New Year Baby & Khmer Legacies

3 Generations

2009-11-18T13:32:00.003-05:00

The organization 3 Generations also records stories of survivors of genocide and mass atrocities from all over the world. They are highlighting the work of Khmer Legacies on their website this month. We're hoping to create a collaboration with 3 Generations, an organization started by Jane Wells, the producer of The Devil Came on Horseback. 3 Generations will edit a short video of some of our testimonies and we'll help them transcribe some of their Cambodian videos. You can read the treatment here.

Never Forget

2009-11-10T15:25:00.002-05:00

Check out this very well-written and powerful article written by Mike Patterniti of GQ Magazine. I had the chance to meet him in New Haven a few years ago when he was interviewing Prof. Ben Kiernan for the article.

The article is about the question of justice following the Cambodian genocide. You can read it here.

Witness Highlights Khmer Legacies

2009-11-03T12:46:00.005-05:00

The human rights media organization Witness is highlighting the work of Khmer Legacies this month. They interviewed me about the role of video in human rights. You can read their treatment here. Thank you to Teague Schneiter for all of your hard work.

Podcast with US Holocaust Museum

2009-10-31T16:18:00.006-04:00

The US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC just interviewed me for their podcast series, Voices on Genocide Prevention. You can listen to it here. Thank you to Bridget Conley-Zilkic for the interview!

Screening at UConn

2009-10-19T12:27:00.005-04:00

On Oct. 06, Van and I drove to Storrs, CT to show New Year Baby at the University of Connecticut. UConn has amazing support for Asian and Asian American students in the form of the Asian American Cultural Center, run by Angela Rola. I told Angela that I am jealous of the support they provide which exceeds what we enjoyed when I attended Smith College and even what I've observe here at Yale. Later, I learned that the center and changes to the student code regarding harassment were born out of a discrimination episode in 1987.

The screening was very well attended and an informal reception followed. I enjoyed meeting the students, a few of which had written papers about New Year Baby. I always get a kick out of hearing that! Thank you so much to Cathy Schlund-Vials who helped to initiate the event. I hope to visit UConn again!

Congratulations Bou Sonith!

2009-10-19T12:03:00.006-04:00

I am so proud to announce that one of my board members, Sonith Peou, has been honored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with a Community Health Leader Award. Here's an excerpt from RWJF's press release: "his efforts to assure access to culturally competent health services for the large Cambodian-American community in Lowell, Mass. The Metta Health Center integrates primary medical care, behavioral health services and refugee health assessments with traditional medical practices such as Buddhist monk consultations and traditional healing, acupuncture and nutrition counseling. Peou’s leadership and tenacious outreach efforts over eight years have resulted in a 150 percent increase in Southeast Asian patients, with the Metta Health Center now serving more than 5,000 patients."

I attended the gala in Washington, DC at the Mayflower Hotel where the awards were handed out and a video about each fellow was premiered (http://www.communityhealthleaders.org/news_features/article/56153).

I am especially proud because I nominated him for the award. Congratulations Bou Sonith!

Genocide Documentary Filmmakers/Lovers of Life!

2009-09-07T14:10:00.007-04:00

I had the extraordinary opportunity to speak on a panel called "Genocide Survivor Testimony in Documentary Film" with some very lauded documentary filmmakers at the USC Film School. Being asked by the Shoah Foundation to present and then of course to sit next to Emmy and Oscar winners was a huge honor.

We covered many subjects including the ethical and moral concerns of the video testimony process, the maintenance of video archives, and powerful role of documentary films in genocide activism.

After the panel all of us went to dinner together and dared each other to not talk about genocide for the entire evening. Though we strayed a few times to learn about our each others various "war stories," we mostly succeeded. Being socially conscious doesn't preclude being fun-loving too. I got home way too late that night.

You can watch a video to the panel discussion here.

From left to right: Michael Renov, USC School of Cinematic Arts Associate Dean; Anne Aghion, filmmaker; Ted Braun, filmmaker; Socheata Poeuv, filmmaker, founder Khmer Legacies; Andi Gitow, UN Films; Karen Jungblut, Institute Director of Research and Documentation; James Moll, filmmaker; Stephen Smith, Institute Executive Director.

Finally . . . We're Engaged!

