the first panel, AAPI DGA Nominees, 2024 DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs nominees Michael Goi (Avatar: The Last Airbender, "Aang") and Jennifer Phang (Descendants: The Rise of Red) and three-time Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs nominee Rich Kim (Lego Masters, "Is It Brick?" 2023, Lego Masters, "Jurass-brick World" 2022 and Lego Masters, "Mega City Block" 2020) discussed the creative vision behind their acclaimed films and television shows in a conversation moderated by Alternate Co- Chair Formoso. Speaking about his directorial approach on Lego Masters, Kim said, "I like having set pieces connected to motors and things flying in and out and big cues happening all at the same time with lighting and using different cinema lenses. You are constantly figuring out unique and interesting ways of how to capture this coverage without disrupting this immersive world, but also getting your shots." Goi recalled the intense search for his lead actor for Avatar: The Last Airbender. "We had Casting Directors all over the world and as it turns out Gordon lived just four miles away from the studio in Vancouver. When I am introducing a character, I like to do something visual that is special for them. With Gordon, we wanted to have that mystery of him and establish him." For Phang, teamwork truly made the dream work while filming Descendants: The Rise of Red. "My Assistant Director would chase me and say things like, 'We need to know who turns pink in "Life Is Sweeter.'" So, we would sit down and brainstorm. The bigger answer is that you get yourself a great team." The second panel was a Spotlight Conversation with Directors Andrew Ahn (The Wedding Banquet, Bridgerton, Generation), Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, Twisters, The Mandalorian) and –Karyn Kusama (Yellowjackets, The Invitation, Girlfight) discussing the art of filmmaking and offering valuable insights into their creative processes and the paths they've taken to become master storytellers in a conversation moderated by Co-Chair Bharoocha. Looking back at her earlier career, Kusama noted, "There was a point — probably working on Jennifer's Body — that I understood my primary role is to have a relationship with the actors that offers them a place to feel trusted, guided, free, and open. The only way I can show up for them in that way, is to mirror that back to them. Now more than anything I try not to control what I see right away. I'm always relearning to be present with what's happening." Ahn revealed what he has learned from working in television. "The first time I used a process trailer was on a TV show. The first time I did stunts was on a TV show. The first time I worked with an intimacy coordinator was on a TV show. It's a great training ground if you get that opportunity." "I did a lot of micro budget features before Minari," Chung recalled. "I just remember there was already a culture in place the way indie crew and people operate. That was a learning curve. From there, I did The Mandalorian, and that was very helpful to figure out how things work. I like the studio system because it feels like a massive circus, everyone's a little crazy and it's fun to go in there and be a part of it. I wonder, can we get into this bigger system and try to do something interesting with it?" 1. AAC Co-Chair Maureen Bharoocha (moderator) and Directors Karyn Kusama, Andrew Ahn and Lee Isaac Chung engage in the Spotlight Conversation. 2. The AAPI DGA Nominees panel featured Directors Jennifer Phang, Rich Kim and Michael Goi and AAC Alternate Co-Chair Debbie Formoso (moderator). 3. Current AAC Co-Chairs Alan Chu and Michael Goi, Alternate Co-Chair Debbie Formoso and Current Co-Chair Maureen Bharoocha honor past Co-Chairs Kai Kim, Geeta Malik, Lily Mariye, Kevin Berlandi, Steven Kung, Ron Dempsey, Lisa Chu, Babu Subramanian, Chris Tashima, Ken Wada, Henry Chan, and Victor Ho for their service to the Committee. Breaking Boundaries: 25 Years of AAPI Voices in Film and TV A DGA Asian American Committee Event 1 2 3 photos by Elisa Haber

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