All posts tagged: Film

Phetmixay Means Fighter: Interview with Rita Phetmixay

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What does it take to tell a personal story? Where do you even begin to capture life, loss, and new beginnings? And most importantly, how do you tell your family story? LLOTP sat down with Rita Phetmixay, UCLA graduate student and director of the 9-minute short documentary, Phetmixay Means Fighter, a recent feature at the Sacramento Asian Pacific American Film Festival (http://www.sapff.org/). The short film follows her father, Phouthone “Peter” Phetmixay, a former Lao rebel soldier, as he narrates his escape from his homeland of Laos. With no prior experience in filmmaking, Rita discusses what it’s like to capture and curate family histories for the big screen. “I think about myself. I was born in maybe wrong time, wrong country, but it’s okay. I’m still proud about that. I was an unlucky man… I tried to be an officer to serve my country. To protect my country. But I cannot. Because at that time I lost my country.” – Phouthone “Peter” Phetmixay, Phetmixay Means Fighter How did you decide to do a film on your dad’s story? When I was living …

Dreams, History and Passion: An Interview with Mychal Mitchell

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What does it mean to follow your dreams and to tell stories for a living? How do we remember those who made a difference in our lives? Making movies has been one route many Lao and their families are taking because we have a generation coming of age that understands how vital it is to add the Lao perspective to the American Dream. One of the interesting efforts in recent years has been the film Princess of Laos, film-maker Mychal Mitchell.  Princess of Laos was his first feature film.  He saw it as not just a movie but “a tool to help acknowledge the Lao culture.” It has been shown around the community and recently made available on DVD. Based in Illinois, he maintains a youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/mychalmitchell323 On his site gives the community a chance to learn more about the family behind the story of his film. Throughout the process, from production to its final release, Princess of Laos has sparked intense discussions on what it means to be Lao and to search for your …