2009-05-27T14:48:00.006-04:00

For those of you who know Charles, my longtime boyfriend and the producer of New Year Baby, and I, you will not be surprised to learn we recently got engaged.

To satisfy all of your curiosities, here is how it went down:

Charles and I met at the top of Duomo in Florence. We were both backpacking alone through Italy when I turned around and asked him to take my picture.

Well two weeks ago, Charles took me on a surprise date to the largest cathedral in New York City, St. John Divine. Under the dome of the cathedral, with a stringed orchestra in the background, he proposed. I was not entirely surprised, but was deeply moved.

A Time to Remember

2009-04-27T18:04:00.005-04:00

Last week, my parents and I participated in several genocide commemoration events in Washington, DC. It was an honor to be able to represent the Cambodian survivor community at a Save Darfur event in front of the White House.

Although I have had the opportunity to speak many times in groups of 20-500, my parents are relatively meek immigrant Americans who have always shied away from the spotlight. The extent of their public speaking has come after a few screenings of New Year Baby when they answer questions from the audience.

My mother spoke briefly in English and then said a prayer in Khmer to remember the millions of lives lost during the Cambodian genocide.

I'm very proud of them. They loved being a part of this event.

I also had the chance to meet Carl Wilkens, one of my personal heroes. Just two weeks early, I had invoked Carl's story when speaking to college students at Babson College and UMass
Amherst. Carl saved over 500 people during the
genocide in Rwanda, and he was the only American in the entire country during the 4 month tragedy. You can read more his story here.

We also joined 80 members of the Cambodian community to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide at a solemn candlelight vigil. We shared stories of our loved ones, our sorrows and even our anger at the lack of justice.

We visited the beautiful Cambodian Buddhist temple in Silver Spring, MD - the largest of its kind in the country. Celebrating Cambodian New Year was truly a pleasure there.

San Francisco

2009-03-27T13:01:00.007-04:00

Recently Charles and I returned from San Francisco where I spoke on a symposium panel about refugee rights with the Rotary Club . It was a well-organized and well-run event. It's obvious that the Rotarians in San Francisco play their part to help alleviate suffering in the world.

While I was there, I recorded the interview of Denise Tan's mother, Sotheavy, about her amazing survival story. Denise made wonderful introductions for me to the Cambodian community in the Bay Area including the dynamic community leader Elizabeth Sy who founded Banteay Srei and social worker Limyi Heng.

Also through Denise, we met David Nakabayashi, Creative
Director at Industrial Light and Magic. He gave us a private tour of George Lucas's amazing special effects studio. It was a great thrill and we've already made many of our friends and family jealous. Thanks to David and his staff for their generosity.

And thank you to our wonderful friends Stephanie Morimoto and Matt King for hosting us in their beautiful home.

Focus Group in Lowell

2009-03-05T15:37:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, I conducted a focus group in Lowell, MA, the second largest Cambodian community in the country. I regret not doing it a long time ago when I first conceived of Khmer Legacies.

With the help of Harry Schnur from the Lynn Community Health Center, Khmer Legacies Boardmembers Sonith Peou and Samkhann Khoeun, Linda Sou of Lowell Community Health, we conducted two separate focus groups - one with the older generation and one with the younger generation.

The reactions we got to the work of Khmer Legacies was overwhelming positive. Yes, this is important work and someone should be doing it. Yet there seemed to be so many questions about readiness. Are older survivors ready to talk? Is the younger generation ready to listen?

I began to question the nature of leadership itself. Is it the role of Khmer Legacies to draw the community toward a higher level of consciousness and contribution? Is that a presumptious and potentially dangerous position given the trauma the community has faced. Is the best way to serve the community to challenge it?

Any thoughts from you would be helpful . . .

NACA

2009-02-22T19:10:00.004-05:00

Charles, Bjorn, Mabel and I attended NACA this past week in Nashville, TN. We met hundreds of college students from all around the world. We were there to introduce me to students and programmers who were looking to bring various educational and entertainment experiences to their campus.

I remember the first time I entered the marketplace. Housed in a huge hotel ballroom, hundreds of booths lined the room, all of them featuring some act which tried to catch the attention of overwhelmed and overstimulated college students.

