Across the country, we continue to see rising anti-Asian hate and unceasing attacks on Chinese Americans, both politically and physically. US Heartland China Association (USHCA) is determined to counter this racial divisiveness in our country with honest reflections on the troubled history of our country’s treatment of Chinese immigrants.
From October 13 – 18 of 2022, USHCA presented a multi-city film viewing and discussion tour of Far East Deep South. This multi-city viewing and speaking tour with producer Baldwin Chiu honored the stories of early Chinese American immigrants in the Heartland region, broadened the awareness of their contributions and the discrimination they experienced alongside African Americans, and promoted better understanding between our communities today, in hopes of fostering a better tomorrow.
Free, public viewing events with post-film discussions included the following stops.
● Oct. 13th, 7pm CT, Mississippi Museum of Art (Jackson, Mississippi) in partnership with the Alluvial Collective.
● Oct. 16th, 3pm CT, Barnard Observatory, the University of Mississippi in partnership with Oxford Film Festival.
(Oxford, Mississippi)
● Oct. 17th, 7pm CT, Christian Brothers University (Memphis, Tennessee) in partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South.
USHCA and Far East Deep South also wish to acknowledge the Henry Luce Foundation for its generous support of this multi-city tour. More tour dates to come in 2023.
We’re excited to share the history of Asians in America with the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC with a special screening of Far East Deep South and post-film discussion with us and some local leaders. For those who’ve seen our film, you know that a Bible figures prominently in our story. Starting August 6th, 2022, that Bible will be on loan for an exhibit at the Museum of the Bible for six months. The museum is a beautiful, state-of-the-art institution and we’re thrilled to share our story with a whole new audience.
It was our dream that the Bible and other artifacts from Mississippi would travel on loan to museums around the country so more people would learn of this history. The pandemic delayed those dreams but we are so glad they are finally coming to fruition. We hope this will be the start of many partnerships with museums across the U.S.
The screening on August 6th is free with a general admission museum ticket plus get 25% off tickets for that day. Just add the Far East Deep South event to your ticket and be sure to use code FEDS22 to get 25% off.
PBS series “Rob on the Road” featured our producer, Baldwin Chiu, on its latest episode. Host Rob Stewart shares about how the film made him cry and discusses the significance of Far East Deep South to all of America. Watch the interview below.
In its 11th season, “Rob on the Road” brings a fresh, new look at the people and places that make our community our home. Rob Stewart brings audiences the stories that capture the spirit of what makes California great.
The prestigious Annual Telly Awards, honors video and television across all screens and we’re excited to announce our film, Far East Deep South, won an award in the Television: History category. Congratulations to our whole FEDS team for this big win!
Far East Deep South aired on TV on season 9 of “America ReFramed.” Co-produced with WORLD Channel, American Documentary’s America ReFramed series won 17 Telly Awards. We are thankful for the whole team at WORLD Channel for supporting our film.
Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world.
Are you looking for ideas to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month (Asian American Pacific Islander) also known as Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month or Asian American History Month? Since our film touches on numerous themes, here’s some ideas on different ways Far East Deep South and other resources we have can be used. Use these to catalyze conversations and spotlight Asian American history we never learned in school.
1. HOST A SCREENING
Host a screening of FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH and discussion with director, Larissa Lam and producer, Baldwin Chiu. Our team has done virtual and in-person screenings and discussions at numerous Fortune 500 companies, universities, non-profit organizations, churches, museums and schools to educate more people about the AAPI experience and AAPI history. We’ve also participated in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to address anti-Asian racism and bring diverse affinity groups together in the spirit of unity and solidarity. Numerous ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) have hosted our film such as Apple, Experian and Sega. Learn more and inquire about booking here.
2. SHOW A FILM IN THE CLASSROOM
Show FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH in a classroom and have students discuss the film. Better yet, we have a free Discussion Guide you can download here. Furthermore, if you’re at a university, see if the film is on Kanopy or your school’s library.
3. WATCH AND TALK WITH FAMILY
Watch FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH with family or friends. Talking about family history and sharing immigrant stories is not always at the forefront of people’s mind. Our film helps spark conversations with those who may have been reluctant to share about the past. Ask your family and friends, especially older ones, to share about their experiences.
4. SHARE ASIAN AMERICANS MAKE HISTORY
Share Asian Americans Make History music video. – If people only have 3 minutes to learn about AAPI history, then this is the video for them. Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu aka Only Won plus their Lil’ Won put their entertaining twist on the Hamilton song, “The Schuyler Sisters.” They sing and rap about trailblazing Asian Americans and key moments in Asian American history.
5. SHARE IMAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Share our social media factoids. – We’ve created several images perfect to post on social media with historical facts and quotes from our film. This is a quick entry point for more people to learn AAPI History. Go share some of these on your accounts and tag us Instagram/Facebook @FarEastDeepSouth and Twitter @FarEastDeepSo #DiscoverMoreHistory.
