VOICE – Variety of individual choices everyday
What do you see in present day commercials or TV shows? You see stereotypes being portrayed to the extreme. These commercials, advertisements, and TV shows are such an influence on society, that Asian Americans most likely come across obstacles that stand in their way of pursuing their dreams.
Our goal is to inform people of these stereotypes and show people proof that most of these stereotypes are completely wrong. We’re not saying these stereotypes aren’t true but they definitely do NOT apply to everyone. We plan on showing our viewers and participants of our blog my.asiancemagazine.com/apaya that there are plenty of people out there who represent outside their labeled “box” and pursued their dreams no matter how unconventional a dream is to a certain race.
©2006 American Knees Productions Photograph by Shane Sato.
Eric Byler
Chinese American writer/director Eric Byler grew up in California, Virginia, and Hawaii before graduating from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Eric was nominated for a 2003 Independent Spirit Award for his debut feature film “Charlotte Sometimes,” which also earned nominations for producer Marc Ambrose and actress Jacqueline Kim.
Eric’s second feature “Americanese” was acquired for theatrical release by IFC Films and won both the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2006. His first effort as a television director, “My Life Disoriented,” aired on PBS stations around the country in late 2006 and early 2007. Current projects include the “Charlotte Sometimes” sequel “TRE,” now in post-production.
Sharon Wong interviews Eric Byler
Eric has been invited to speak at colleges and universities around the United States, and is known for grassroots activism and YouTube documentaries he created during the 2006 Virginia Senate race on behalf of Virginia’s Asian/Pacific American community and Democratic challenger Jim Webb
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai is a Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who fights for cultural pride and survival through how she lives and how she spits. She has been featured at over 180 performances across the U.S. And Canada including over 30 colleges and universities as well as venues like the Nuyorican Poets Café, the House of Blues, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and three seasons of “Russell Simmons Presents HBO Def Poetry.”
Hailing originally from Chicago, Kelly was first exposed to spoken word as a teenager at the Green Mill, the historic birthplace of slam poetry although she currently draws her inspiration and innovation from her new home in Brooklyn.
She has been a key organizer in many political arts organizations including Mango Tribe, Women Outloud, Asian American Artists Collective, and the National Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word Summit.
Kelly answers VOICE’s questions about her career
Her background in community organizing, domestic violence counseling, and youth leadership ground her understanding in spoken word as a tool for social justice, self-determination, and change.
Abe Song is a sophomore and football player at Brooklyn Tech High School in New York City. He is interviewed about the pressures and rewards of playing High School football by Wendy Huang.
Victoria Nghi
Victoria Nghi isn’t your average Asian chick. Currently attending Brooklyn Tech as a sophomore, she’s known for walking into poles and constantly falling down the stairs. Don’t mistaken her ditziness for stupidity, though. She’s easily satisfied by others but rarely by her own accomplishments because she strives for perfection. She brings her camera everywhere, making sure her life is captured in those perfect Kodak moments.
Sharon Wong
Sharon Wong is a student at Brooklyn Technical High School which is located in New York City!! She’s an optimistic, perky girl that loves being around happy people. She is a daughter, sister, student, and dancer. In her spare time, she likes spending time with her family and friends. She has a slight obsession for ice cream and chocolate, and a phobia of the dark and being
alone. She aspires to be a pediatrician at St. Jude’s Hospital.
Wendy Huang
Wendy Huang is an athletic, happy and extremely blunt person. She does not have a problem with saying what’s on her mind and likes to stand out in a crowd. Nothing is more important than her family and friends. she loves to play tennis in the summer and volleyball all year around. Nothing is better than looking through old memories with a friend over a carton of ice cream.
she hopes to be a psychologist one day and help people with their problems, and hopefully solve her own problems along the way. She is a sophomore at Brooklyn Tech in New York City.
VOICE is a student leadership group that is part of the Asian Pacific American Youth Alliance (APAYA), a volunteer youth-run group of high school students from all over New York City who come together to meet at theAsian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University each week. At APAYA, youth learn about Asian American history, current issues and activism, art and media from expert mentors in each field. Each year, the youth then teach hundreds of other New York area students at the APAYA Forum in youth-led topical workshops, projects and presentations.
For more information about the APAYA Forum this year, please visit:
www.apa.nyu.edu/apaya/2007/