I could not believe it but I was literally pitching my genocide work next to a Build-a-Bear workshop and live pythons. How could I compete? For a moment, I wished that I was marketing something sexy and appealing.

At the conference I heard Caryl M. Stern, the President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, give an emotional talk about her work to save the lives of millions of children around the world. She gave a powerful appeal for the room to commit their lives to something bigger.

The talk reminded me that in terms of emotional impact, we have a huge advantage over all the hundreds of confections that are peddled at NACA. Ideas like justice and healing hit you deep and stay with you. They hold the possibility of changing the course of your life.

Thank you to all of the students I met last week! I hope to see you again.

Khmer Health Advocates

2009-01-31T23:08:00.003-05:00

Last week I visited Khmer Health Advocates (www.hartnet.org/khmer) in West Hartford, CT. An organization that began its work in the early 1980's with the first wave of Cambodian refugees, the founders have been unflagging in their committment and dedication to the Cambodian community. Theanvy Kouch and Mary Scully are inspirational for their longevity and generosity.

They both voiced strong support for the work of Khmer Legacies and we hope to find ways to use their networks to record testimonies in Connecticut. Mary told me that although Cambodians make up about half of all torture victims in the United States, Cambodians are not categorically recognized as torture victims by the UN. Cambodians themselves, have a hard time articulating their experience of starvation, over work, and sometimes worse as torture. As a result, many resources that could have been directed to serve them are not.

It reminded me that this work is important - if only to document and acknowledge the lives to Cambodian survivors. As long as we are not able to give voice to these experiences, the community still suffers from an undistinguished pain.

First Board Meeting

2009-01-19T14:23:00.002-05:00

We had our first board meeting ever this past Saturday. I was so nervous about the event. It is one of the necessary steps that any organization must take in order to run functionally.

And yet I had all of these anxieties and fears about the board members being disengaged in the work. I have heard so many horror stories of ineffective boards. I also feared that I am not a good enough leader to warrant the energy and trust of these important community leaders who spend their time doing such important work.

No matter how frightening, I had to pull the curtain behind the operations of Khmer Legacies since inception. But Jane Jung, a Yale MFA student who is helping me manage the board, reminded me that the board members want to see me and Khmer Legacies succeed.

And that was exactly the tone of the meeting. I am so glad to know they have my back!

EG

2008-12-16T12:13:00.006-05:00

Charles and I went to the EG conference (www.the-eg.com) this past week. We had an amazing time. We really felt like we were meeting the Leonardo Da Vinci's of our time. Joshua Bell performed, Teller of Penn & Teller spoke, and Nicholas Negroponte inspired us all. I was told that you can view some of the presentations on the TED website (www.ted.com) in the coming days.

I did not expect to find Cambodia connections there, but I did! Nina You, companion to Mike Hawley (the organizer of the conference), and her father. Sophal Ear and his expecting wife. Dimitri Negroponte who lived and worked in Cambodia.

I also met the most amazing woman named Tan Le. She's a Vietnamese Australian woman who co-founded a company called Emotiv (www.emotiv.com). Using the latest developments of neuro-technology, her company has developed a headset which facilitates non-conscious human computer interaction. Check it out - it's straight out of science fiction.

The conference inspired me to take risks and play a big game with my life. The presenters and participants play at the highest level in several areas of the their life. To wit Mike Hawley - not only was he an MIT professor and entrepreneur, but also a champion of the Van Cliburn competition!

An Honor in Los Angeles

2008-12-05T16:49:00.010-05:00

In November I went to Los Angeles to receive the iWitness Award from Jewish World Watch, an organization formed through a collaboration of Southern California synagogues concerned to raise consciousness about the mass killings in Darfur and about genocide throughout the world.

I was honored to be recognized by Jewish World Watch for the work I have done in launching Khmer Legacies, and was pleased to have the opportunity to speak to students and community leaders from the Cambodian community at the award ceremony.

While my short-term mission has been to preserve the testimonies of survivors and the history of Khmer Rouge atrocities, my long-term goal is to add the voices of Cambodians to the collective voice of communities speaking out against genocide. This conviction guides my own work as it does, I believe, the efforts of Jewish World Watch to raise a "call to conscience."

The award itself, seen in the picture, is a shofar, a Jewish horn sounded on Rosh Hashanah to stir the conscience.