Take a DNA test or search Ancestry.com – If you want to do the DNA test to find out more about your heritage, especially if you’re of Asian descent or suspect you might be, this would be a great time to do it. You can also search the extensive database on Ancestry.com for names of relatives and ancestors. They offers a trial but we’re an affiliate and if you sign up through this link, a percentage may go towards our ongoing education campaign.
7. EAT ASIAN FOODS
Invite a friend or co-worker out for Dim Sum or other Asian cuisine. If you’re a good cook,invite them over to your house. The best way to get to know others and to exchange stories is over a good meal. It’s also a great way to share and learn about other cultures and family traditions. Larissa and Baldwin like to call it “Dim Sum Diplomacy.”
8. CREATE AN AAPI Heritage Month LIST
Create a recommended watch and read list. Share a list on your blog or social media. Besides including FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH on your “what to watch” list, may we suggest AAPI focused films from New Day Films. You can see some suggested books on our resources page on what to read.
9. SHARE VIDEO CLIPS
Share clips from our film on social media – We have some shorts clips from our film on our video page you can share with others that give some quick historical nuggets. You can also embed them on your own websites and blogs.
The main thing is to do what you can to shine a spotlight on different AAPI experiences and history. Hopefully, we’ve provided you a good list to start from. Share your ideas and tag #DiscoverMoreHistroy and we’ll try to repost them to our social media.
We are honored that Far East Deep South has been named one of the Best Documentaries of 2021 by Video Librarian, the leading publication for media librarians in education. The distinguished list includes films such as director Edgar Wright’s The Sparks Brothers, the Billie Holiday doc, Billie, and National Geographic’s Rebuilding Paradise directed by Oscar-winning director Ron Howard. It’s an amazing group of films that we’re glad to be part of. See the full list here.
We are grateful that our film picked up another two awards! FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH was named Best Documentary at the CineOdyssey Film Festival, in which celebrated diverse storytelling and multicultural films. Our film also won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Coronado Island Film Festival which featured the best in independent film. Thank you for all the jurors and audience members who voted for us!
Larissa Lam won the prestigious Mary Pickford Award for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking at the 2021 Coronado Island Film Festival. Named for the industry pioneer who was an actress, producer and co-founder of United Artists studio, the award is given to a female filmmaker in recognition of excellent achievement in the art of film. This year’s jury of Terry Curtin, founder of The Curtin Co. and Kristie Kershaw, founder and head of creative marketing, Fanthropology, presented the award to Larissa celebrating her work on Far East Deep South as director and producer. The award was designed by famed artist, James Hubbell.
CBS News Originals produced a new episode of their “Reverb” docuseries about youth in the Mississippi Delta dealing with anti-Asian racism today. Our producers, Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu, are featured in this special. You’ll even hear their daughter, Caliya, give some very wise commentary on American identity. Read more and watch it online here.
CBSN Originals documentary “Being Different in the Delta .” It premieres on CBSN Sunday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET.
Back by popular demand. Far East Deep South will make a return to TV on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021 at 8pm Eastern Time on on the WORLD Channel documentary series America ReFramed (check local listings). It will also be available to stream on WORLDchannel.org, PBS.org and the PBS Video app beginning at time of broadcast on September 14 through October 14.
In a nation that is in need of stories of hope, Far East Deep Southis a deeply moving documentary that offers a poignant perspective on race relations, immigration and the deep roots of Chinese Americans in our national identity. The award-winning documentary follows Charles Chiu and his family (including his son, producer Baldwin Chiu, and daughter-in-law, director Larissa Lam) as they travel from California to Mississippi to find answers about Charles’ father, K.C. Lou. A retired Air Force reservist, Charles was left behind in China as a baby and is reluctant to discuss his family’s complicated past with his sons, Baldwin and Edwin. The family’s emotional journey to a place they’ve never seen leads to stunning revelations and a crash course on the surprising history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South. Through encounters with local residents who remember K.C., as well as interviews with historians, the family’s trip becomes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for discovery and healing. Directed by Larissa Lam and produced by Baldwin Chiu,Far East Deep South broadcasts
As more schools recognize the need for greater inclusion of Asian American history, Far East Deep South provides a window into a community few even know exists — Chinese immigrants in the Deep South — and reveals the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 impacted the Chiu family for generations. The family also learns about the symbiotic relationship between the Southern Black and Chinese communities during the Jim Crow era.
“Growing up in California, I learned very little about Asian American history,” said filmmaker Lam. “I made this film so that my daughter and future generations would learn more about the vast struggles and contributions of Asians in America. I hope that we can broaden the way American history is taught and discussed so that it includes the Asian American experience, especially as it pertains to learning about the American South.”
Producer Baldwin Chiu adds, “Through our film’s journey we learn that my family’s presence in America stretches six generations. Hearing more about the deeps roots of many Asians in America can help dispel the perception that we are ‘perpetual foreigners’ in the U.S.”
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