“I felt I had wings and that I could fly; that I could do something with my life.”
— Kevin, an Asian American undocumented student, upon being accepted to UCLA (Dreams from the Underground)
DREAMS FROM THE UNDERGROUND, presented by Visual Communications through the support of the Asian Pacific Community Fund, was an event at the 28th annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Featuring the talents of “underground” artists, those who operate outside mainstream media, the event and culminating film became a platform to bring awareness of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) and for the UCLA DREAM Resource Center and undocumented Asian American youth to seek support.
The number of undocumented Asian Americans is staggering, and often left unnoticed, overshadowed, or unspoken. According to the Department of Homeland Security in 2011, there are 1.3 million undocumented Asian Americans in the United States. It is estimated that 416,000 of those undocumented Asian Americans are in California.
Seven years ago, Tam Tran, under the guidance and mentorship of VC’s Armed With a Camera Fellowship, produced a groundbreaking film, LOST AND FOUND, that created national awareness of the plight of undocumented youth. Tran unified her passion for filmmaking with her commitment to assist undocumented students like herself to attend college and attain legal status. In addition to testifying in Congress to plead for passage of the DREAM Act, Tran continued her passionate effort with the UCLA Downtown Labor Center. It is there where she continued the work she started with her film and inspired the creation of DREAM Summer, an internship program that is the first of its kind to give DREAM Act-eligible student leaders the opportunity to gain leadership skills within social-justice organizations. Visual Communications chose to continue the legacy of Tran through the event and film, DREAMS FROM THE UNDERGROUND.
DREAMS From the Underground | Filmmaker: TIM JIEH
From music videos to documentaries, VC's Armed With A Camera Fellow Tim Jieh has been a leading creative force in television, promotional, and new media content. In 2011, Jieh co-curated Dreams Deferred: Street Artists Respond To Immigration Reform, an art show and exhibit at the Chinese American Museum featuring works from EYE ONE, OG SLICK, Shepard Fairy, Patrick Martinez, amongst many others.
CURRENT STATUS / POLITICAL INFO
June 2012 marked the moment where the Obama Administration announced that it would accept requests for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an initiative designed to temporarily suspend the deportation of young people who were brought to the U.S. as children illegally. This program will be implemented for students who have graduated from U.S. schools and match the criteria established under legislative proposals like the DREAM Act.
THE UNDERGROUND ARTISTS
PAPER SON
Christopher Woon a.k.a. Paper Son is a filmmaker, music producer/DJ and scholar who uses art and writing to convey not only his experiences but those who are often overlooked in society. His name, Paper Son, is a tribute to his Chinese American ancestry.
DJ POET
Two-time Grammy nominated producer DJ Poet completed The E.N.D. world tour as a DJ for the Black Eyed Peas. He has released electronic dance singles now available on ITunes and Beatport, with 2012 chart topper “Digital” and “Everyday’s Valentine”. Alongside partner Will.I.Am, he will be featured in the anticipated reality show “Ultrabook Project” (Intel), where he will be traveling the world to work in 12 different countries in music, fashion, and community work.
TIGER STRIPE
After making the move from India to the U.S. as a child, Ashish Sharma found solace in the hit songs he found in Bollywood movies. The musical aspects of Bollywood had led to his interest in producing his own music. Now known under the moniker Tiger Stripe, he is a believer that music will always be a part of his life.
LEAGUES
Anthony Jusi, otherwise known as Leagues, is a musician and DJ based in Los Angeles. He is now a resident Dj at BOUNCE (Los Globos), while promoting his latest EP, If You Knew.
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