A Courageous Soul

2008-03-31T12:08:00.003-04:00

My friend Bou Dith Pran died yesterday.

His life was depicted in the film, the Killing Fields. For most Americans, the first and perhaps only time, they heard about the Cambodian genocide was through his story.

I met Bou for the first time when I was 22 years old as a recent college graduate attending the Asian American Journalists Association convention. When I introduced myself to him, he was so excited to meet another Cambodian American journalist that he immediately took me by the hand to introduce me around to his friends. He's a hero in that community and immediately became my best advocate.

I invited him to dinner with my family because he was missing some good Southeast Asian cooking. At dinner my sister bluntly told him that she though her experience during the Pol Pot time was much worse than what was depicted in the movie, the Killing Fields. He looked her squarely in the eye and said that he agreed. And in that look, I recognized that there was an understanding.

He will be missed.

Asheville, NC - Keep it Weird

2008-02-07T19:58:00.001-05:00

Showed New Year Baby at the Fine Arts Theatre in Asheville, NC last night. Asheville is wonderful little mountain town with lefty tendencies, a lively art scene and eccentric townies.

The turnout was good and the audience seemed really moved and engaged with the film. A recurring theme in these screenings has been the one Cambodian in the audience. None of the stops on my Southern Circuit tour are home to large Cambodian communities. But there's always one.

He was very moved by the film and shared with the audience his family's story. When his mother was three months pregnant, her husband was killed by the Khmer Rouge. Instead of being named the "lucky child," he was repeatedly called a curse by his own mother. At the end of the night, all I could do was give him a hug.

Welcome to the South . . .

2008-02-06T15:23:00.000-05:00

I had my first screening last night in High Point, NC as part of the Southern Circuit tour of independent filmmakers (www.southarts.org). For the next two weeks, I'll be showing New Year Baby in nine different cities. Good thing I got a massage yesterday (thank you John and Astrud!).

We had a modest crowd, but one audience member in particular made it all worth it. A Cambodian American woman in her 50's was there with a van-load of her Anglo American sponsors from a local Presbyterian church.

Her story was very similar to my family's: surviving the Khmer Rouge, adopted surviving extended family, fleeing to Thai refugee camps. She was very moved by the film and told me about her son who is very near my age. He harbors, she fears, a surprising anger projected toward Cambodia and life in general.

It reminded me that even the second generation is effected by the trauma of the Khmer Rouge time whether it is expressed in guilt, over-achievement, or anger. What makes it worse is that often times, we cannot identify what is at the root of these emotions.

I gave her a copy of the film and told her that perhaps her son would like to see the film, hoping it would spark a new kind of conversation. She seemed grateful.

A New Year . . .

2007-12-27T18:46:00.000-05:00

We've had an amazing year of New Year Baby screenings all over the world. Though it may feel like the life cycle of the film is closing, in many ways, it's just getting revved up again in time for the national PBS broadcast on May 27, 2008.

2008 will also be a pivot year for me - channeling all the energy from New Year Baby to Khmer Legacies - my new project to videotape testimonies of Cambodian genocide survivors. We're starting by videotaping testimonies in the New York City with the Cambodian community there.

Coming a Long Way

2007-04-19T00:36:00.000-04:00

We had our largest fundraising event yet last night where we raised more money in a single event than ever before. The theatre was packed.

We invited some students from the Bronx Ghetto Film School who filled up the first two rows. They had helped us test screen an early rough cut of the film and it was great to invite them to see the final product. When I re-entered the theatre as the credits started to roll, I heard the tough Bronx teenagers sniffling and saw them wiping their eyes. When I met them almost a year ago, their only reference to Cambodia came from the Dave Chappelle Show.

I took questions and made an appeal for donations to support the outreach campaign. I felt very confident about the ask, mainly from new coaching I had gotten from public speaking coach Jeremy Nash (http://www.communicationatwork.net/index.htm). I came into my first meeting with him thinking that I would get coached on where to put my hands and how to speak eloquently. But Jeremy taught me that it's less important what you say than who you're being in that moment. Allowing my true self to shine through is what allows you to connect with people. That's what makes people magnetic. Jeremy was a kind, compassionate and generous coach. After one session with him, I don't think I will go into any meeting with the same old "tools" again.

Happy to be Home

2007-02-28T01:11:00.000-05:00

Richard and Marcia are back at home in Santa Ana, California. Both are happy to be in their own beds, but miss the convenience of push button services like food and nursing like they enjoyed in the Bangkok hospital.

They are both still in pain, but they are treating that appropriately. They're grateful for the love and support of friends and family nearby who are cooking dinner and doing grocery runs for them.

James and Amy leave Bangkok for Orange County soon as well.

Charles and I leave for home tomorrow after a New Year Baby screening tonight in Phnom Penh. Charles is less sore.

Together

2007-02-24T02:22:00.000-05:00

We just said goodbye yesterday to our last guest from the Cambodia tour.

It was amazing what a strong bond we created in the past ten days.

On Friday Feb. 16th, Charles, his parents Rich & Marcia and our guest Ron Ardres were in a vehicle accident on a dirt road from Koh Ker to Preah Vihear. They were in an SUV when the driver lost control in a fish tail situation. The vehicle left the road and rolled over twice. It came to a rest down a small rise, on it's side and facing the direction from which it came.

Only Charles was wearing a seat belt and walked away from the accident. He was hit on the head by the collapsing roof but no bleeding. He then directed a valiant evacuation operation. The others were badly hurt and at the time, we did not know what kind of internal injuries they suffered.

We were traveling in a 6 vehicle convoy. Thank goodness we had both Dr. KG Bennet and M.D. Kenway Louie on the trip. They responded to the injured right away. One guest described the response as “superhero”. I think it is an apt description. There was no cell reception there so we could not call for help. The doctors assessed that all four of the more seriously injured could be driven to Siem Reap about 3 hours away. Thirty minutes later, after KG’s second examination of Marcia, he & Charles created a spine support for her out of bush wood and clothing.

Charles’s parents suffered spine and head trauma. That evening they were evacuated to a Bangkok hospital.

While Charles, KG, James (Charles’s brother), Amy (James’ long time partner) and I were at the hospital, the rest of our guests convened at the Hanumanalaya.

Later they told us that at dinner, though there was plenty of space at 4 tables, all thirteen crowded around a single table for eight. They couldn’t bear to be separated that night.

While Rich & Marcia are in pain, all doctors agree to expect a full recovery in time. Ron hurt his foot and prefers to treat it himself. Charles of course keeps ticking. James & Amy are still in Bangkok with Rich & Marcia.

From Cambodia

2007-02-06T05:55:00.000-05:00

For the past few days, I have been in Cambodia, introducing the film to various NGOs here which work in the area of justice and human rights. My goal is for them to see the film, love it and want to use it in their programming as they gear up for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

So far, we have two screenings set up - one in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap. The organizations seem to be very excited about the possibilities of collaboration.

I have not been in Phnom Penh for two years and it's like I can see the city changing before my eyes. There are more cars here now and ever before. Today I saw a red Hummer and a yellow Miata. There's construction everywhere.

I confess, I cannot wait until our guests arrive from America and England. I love playing host to tourists. It's like being able to experience a place for the first time again through their eyes.

Our host, Nick Ray and Kulikar Sotho, could not be more generous. They have made our stay incredibly easy and elegant. Nick and Kulikar run one of five companies, including Hanuman Tourism (www.hanumantourism.com). They are Cambodia experts and wonderful people. I am grateful to call them friends.

All is Well

2007-01-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

Recently I've made the decision to cut the umbilical cord and quit my full time job at NBC News in order to be a filmmaker full time. Just that simple decision brought up a lot of fear and anxiety that is beyond the realm of what is rational.

Sometimes I would feel exhilerated, like this was the beginning to my real life. Like I was ready to take off like a rocket booster. Other times, I would ride the subway and look at all the New Yorkers around me, wondering how come they can be comfortable and secure and I cannot.

My mother, who is part of the minority of people in this country who have experienced losing everything, said to me, "I can't believe I have a daughter who might be homeless." That comment didn't help things.

But what I've resolved for myself is that there's a real difference between getting paid for your performance versus getting paid for your time. I'll never measured for my performance in this particular job. It's like a golden glass ceiling.

So here I go stepping into the unknown. And I choose to step into it from all is and will be well.